Nhs charge/eye test/tax credits

Mrs_Stick

Hi
DH went to opticians armed with our letter confirming our receipt of working family tax credit. Eye test sorted. Glasses sorted.

Today we receive a letter saying that he was not entitled to the free care and asking him to pay a bill of £36odd PLUS £100 penalty charge.

But miffed as they have not given us a chance to pay the £36odd to rectify our error.

Our question- If we explain our error and/.or send a copy of our tax credit letter, could we get the £100 penalty charge waived???

Thanks in advance
x

pigpen

Probably not.. but the optician should have checked. You are only classed as exempt if you have the white card things and the optician should have either requested you pay and gave you the forms to reclaim the costs or refused the appointment.

Being in receipt of working or child tax credits does not mean you are automatically exempt from NHS charges... they usually send out the exemption cards automatically if you are eligible.