EHIC card

moneybags_3

Hi


I have never been abroad and I am planning a trip to Spain in the summer. I have paid £24 on the Internet for a EHIC card and I was informed that I would receive my card within 10 days. Since then some people have told me that I could have obtained this card for free. Are they correct?

Bella73

Sorry but they are correct. You can get them free through the NHS website, but they do say that they are available from other sites where there may be a charge.

zagfles

The card is free. Some rip-off websites will charge you for applying. You need to apply on the real NHS site ie http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/about-the-ehic.aspx not the sites which pay Google to put them at the top of the search.

CharlieRabbit01

They are correct. I've just got mine renewed free of charge.

Voyager2002

moneybags wrote: »

Hi


I have never been abroad and I am planning a trip to Spain in the summer. I have paid £24 on the Internet for a EHIC card and I was informed that I would receive my card within 10 days. Since then some people have told me that I could have obtained this card for free. Are they correct?

You were ripped off.

A similar scam operates with passport applications: don't allow yourself to be cheated again. You can get passport applications forms from a Post Office and so eliminate any risk of this.

Pollycat

Voyager2002 wrote: »

You were ripped off.

A similar scam operates with passport applications: don't allow yourself to be cheated again.

Not only passport applications.

Beware of:
driving licence application/renewal
booking driving tests
applying for ESTA
submitting tax returns
Land Registry (I think)

The same company seems to be behind a lot of these and I can only see it growing. It must be very lucrative for them.

The OP doesn't say which website he used - there are numerous - but most of the websites I've looked at do state pretty clearly that you can get the card for free from the official website.
Some even provide a link to the official website.

OP - if you feel the website you used was misleading, you can report it here:
http://www.oft.gov.uk/contactus#.Uui1lSlFBjo

Also to the OP - it's not clear from your post if you have received your EHIC.
What did it say on the website about timescales?
Have they delivered what they said they would when they said they would?
Have you checked the website to see if they offer a refund if you cancel?
Some websites do - less an admin fee.

Voyager2002 wrote: »

You can get passport applications forms from a Post Office and so eliminate any risk of this.

You can do online passport applications/renewals here without any risk - it's the official website:
https://www.gov.uk/renew-adult-passport

Don't be fooled by thinking any website with 'gov' or 'org' in the name is official.

jackieblack

At the top of this thread, underneath where it sways EHIC Card (in green writing) are some quick links, on the top line it says Free EHIC Card (in blue writing).
All the info you need is there