Conned in Switzerland?

mrScarf

Hi all

I recently went skiing to Switzerland with some friends. One night we went out and had a few drinks. I became detached from my friends and next thing I know is I woke up in a hospital. I think I was spiked as my friends were all fine, however I was found face down by someone somewhere near my hotel.

I was put on a drip and went back to my hotel early morning. I then received a bill for the equivalent of £1100, with them threatening to inform the UK government and my employer if I don't pay within 14 days.

I feel this is a set up or a con to a degree, because they said on the letter my alcohol level was 2.2%, (no idea what this means myself but my friend who I was with is a doctor, and said that anything close to 0.5 is deadly, therefore 2.2 I wouldn't be here!)

On my travel insurance docs, alcoholic related incidents are excluded as per my policy documents. Would my E111 card help me in any way, or does anyone have any advice at all?

Thanks a lot! Really don't want to have a default on my credit file as I am exchanging on my first house in 3/4 weeks!

glentoran99

Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows you to access state-provided healthcare in Switzerland at a reduced cost and will cover your treatment until you return to the UK. It also covers the treatment of pre-existing medical conditions and routine maternity care, provided the reason for your visit is not specifically to give birth. No cost participation is required for maternity benefits.

mrScarf

Thanks very much, do you happen to know what I do now? I was thinking of going to CAB, or is there somewhere I need to send the bills into?

glentoran99

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/countryguide/Pages/healthcareinSwitzerland.aspx

may find some help there

https://www.kvg.org/stream/en/download---0--0--0--333.pdf

Have you tried claiming on your travel insurance and they have ruled it out? Or are you presuming they wont pay?

Roger1

mrScarf wrote: »

they said on the letter my alcohol level was 2.2% ...

Breath? Blood? Urine? There's a difference - see https://www.gov.uk/drink-drive-limit for UK limits and explanation.

... my E111 card ...

I hope you mean your EHIC card, as described by glentoran99. EHICs replaced E111s some years ago.

If you had been conscious, you could have insisted on using this. It sounds as though you were treated as an emergency case without time to produce the EHIC.

Who sent the bill, the hospital or a doctor? Have you travel insurance (though alcohol-related claims are often rejected)?

I would doubt that you were set up in Switzerland. However, I think you need to challenge the bill. I suggest you seek advice. This page - http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/EHICchanges.aspx - suggests contactng
Overseas Healthcare Team
Room MO601, Durham House
Washington
Tyne & Wear
NE38 7SF
Telephone 0191 218 1999 Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm.

'What to do' info on Switzerland at http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/countryguide/Pages/healthcareinSwitzerland.aspx

mrScarf

Thanks for all your help. I believe it was blood. I was not conscious or I would have used my EHIC card (I'm still used to the E111!)

Iv not spoken to my insurance company yet, I do intend to do so, but just read over the t's and c's and made the assumption myself.

The letters are from the hospital itself. Difficult to understand without google translate!

Roger1

mrScarf wrote: »

The letters are from the hospital itself. Difficult to understand without google translate!

I'd say it's worth writing/e-mailing telling them you don't speak the language and asking for an English version.

Swiss institutions are pretty hot on languages - and this could give you a little breathing space.

Roger1

Just found this - take a deep breath!
https://www.kvg.org/stream/en/download---0--0--0--333.pdf

glentoran99

Roger1 wrote: »

Just found this - take a deep breath!
https://www.kvg.org/stream/en/download---0--0--0--333.pdf

found it where, in my post above

Backbiter

Most ski resorts have private health clinics, so I doubt the EHIC card would be valid.

pandora205

When I had a skiing accident in Switzerland, I had to pay the bill then reclaim in the UK from my travel insurer. The E111 did not cover all the treatment. Mine wasn't alcohol related so not sure how that would affect a claim.