Penalty Charge Notice: NHS Prescriptions - wrongly given, what do I do???

trinidadone

I received a PCN from the NHS Business Services Authority for:

Prescription Charges: £8.80

Penalty Charge: £44.00

Total Due: £52.80

It says on the front page "an automated check has shown that on or between 27th July 10`8 and 31st July 2018 I claimed A FREE NHS prescription.

It said I "submitted a claim named as a valid prescription prepayment certificate"

and I should pay by 6th November 2018.

I never made such a claim so what do i do?

Flugelhorn

ask them for the evidence - there should be a prescription in your name with the back ticked to show a prepayment cert exists

trinidadone

ok, I usually pay by card. I have looked on my online statement and on 26th July I can see a payment for a prescription using my credit card. all sounds very strange

Flugelhorn

Do you think it is possible that the prescription was ticked in the exemption box by mistake? or were there 2 items and you only were charged for one?

trinidadone

Flugelhorn wrote: »

Do you think it is possible that the prescription was ticked in the exemption box by mistake? or were there 2 items and you only were charged for one?

Well if the prescription was ticked in the exemption box, it was not by me, as I paid, signed and left. No again, there was only one item, I know this, as I only have one item in my repeat prescription.

donnac2558

You need to contact them.


Happened to me once long ago, said I had not paid for my prescription item when I should have. I was able to prove I had done no such thing. You might need to send a photocopy of your statement showing payment. But phone them first and see what is happening.

DigForVictory

It's no comfort, but this mistake should be harder for pharmacies to make.

That said anything depending on the internet has my abject sympathies.

C_Mababejive

OK so you paid and at some time when the prescription was in the hands of the pharmacy someone accidentally or purposefully ticked that box. As a result,they have issued you a penalty.

trinidadone

donnac2558 wrote: »

You need to contact them.


Happened to me once long ago, said I had not paid for my prescription item when I should have. I was able to prove I had done no such thing. You might need to send a photocopy of your statement showing payment. But phone them first and see what is happening.

Thanks for the advise.

trinidadone

C_Mababejive wrote: »

OK so you paid and at some time when the prescription was in the hands of the pharmacy someone accidentally or purposefully ticked that box. As a result,they have issued you a penalty.

Well I do not know at this stage if the pharmacy "accidentally or purposefully ticked that box" - but my original question is what to do next!!

pmduk

Could it be that the item was something like compression stockings that are charged for two items?

Either way, contact them tomorrow. Hopefully, it'll be sorted straight away. Please update us.