NHS Dental Penalty Charge

Shirecycle

Hello, I hope someone can give me advice.
I have had a letter from the NHS Business Services Authority telling my I had free treatment on a date at the very end of January, true, also that they could find no record of me being entitled to free treatment on that date.
My benefit changed from incapacity/income support to ESA income related, both having the free dental treatment and prescription, it officially changed over 2 weeks after this appointment. I've supplied them with evidence that I was on income support before that date and the change over date. I've just had a letter telling me the information I provided doesn't cover the date. So I have a bill for the £20 treatment plus extra £100 penalty if I pay it within 14 days otherwise they'll add another £50 and hand it over to a debt agency.

All they say is that I wasn't entitled to free treatment on that day, nothing else.

I know I was entitled and have been getting free dental treatment years previously without issue, I have a horrible feeling I ticked the ESA box rather than the income support. I haven't tried to cheat the NHS, the treatment would have been free, I just fear I have checked the wrong box, pre-empted maybe, I don't work due to mental health issues, possibly a bit out of it on the medication. Is it reasonably to get it over turned? It seems a bit pedantic.
I'm stressed out, thats a huge amount!

Shirecycle

Actually the original letter says I ticked the box saying I was on income support. So I'm flummoxed.
I've sent evidence that was what I was on, on that date in question. Feels like a bit of a private company money making scam tbh.

[Deleted User]

its not a scam but if all is as you say then I can't understand the problem, if they maintain they are right and you are wrong then personally I would get my MP involved that should sharpen their minds.

tryin

The system for sending out fines is a mess. Last time I was in the dentist sign said over 400,000 people were fined. At least 3 of those were in my family. But they cleared it up by showing they had the right, without too much of a problem.

Shirecycle

Thank you.
Someone else has advised me to check my bank statements, it does have the benefit payment with my national insurance number and right next to it the benefit type, the IS for income support for the date in question and the change to ESA after.
So hopefully thats more proof, right? The original letter gave the option to go to a job centre plus office and have any documents witnessed and signed by them as proof, instead of photocopies directly, which possibly might be the problem? I don't want to post bank statements directly.
Obviously NHS Business Services Authority have threatened extra charges if I don't pay within 14 days, I'm just worried if I can't get an appointment in time and this just escalates!

Shirecycle

tryin wrote: »

The system for sending out fines is a mess. Last time I was in the dentist sign said over 400,000 people were fined. At least 3 of those were in my family. But they cleared it up by showing they had the right, without too much of a problem.

I don't suppose you know what evidence they used to prove they were right?
I sent a copy of a Jobcentre plus letter which listed my previous income support benefit, the benefit name it was changing to and the dates. Which apparently isn't enough, but they aren't saying what would be.

[Deleted User]

Fight it and appeal it, can you also contact DWP and ask for a letter confirming the dates you were in receipt of your benefits which will cover the date you were at the dentist therefore proving you were receiving the benefit in the first place.

welderjoe

scam, scam, scam !,i got a penalty charge fine from them saying i,d ticked the wrong box,ok i did , some years back i sufferd a brain haemmorage and it left me with confusement, agitated for another and so -on, yes i,m on benefits but i diddent realize the benefit they were on about i diddent have, i contacted them explaining this and i,d also changed my dentist after 30 years of being with them, " reason"- because b u p a had bought them out and it became so "industrialized", i diddent like it
i haddent filled one of those forms out for decades either, now the bloke i spoke to said " there was no appeal process " { lie},when i found out there was i contacted them again this time an operator told me " oh i,ll put your account on hold then until youve finished with the appeal" { lie}the fine went from £159 to £201, 59 pounds of that was for my treatment, then i discoverd its not the n.h.s who are retrieving the fine but a debt management company", whose only interest is to take their greedy percentage from the fine!,so ive had to pay this, even though ive been lied to, money " extorted " from me. i am now complaing about the way all this has happend, plus if no satisfaction going to the omnwoodsman, they are not interested in mistakes on a piece of paper you filled in or the reason why, theyre interested in screwing what they can out of you.

poppy12345

welderjoe wrote: »

scam, scam, scam !,i got a penalty charge fine from them saying i,d ticked the wrong box,ok i did , some years back i sufferd a brain haemmorage and it left me with confusement, agitated for another and so -on, yes i,m on benefits but i diddent realize the benefit they were on about i diddent have, i contacted them explaining this and i,d also changed my dentist after 30 years of being with them, " reason"- because b u p a had bought them out and it became so "industrialized", i diddent like it
i haddent filled one of those forms out for decades either, now the bloke i spoke to said " there was no appeal process " { lie},when i found out there was i contacted them again this time an operator told me " oh i,ll put your account on hold then until youve finished with the appeal" { lie}the fine went from £159 to £201, 59 pounds of that was for my treatment, then i discoverd its not the n.h.s who are retrieving the fine but a debt management company", whose only interest is to take their greedy percentage from the fine!,so ive had to pay this, even though ive been lied to, money " extorted " from me. i am now complaing about the way all this has happend, plus if no satisfaction going to the omnwoodsman, they are not interested in mistakes on a piece of paper you filled in or the reason why, theyre interested in screwing what they can out of you.

It's your responsibility to make sure you tick the correct box when receiving NHS treatment. What benefits do you claim?

JJ_Egan

There is an appeal process as described on the letter telling you about the fine from NHBS .
But if its from a debt managment company then fine has not been appealed and not been paid .

calcotti

Sending them a copy of a bank statement confirming that you receive ESA will not be sufficient because this doesn't confirm whether your ESA is income based or contribution based. You need o supply a copy of your award letter confirming that you received income based ESA, the bank statement will provide support that you were receiving ESA at the relevant time. If you cannot find your ESA award letter ring DWP and they will supply a proof of benefit letter.