Atruchecks testing scam?

Pollycat

CephalopodBC said:

And yes, I have brought this to my MP’s attention.

Good.

It would be interesting to hear what response you get.

CKhalvashi

CephalopodBC said:

My issue with them was resolved by informing NHS Track and Trace who sent replacement tests as Atruchecks were completely unresponsive. My credit card company also issued me with a refund on the grounds of customer fraud given that that Day 2 came and went and they did not provide the tests nor respond to calls and emails. 
We can quibble over technicalities of “government approved” but implicitly the government has endorsed Atruchecks: the gov.uk website is non-exhaustive. There are test providers not on it (including those close to where I live but as they are not listed on gov.uk, I decided to use one that was, unfortunately). Listing some firms on the site and others not is de facto endorsement.
As for the government’s little warning that everyone is responsible for their own due diligence, there are 120+ providers listed on gov.uk. It is unreasonable to expect people to look into that many providers - particularly those who might be older and lack the technology or language skills to do so. So fine, HMG can cover their backside against legal challenges with a bit of wording, but in practice most will assume, as I did, that listing on gov.uk means there is a reasonable minimum standard of delivery.
Lastly, if you look at Atrucheck’s Trustpilot page, the 1 star reviews keep rolling in - there are circa 500 in the past week with the same story. Therefore, Atruchecks continues to take customers’ money knowing full well they cannot deliver and they refuse to provide refunds - actually they don’t even respond to customers at all. How is that not fraud? Why would we not at least consider the possibility of fraud or a scam here? 

Did you pay for the tests you were sent by Serco Track and Trace? If no, you have a moral duty to pass this money back to whoever did pay for them.

Not all testing services are appropriate for day 2/8, as there are other steps that must be taken in the event of a positive test.

JanetHazel

CKhalvashi said:

CephalopodBC said:

My issue with them was resolved by informing NHS Track and Trace who sent replacement tests as Atruchecks were completely unresponsive. My credit card company also issued me with a refund on the grounds of customer fraud given that that Day 2 came and went and they did not provide the tests nor respond to calls and emails. 
We can quibble over technicalities of “government approved” but implicitly the government has endorsed Atruchecks: the gov.uk website is non-exhaustive. There are test providers not on it (including those close to where I live but as they are not listed on gov.uk, I decided to use one that was, unfortunately). Listing some firms on the site and others not is de facto endorsement.
As for the government’s little warning that everyone is responsible for their own due diligence, there are 120+ providers listed on gov.uk. It is unreasonable to expect people to look into that many providers - particularly those who might be older and lack the technology or language skills to do so. So fine, HMG can cover their backside against legal challenges with a bit of wording, but in practice most will assume, as I did, that listing on gov.uk means there is a reasonable minimum standard of delivery.
Lastly, if you look at Atrucheck’s Trustpilot page, the 1 star reviews keep rolling in - there are circa 500 in the past week with the same story. Therefore, Atruchecks continues to take customers’ money knowing full well they cannot deliver and they refuse to provide refunds - actually they don’t even respond to customers at all. How is that not fraud? Why would we not at least consider the possibility of fraud or a scam here? 

Did you pay for the tests you were sent by Serco Track and Trace? If no, you have a moral duty to pass this money back to whoever did pay for them.

Not all testing services are appropriate for day 2/8, as there are other steps that must be taken in the event of a positive test.

Neither point you make is relevant, and as for moral duties, are you for real? 
If the testing service is not appropriate then why is it listed by the government as a provider? 
Stick with the relevant issue!

JanetHazel

BBC headline today. 

Travellers at mercy of rogue testing firms, says Which?

Pollycat

Here is the link to the article mentioned above:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57415972

There is mention in the article:

Several firms, listed by the government as approved providers, failed to deliver test kits on time, or failed to return results.

which is at odds with the statement on GOV.UK.

I've only done a quick scan but I can't see Atruchecks on GOV.UK now.

You may also be interested in this (yes, I know it's the Daily Mail)

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9662301/Chaos-travellers-customer-complaints-mount-Covid-test-firm-Atruchecks.html

CephalopodBC

CKhalvashi said:

Did you pay for the tests you were sent by Serco Track and Trace? If no, you have a moral duty to pass this money back to whoever did pay for them.
Not all testing services are appropriate for day 2/8, as there are other steps that must be taken in the event of a positive test.

The NHS sent replacement test - no option to pay for them. If you are asking if travellers *should* pay for COVID tests, I would say yes and I’d be happy to find out how once the dispute over the bank refund is settled. However, you have a very strange definition of ‘moral obligation’ here - sure the moral obligation is on Atruchecks to refund customers and to compensate the NHS for stepping in??
And again, as for fraud - the OP’s post is “…scam?” - this raising the question of there being a fraud or scam, not saying they had definitive proof. There is enough behaviour here to raise suspicions of this being a fraud and it should be investigated. Raising these types of questions when warranted - as in this case - should be encouraged, not discouraged. In my letter to my MP, I stated that Atruchecks and firms like it, should be investigated for fraud as there is enough circumstantial evidence to warrant an investigation.
And yes, Atruchecks has been removed from the gov.uk list, finally.

JanetHazel

A first notice compulsory strike off notice was filed in the Gazette and was filed at Companies House on 15th June. 

goingpostal

How will that affect people's chances of getting their money back via chargeback on their credit cards?

Pollycat

goingpostal said:

How will that affect people's chances of getting their money back via chargeback on their credit cards?

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/visa-mastercard-chargeback/

michael1234

Pollycat said:

goingpostal said:

Yes, it has been approved. Also written about in the Parliamentary review.
Worth noting that the other company called Atrumed owned by the the same person has been issued with a Compulsory strike off in the last 24 hours.

Appearing on a list of companies on GOV.UK does not make it approved.

Especially when GOV.UK says:

The government does not endorse or recommend any specific test provider - you should do your own research about them and their terms and conditions.

Where does it say that the government approves Atruchecks?

Some companies are not legally entitled to provide certain PCR test related services. The government has compiled seperate lists which it publishes on its website along with the disclaimer. Those companies are legally entitled to provide the service related to the list.

Surely any reasonable person would conclude from that the government endorses all providers on the list to provide the relevant service and its disclaimer is intended to ensure it doesn't endorse one provider over another.

That is my opinion only and I would not want to dress it up as fact.