Pre-pay prescription cert penalty charge. How to challenge

TheGardener

I received a letter saying that I had received a prescription and that there was no record of a pre-payment certificate. It is true there was no valid pre-paid certificate in my name. What is also true is that I did not receive a prescription during the dates given in the letter and I am at a loss as to why they think I did. 
I have endeavoured to 'challenge' the decision to charge me the £100 penalty but the only option I am given is to prove I had a pre-paid certificate - which I can not do as I didn't have one. Is anyone aware of how to make a challenge on grounds other than that ? The phone line is simply an answer phone that says 'we're too busy to answer' and the web form only allows a challenge on the ground I had a valid cert. 

DullGreyGuy

Do a DSAR request with NHS BSA asking for a copy of it?

TheGardener

DullGreyGuy said:

Do a DSAR request with NHS BSA asking for a copy of it?

Sorry - what is a DSAR?

DullGreyGuy

Data Subject Access Request... its your right under data privacy laws to get copies of information held on you by companies etc.

Their process for this is documented on https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/our-policies/privacy

TheGardener

Ok, thank you. I have asked my GP to provide a list of all appointments during a 3-month period (month before and after the dates given in the letter) I'm pretty convinced after a search of all calendars, emails, OH's memory and my phone that I did not attend any medical appointments during the dates (or for several months before for that matter) other than for my covid booster. 

calcotti

TheGardener said:

Ok, thank you. I have asked my GP to provide a list of all appointments during a 3-month period (month before and after the dates given in the letter) I'm pretty convinced after a search of all calendars, emails, OH's memory and my phone that I did not attend any medical appointments during the dates (or for several months before for that matter) other than for my covid booster. 

You could have got a repeat prescription without having an appointment. Not saying that you did just taht the absence of an appointment does't demonstrate that you didn't have a prescription.

HillStreetBlues

You could try e-mailing them.
nhsbsa.pecs@nhsbsa.nhs.uk

TheGardener

calcotti said:

TheGardener said:

Ok, thank you. I have asked my GP to provide a list of all appointments during a 3-month period (month before and after the dates given in the letter) I'm pretty convinced after a search of all calendars, emails, OH's memory and my phone that I did not attend any medical appointments during the dates (or for several months before for that matter) other than for my covid booster. 

You could have got a repeat prescription without having an appointment. Not saying that you did just taht the absence of an appointment does't demonstrate that you didn't have a prescription.

I am fortunate in that I don't require any regular medication - and the GP has confirmed no prescription has been issued in my name since July 2021 and a look at my bank statement proves I paid for that item when I collected it. I have checked and double-checked that the website, letter and phone numbers are legitimate (they are) so I can only assume some sort of fraudulent claim in my name or a cackhanded administrator somewhere clicked the wrong name or wrong box. It's Friday afternoon so I'm not going to get much further today  - I'll resume the investigation next week

Robin9

Do you have the NHS App  (works on a laptop as well as phone) - that will confirm doctor appointments.

PS Dentists also issue prescriptions

TheGardener

Thanks - we have checked all options, dental, medical, and optical and drawn a blank. GP has confirmed no appointments or prescriptions since July 2021 so still all a bit of a mystery. 

baser999

Is it possible for someone to obtain a prescription in another’s name? Could someone have phoned the GP on the pretext of being OP? Bit far-fetched perhaps but when you look at how sophisticated scammers can be . . . .