PCN NHS Prescriptions

deece1

Hi,

I’m hoping someone might be able to help. I have received 2 x PCNs for NHS Prescriptions totalling £118.80. I am a single, working part-time and struggle with anxiety. Although medication helps, at times I am feel paralysed with fear and just about manage work and most importantly taking care of my children. During these periods I struggle to manage daily tasks which have resulted in red notices from council tax, unpaid bills and a CCJ.

When I spoke to the lady at NHS Business Services Authority she said I couldn’t use that as a defence, even if my doctor put it in writing. I agree the error was mine but explained that the sum requested is really high and I have little money left after bills, a mortgage and a lot of debit. She said they would accept a monthly dd of £9.99. Is there anyway I can pay for the prescription charge but not the penalty charge?

I’m also concerned there may be further PCNs and the costs could run into £000s

I would appreciate any guidance on this matter.

Many thanks.

born_again

So is t his a case of Prepayment cert not being renewed, & prescriptions being taken after ticking you had a prepayment cert?

From previous threads, they will not back down.

itsthelittlethings

Yes, how did you come to incur the PCNs?

sheramber

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6671609/pcn-nhs-prescriptions

Why did you not pay for the prescriptions?

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6671609/pcn-nhs-prescriptions

Assuming it's a pre-paid then why not get an annual one on auto-renewal so it automatically renews itself without you having to think about it?

I've forgotten to renew my pre-existing medical exception, I'm never going to fix my birth defect that entitles my claim but the NHSBSA simply points out that its having the cert not the condition that entitles free prescriptions so to suck it up and remember to renew it in 5 years when the next one expires.

itsthelittlethings

Whatever the reason, I have never heard of them letting someone off and letting them just pay the charge. They're well known for being pretty strict.

Muttleythefrog

As above… very unlikely you'll be able to get around the penalties… I would think you'd have to show something for example like an official government page where you followed their incorrect advice on who needs to pay for prescriptions. It sounds however that you accept it is your error.

What was the reason you did not pay/failed to appropriately pay? (To check we're not missing some angle here)

peteuk

I’m not 100% sure how this happened…

A). Did you have no cash and so ticked the box and signed you had a prepayment to avoid the script cost.

B). Did you have a lapsed prepayment but ticked the box and didn’t pay

C). Think your on benefits that allows free prescriptions.

As mentioned your circumstances wont be taken into account to remove the charges. Not sure if you can get a reduction as its X days since the charges were notified.

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82027763#Comment_82027763

Well, if they did not apply the penalty for incorrectly claimed prescription charges and only applied the original prescription charge, there'd be no reason for anybody to pay the prescription charge unless they were caught not paying when they should have paid.

Boohoo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82030256#Comment_82030256

This maybe not be the same as the OP but a couple of years ago my better half who had a pre payment card had a prescription at the chemist

She gets a prescription every 56 days and orders online through GP surgery and her script is sent the the chemist and delivered.

This time the GP didn't put all the items on the script and when delivered was short so had to call and get the sent over to the chemo.

Her pre payment had expired and she went to annual DD but there was a week between the old one end and new started.

She told the chemist about this and said when she gets confirmation she will go to the chemist and show them the letter so they can input the new details and said they will not do the script usage goes to the chemist.

She collects the script and a few days later gets a fine in the post and the reason was the chemist filled the script and as it is automatically done(no need to sign) it was down as having a valid pre payment card and they filled it even though expired.

Yes she should of made sure the chemist had upto date details but they shouldn't of filled the script and she never got it overturned.

Just to be clear all the scripts are sent to a chemist of your choosing and you don't get a paper one to sign but maybe you do sign in the chemist but she never did as she got items delivered.

LightFlare

surely the relevant box gets completed at time of pick-up - I always get asked when I pick up

It’s for the individual to be aware if they have to pay (or not) and to ensure that they do (or don’t) pay at pick up

I get that people may forget/not realise any entitlement or pre paid option has expired - but as with many other things, it’s a binary result. At the time of pick up, you were either entitled to free prescription or not - no In between