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Original poster

Enquiry letter - NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate

26 replies

hettiethehare · 05/06/2023 14:46

I've had an enquiry letter claiming that I claimed a free prescription between two dates in February and said I had a valid prescription prepayment certificate.

I know I didn't, as mine lapsed last October and I have been paying for my prescription since then as I'm on less medication now and it wasn't worth it. I've tried to challenge it online but the only evidence accepted seems to be that I had a valid exemption? I have got evidence that I paid £9.35 to my pharmacy on a date in the range given (which is the amount of a prescription) - will that be sufficient?

I'm not sure what to do - it's a £100 fine if they don't accept that which I will be really pissed off about as I paid for the bloody prescription!

OP posts:
dontletmedowngently · 05/06/2023 15:39

I had this with a dental appointment last year - they had ticked the box to say that I had a tax credit exemption certificate but I’d paid because we were no longer eligible.

The only way that it could be cancelled was by the dentist’s confirming that I had paid, they wouldn’t accept any proof from me. It took ages for them to sort it out between them, and I kept getting letters about it even though I spoke to them and they agreed to put it on hold while they waited for the confirmation from the dentist.

Original poster
hettiethehare · 05/06/2023 16:11

@dontletmedowngently oh bums.

I'm wondering if something similar has happened here, actually. There was one occasion that the pharmacist just handed me my prescription and I told her I needed to pay for it - I wonder if there has been a similar mix up.

What a pain. I'll be really hacked off if I can't prove I paid for it as, if what I think might have happened did happen, then I actively made sure I paid for it the same way you did.

OP posts:
LIZS · 05/06/2023 16:22

You have to sign the reverse, would you not have checked which box was ticked? They should be able to provide you with a copy.

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Scont · 05/06/2023 16:27

LIZS · 05/06/2023 16:22

You have to sign the reverse, would you not have checked which box was ticked? They should be able to provide you with a copy.

I haven't signed a script in years, they are sent electronically I presumed they tick the box online and issue (carrier bags full) meds.

Original poster
hettiethehare · 05/06/2023 16:30

If I signed the reverse, I would have filled in the bit at the bottom confirming I have paid £x I think? I wouldn't have signed off confirming I was exempt?

I'm now stressed as the last prescription I picked up (and paid for!) which was after this one I didn't sign anything at all for as I remember thinking at the time that it was a bit odd, but then not worrying about it and they would have asked me if I needed to sign for it.

I shall be double checking everything going forward!

OP posts:
Original poster
hettiethehare · 05/06/2023 16:31

@Scont ah - yes, mine is sent electronically.

OP posts:
Changingmynameyetagain · 05/06/2023 16:34

The pharmacy you got the prescription from can email the NHSBSA to get the fine cancelled, you just need to ask them. They need to email [email protected] with all the details.
I've done that for a patient before when we accidentally claimed they had a maternity exemption but it had expired and we didn't update our records.

JeandeServiette · 05/06/2023 16:39

I would change pharmacies once you've ironed it out. Sounds like they've taken your cash payment& claimed exemption payment too,

Original poster
hettiethehare · 05/06/2023 16:43

Thanks all - I'm just really glad I paid for it on my card and didn't buy anything else at the same time, otherwise I'd be doubting myself whether I paid it at all!

OP posts:
LIZS · 05/06/2023 16:55

Mine is requested online and sent to chemist electronically but I still sign the green counterfoil which they keep and they give me the tear off repeat request.

BungleandGeorge · 05/06/2023 17:02

JeandeServiette · 05/06/2023 16:39

I would change pharmacies once you've ironed it out. Sounds like they've taken your cash payment& claimed exemption payment too,

There isn’t an ‘exemption payment’. The prescription charges are a tax collected by the government. The pharmacy claim for the cost of the drug plus a fee, they don’t keep the prescription charge

JeandeServiette · 05/06/2023 17:56

LIZS · 05/06/2023 16:55

Mine is requested online and sent to chemist electronically but I still sign the green counterfoil which they keep and they give me the tear off repeat request.

Why would OP sign anything if she's paying?

JeandeServiette · 05/06/2023 17:58

It still suggests incompetence or a duplication or both doesn't @BungleandGeorge ?

LIZS · 05/06/2023 18:01

@JeandeServiette I still sign for receipt, even though I pay.

JeandeServiette · 05/06/2023 18:10

What are you signing for @LIZS? To say you've paid? I often collect prepaid, medical
Exemption and paid at once . There is nothing to countersign if you're paying.

LIZS · 05/06/2023 18:16

The back of the printed green prescription slip. Maybe it is just that chemists' process as dh who is exempt recently swapped to a different chemist but don't recall signing anything there. They just confirm verbally he is exempt,

JeandeServiette · 05/06/2023 18:19

Yes processes must vary.
At our previous address/pharmacy they always did all the signing and squiggling now I think about it.

Bigpinkslippers · 05/06/2023 18:22

I had this a few years ago. I asked for a copy of the prescription and then I sent a copy of my bank statement which showed the payment to the chemist on the date in question. The fine was cancelled.
I now always pay be card as if I'd payed cash I'd have had no proof.

Original poster
hettiethehare · 09/06/2023 10:52

I had an email back from NHS prescriptions saying to speak to my pharmacy - which I have done and they have confirmed that their records show that I did pay for that prescription. But they won't contact NHS prescriptions directly as they have never heard of this happening before and don't understand it - helpful!!

OP posts:
GrannieD · 09/06/2023 13:19

I had this too a couple of years ago. I had to screenshot mobile banking payment and send to the NHS business email. Never heard a thing after that

Original poster
hettiethehare · 16/06/2023 12:01

Just to update this in case anyone ends up searching for it - got an email confirming that my payment evidence (credit card statement) was accepted and case closed - phew!

I shall be checking what I sign very carefully from now on and always paying by card so I have evidence I've paid!

OP posts:
JeandeServiette · 16/06/2023 13:51

They're sending them out like confetti. I had one despite having a certificate. Friend'd DS had one despite a valid exemption. They weren't even cross matching properly.

Arniesleftleg · 03/07/2023 08:03

I've had a letter to say I claimed a prescription at the end of April without a PPC. My PPC was valid but now they're threatening a fine. Trying to get any sense out of any of them, let alone get them to answer the phone is impossible! I'm livid. I've sent them a copy of the amount leaving my bank. I cancelled the PPC after the last script but renewed it last week. They will clearly see that I've paid for two prescriptions is in between. It's like banging your head against a wall.

Original poster
hettiethehare · 03/07/2023 11:47

@Arniesleftleg I hope you manage to get it sorted. I never managed to get anyone to answer the phone - I ended up emailing and it did get sorted out eventually (albeit slowly as it took 3 days to respond to any emails I sent).

OP posts:
RuthW · 03/07/2023 12:16

Did you tick the wrong box on the back?