To think I shouldn't have to pay this?

[tireddotcomdot]

Maternity exemption certificate - didn't realise I needed an actually certificate or to apply for this before claiming free prescriptions. Wasn't until the third time I did claim that the pharmacy questioned where it was and explained I needed to apply. I applied straight away following this.
I have now received a penalty charge for claiming prescriptions prior to having the exemption card. States if I have since got the card I will not have to pay the penalty just the prescription cost.
AIBU in thinking it is unfair to have to pay this cost as at the time of the claim I was eligible just hadn't applied and it's not as though the card is valid for 12 mi this from the date of application so I am missing out on 3 months of free prescriptions that I shouldn't have had to pay. Has anyone else had this issue and challenged it? If so what was the outcome?

Oh dear, it will have been explained in one of the packs the Midwife provided.

They appear to have waived fine, so that's good, but without applying for maternity certificate & physically receiving it, you weren't exempt from prescription fees.

It's good to get in the habit of reading through booklets, letters etc the same evening you get stuff and becoming very proactive. It gets crazy busy & once DC are at school, it's hard to keep up otherwise.

Babies and children come with a lot of paperwork!!

ChocolateWombat don't be so patronising. I overlooked something (due to reassurance from a professional making me think I was fine) don't come preaching about responsibility and blowing it out of proportion... Christ

It's up to you to find out the requirements. You can't just feign ignorance.
Yes, you should pay it and be more careful to meet necessary requirements in future.
Not just prescriptions but other things in life unless you want to be the type who always gets fines and never learns.
Be careful where you park your car .

Oooh cross posted with @chocolatewombat , who was making same point as me but better & more comprehensively.

And I don't like your attitude towards the midwife.
She provided you with the information you needed ....on paper. They haven't time to talk through every little thing with each lady, so lots of info will be provided on paper.....this will be the case with lots of stuff to do with pregnancy and throughout parenthood. YOU have to take responsibility. If someone has special needs then they might be able to make extra provision for them or ask another adult to be involved to read the stuff and explain it to them, but otherwise, it is expected that adults having babies can do this stuff.

Are you someone who generally looks to blames others for things rather than taking responsibility for yourself? Sorry, but as a parent, it will be you who is responsible. Reading this, i canno,aging threads in a few years time moaning about nursery workers or teachers failing to do things which were actually your responsibility. Sorry, but that's what it sounds like - and I'm sorry but I find adults who can always find someone else to blame and feel they never bear any responsibility for things which happen in their own lives rather annoying.

Wow. Talk about blowing things out of proportion. I'm probably more responsible than most of you. Some jumped up people on here seriously. Turn something into a totally bigger issue that they seem to make up in their own head based on assumptions, seriously.

Yes you're right Op, you over-looked something. It's easy to do, but then you just have to take responsibility. Sorry if that sounded patronising. Despite many people saying you need to suck it up and take responsibility, you don't sound willing to do this, but to keep saying it was someone else's fault.

Anyway, no more to say from me apart from congratulations on your pregnancy and enjoy being a parent.

@tireddotcomdot

I think chocolate wombat is trying to help you, as are others. I didn't read her comment as patronising at all but instead is sound advice to help you give yourself a little shake and take an on the ball approach.

A certificate is something you physically have, do when it didn't arrive why not chase it (surely you weren't imagining your certificate was held elsewhere?).

I expect you are worn out and sleep deprived - but all us parents are and it is HARD - But you have to get proactive & be personally responsible as you go along.

Massive over reaction OP.

I'm probably more responsible than most of you

😂 most people would, unlike you, pay for the goods and services which they use without issue and not try to scrounge money out of the NHS. That means paying your prescription charges darling😘

Read up on things, read the literature or get caught out.

Ring the PPA tomorrow, explain what's happened. They're usually very understanding. I had a similar issue not too long ago and they cancelled the fine.

Make a mental note that you'll need to apply for Child Benefit too, OP (if applicable). Don't be like me, who somehow thought it should just magically appear in my bank account as soon as I'd had my baby not mentioning it was my THIRD child that I forgot to apply for it with

You didn't think the words "valid maternity exemption certificate" referred to an actual certificate?

What did you think it meant?!

🤦‍♀️

Huh. I had no idea you had to send off for a card either! I was just given the form at my booking in appointment and was told 'that's your maternity exemption certificate' - no mention of applying for anything. I assumed you took the form along if you needed a prescription/dentist.

I'm very glad I read this, as I have a dentist appointment in a few weeks and was intending to just take the form with me!

don't come preaching about responsibility and blowing it out of proportion... Christ

tbf , complaining about having to pay for a couple of prescriptions because you didn't apply for a certificate in time is blowing things a bit out of proportion. Most folks would just take it in their stride and pay up.

OP I actually somewhat agree with you.

I developed a condition meaning I get free prescriptions.

The first lot of medication I had to pay for but the pharmacy gave me a special receipt or something which I sent away and got my prescriptions refunded.

So I’m not saying it’s your midwife’s fault, nor that you’re faultless. But there’s a system in place for this. I reckon if you asked at the pharmacy what the certificate was then the same thing that I went through would have happened to me.

Sorry you’ve had to deal with nasty comments on this thread.

I had this problem too. Didn't realise that I didn't have the card till I was prescribed iron tablets when I was 8 months pregnant. I ticked the box and then got a fine letter.

I just replied and said that I was pregnant but didn't have the card at the time of collecting the tablets. I included all my details on the card.

Never got a reply but I never paid the fine either so assume my appeal was accepted. This was only 2 years ago so I don't think you should have a problem either.

You're not being fined for not having a card, your being fined in case you are claiming to be pregnant to get free prescriptions. Provide proof of your pregnancy and you won't have to pay the fine.