healthchoice uk: A warning

[Olifin]

My son had a singles measles jab with this company last October and we paid £100 on the day for the next jab (Rubella) which was due to take place yesterday. We turned up for our appointment but the place was deserted and none of their phone numbers work.

A quick Google has revealed that other people are in the same situation. According to who you believe, healthchoice uk have either gone into liquidation OR are actually being investigated for fraud.

Meanwhile, I am £100 down and my son has not had his Rubella or Mumps jabs. I can't afford to pay again for the Rubella single so it looks as though he'll have to have the MMR anyway, which is precisely what I wanted to avoid

It seems the company's website is still up and running (though e-mails get bounced back) so there's nothing to stop more susceptible consumers printing off the registration form and sending it off with a cheque for their first vaccination...

Just wanted to put this warning out there in case anyone is currently looking at this clinic as a possible provider for their child's vaccines. STAY WELL AWAY!

What worries me more than anything is that I have no way of knowing if my son's 'measles' jab was legitimate at all

hi this company have been bugging me for a long time. My son had the Measles and the Rubella vax and Healthchoice UK seemed very professional. We paid £140 in November 2008 for the third and final vaccine, Mumpsvax but it is no longer being manufactured by Merck and I have requested a full refund from Healthchoice which obviously has not materialised. I have been in touch with Trading Standards and their regulator, The Care Quality Ccommission, and they have told me that Healthchoice are currently unlicensed as they have failed to register a current address. There is an incredibly helpful lady at the CQQ - her name is Sandra Meadows and she is currently investigating Healthchoice UK. The Director's name at Healthchoice is Catherine Durnford. They are taking money from the general public for a service they knowingly cannot provide. I am going after them in the Small Claims Court and would like to hear from anyone who would like to join me. Strength in numbers! In my opinion, Healthchoice UK are posing a public health risk as parents will not be able to get their children vaccinated against the mumps infection if they choose to pay for Heathchoice's private service.

I have been trying to contact the company since September 2009, now their phone number is simply unobtainable. Previously I have had no problem reaching them by phone. I emailed them and got a brief response back saying that they were experiencing problems with their phone lines but this has now been going on for 3 months and the situation is unchanged. I do not believe that they wouldn't have resolved their telecommunications problems in 3 months! I have written to them asking for a refund, but have had no response. I find it frustrating that I have paid £140 for a service that is no longer available, but even more worrying that my son has been left at unacceptable risk of infection by Healtchoice UK. He has subsequently had the MMR on the NHS, resulting in a waste of £420 for the whole course of the individual vaccines. There must be thousands of people in this position, not to mention the public health risk it poses with children not being vaccinated against mumps - and there has recently been an outbreak in East Anglia. I would be very grateful if anybody can contact me if they are in a similar position and then perhaps we could get the media involved and expose this company for what it is. Negligent and Fraudulent. Please contact me!

ps - the address that healthchoice UK are using - at The Bakehouse, Lullingstone, Eynsford, Kent, DA4 0JA - would appear to be no longer in use. So obviously writing there to either the company themselves or their liquidators will do no good. I have had two recorded letters returned to me as Royal Mail have been unable to deliver. My local Trading Standards have been in touch with the Kent branch and an inspector went round to the property in December 2009 and couldn't gain access. Apparently, it is a big country estate and The Bakehouse is one of the outbuildings on the estate, but it is a gated community and he couldn't get in. Handy or what for Healthchoice UK!?! I would refute Kent police's assetion that this isn't a police matter - it is fraud at the most sophisticated level and that is definitely a criminal offence!

Hi Lynsclarie, I think you may have just posted on another forum about this; was about to reply to you there!

YES, I'm very interested in trying to take some action about this. I know NOTHING about legal processes whatsoever but I'm willing to try and find out!

In a rush now to sort the kids out but will post back later on or tomorrow.

Hello, We have heard the same things about HealthChoiceUK, My son had his measles jab in October where we paid for the next jab. He is due to have this on Saturday, but by the sounds of it they are unlikely to show. We will turn up on the off chance but aren't expecting anyone to be there.

Lynsclaire - i am definately up for trying to get this in the media to warn others off, and would love to hear from anyone who knows a way of trying to get our money back. The only idea i have is to all write to Watchdog, i'm sure if they get enough letters they'll do a feature.

Hi again ladies,

Just to update on what I've heard today as this may affect what we all do next in terms of trying to get money back etc..

I had a call this morning from a lovely officer at Kent Police who was extremely helpful and spoke to me at length about the situation.

After having a bit of trouble tracking her down, they managed to get hold of Kathryn Durnford at her home yesterday. They spent three hours interviewing her and inspecting her accounts and paperwork. They have concluded that she is not guilty of any fraud, simply of running a business which could not be maintained. Yes, she and her company have been uncontactable and have not returned people's money, but that in itself is not fraud. They could only prove fraud if the company were taking people's money KNOWING that they couldn't provide the service, and they can't prove this. In fact, the cheques that the company have received in recent weeks (since they realised they were going under) have apparently not been paid in and will be returned to customers. (Sadly, they banked mine back in October )

He said Kathryn Durnford is guilty of nothing more that poor management. Evidently, companies like this can operate on a shoestring, e.g. by paying staff weekly, using rented equipment (and obviously not having their own premises for clinics). Because of this, they are able to 'fold' within hours. One day they're up and running, the next they're not.

The company were registered with the Care commission but de-registered themselves when it became clear they were no longer able to provide the service.

In order to try to get our money back, we can contact consumer direct or Companies House where we should be able to find out the name of the Administrators involved in sorting out the accounts (if any have been appointed yet). He also said that the local press in the Dartford area may carry information about the administrators of the company. If anyone happens to live in the Kent area, maybe you could keep an eye on your local press for us? He didn't comment on how likely it was that we would be able to obtain refunds.

From a health point of view, the Police officer was sympathetic to our worries but feels confident that the innoculations provided WERE as they were supposed to be, The company was operating for 8 years and if any of the vaccines had been suspect, it would have come to light before now. He suggested that we each seek advice from our own GPs with regard to possibly being tested for antibodies from the existing vaccinations and for advice on what to do next re. the rest of the vaccines our children have not yet had.

He suggested we keep an eye on the national press as he thinks there will be a few stories on this coming out.

So, very disappointing for us all, I'm sure, but at least we know where we stand now

Hi, My son was due his 2nd of the boosters today, i only tried to ring them on the off chance before xmas as my letter and the website had different venues.
I have since sent numerous e mails and have had not one reply. It is quite clear what has happened thanks to forums like this !
I am so dissapointed, My son is part vacinated. I did have my eldest son vacinated with Healthchoice and had no problems at all.
My local paper is doing a story on Monday in the hope that it stops other parents forwarding on money (although the post above suggests they won't cash cheques anyway) but to someone looking for single jabs the website seems fully up and running. if anyone wants to have a look it should be on their website www.thisisexeter.co.uk.
I hope everyone doesnt have a awful time trying to decide what to do now. I don't want to be pushed down the triple jab route as, lets face it thats what we were all trying to avoid, but don't really see another option.
Good luck everyone
Kressida (Exeter)
(olifin your post is great, thanks for the info )

I also had my Son booked for measles vaccine in Exeter this weekend.... Obviously Healthchoice UK failed to show. I have called Companies House and they have listed the Company to be dissolved. people must write to Comapnies House and "Oppose the application to strike off the Company, and object to the Company being dissolved" otherwise the Company will be dissolved and nobody can get their money back.
Please help - does anyone have legal advise how to proceed? Also any ideas where we can get the single vaccine? This is a noghtmare.... please help

bitterley disappointed with Healthchoice uk. we ahve lost well over £300 and my son will now have to have to have the mmr on top of the rubella and measels vaccine he has already had as singles. They have explioted parents and their children. I hope they can sleep at night.

bitterley disappointed with Healthchoice uk. we have lost well over £300 and my son will now have to have to have the mmr on top of the rubella and measels vaccine he has already had as singles. They have explioted parents and their children. I hope they can sleep at night.

Goodness, I'm shocked . DD had her measles vac a year ago at another company with a similar name. I didn't feel comfortable with them so for the rubella I went to Healthchoice and thought they were fab! Based at a lovely new clinic, really friendly blah blah. They asked if I wanted notification when the mumps came in (which I knew it wouldn't) but of course I said ok on the off chance. Didn't hand over any cash for the mumps vac though, wasn't asked to. I'm really stunned by this and actually expected it to be the first company I used when I read the title.

Sorry for everyone who has lost out over this

Hi We have had all the singles jabs for our two sons except the last mumps jab for our youngest so I guess we have paid the most. My youngest is now well overdue for his second mumps vax and I don't know what to do. I don't want him to have the MMR. I am a special needs teacher and teach children with Autism. Does anyone know where we could get a single mumps vax?

Hi there.

I too have used Healthchoice UK. My son had the Measles and Rubella jabs. All seemed fine, then paid £155 up front for the Mumps injection back in August 2009, and did not hear from them again. I have just emailed HC UK (for the umpteenth time) saying that if I don't hear from them regarding a refund, then I will be taking them to the small claims court. Though I don't yet know the procedure for this.

I tried last weekend to catch them at a clinic they rented from time to time in Southampton, but was greeted by the owner of the clinic informing me that he was owed rent and that they were not coming that day!

I tried to find out about them through Companies House, and UKData who recently sent me an email only indicating that HC UK's Risk Score and Credit limit had changed. No other info than that afraid.

Please advise on me of further info if anyone has any.

DON'T GO NEAR THIS COMPANY.

Just read all of the messages regarding Healthchoice UK. I too have lost my final monies paid for injections. My daughter was due September 2008. I received a letter a few days before her injections stating that they could not obtain supply of the drug and that I would receive a further appointment during April 2009. April came and I did not have an appointment so I rang the company (number still valid at that point), and they told me that I would receive an appointment in due course. I left it to the beginning of this year to find (like yourselves) the number being no longer available. I have also written to the regulator named in the Healthchoice UK booklet (three weeks ago), but I have not received a reply. I too would add my details to a campaign or whatever is best to try and get back our monies. Now I too am in the predicament as to whether to go for single with another company (though not too keen), or go for the MMR.

My daughter has an appointment tomorrow for measles injection. She was meant to have had this booster in October 2009 but Healthchoice did not appear for the clinic at the Holiday Inn in Cambridge. We re-booked and after last time I decided to confirm that the clinic would take place tomorrow. Telephone numbers for healthchoice are not in use and the Holiday Inn say that they never had a booking for this clinic.
Having read the message from " Olifin" about her conversation with Kent Police that states Healthchoice are only guilty of fraud if they knowingly took money for something they knew they would not supply then surely this then surely based on this they are gulity of fraud. They took money from people for a clinic that they never intended to run - Confirmed by the fact that Holiday Inn never had a booking for 20thFeb.

My goodness, it makes sense! I have been trying to contact this company for months regarding the re-stocking of the mumps vaccine...I cant believe parents can be taken for a ride like this on an important health decision for their children. Thankfully I didnt pay in advance for the final vaccine but now Im really worried that my son doesnt have immunity to the two diseases he has been vaccinated for. This is the last thing any parent needs to worry about. I wonder whether this company could at least contact the parents waiting for the vaccines just to let them know of the situation they face...surely this is not alot to ask?! I'm so disappointed to say the least.

I am so glad for forums like this as i like most of us parents i have been left completely in the dark and concerned that they havent administered the vaccines properly. I used choice healthcare services with my son and should have stayed with them.

Thank you olifin for your information!

My daughter had he first appointment today for the mumps vaccination through Health choice UK only to be told they were in liquidation. I had paid £100 in advance for these vaccines and cannot get in touch with anyone. The local hotel that they should of been at had no record of any bookings having been made for Health Choice UK to hold vaccination surgeries for the past 18 months.

I have just posted a message and would also like to join Lynsclaire in her action if she is willing to contact me.

hi, i am having the same problem at the moment and I am looking to try and get some sort of refund, although I am sure its not going to be very likely both my sons were vaccinated with hc uk and i had no problems what so ever. But with my daughter she has had the measels and rubella and we paid for the mumps, which they said was delayed till Oct 2009. I emailed them in Nov as i could get no ans with the phone line and i DID get a responce saying the vaccine is coming but to be paitent.

Its now March 2010!!!! I still cannot get hold of them via phone and have emailed them asking for a refund. A delivery system now keeps sending my email back. I am now £150 out of pocket and my daughter has not been immunised properly, i cant believe it i am so upset.

I am going to write to the Office of Fair Traiding to see if there is anything i can do, if anyone else would like address to do the same i have put at the bottom of my post. If anyone else has any other advice i would really appreciate it as haven't really a clue what to do next.

Office of Fair Trading
Fleetbank House
2-6 Salisbury Square
London
EC4 8JX

Hi all,

I'm in the same boat - DS2 and DD3 had jabs in Oct 09 and were due to go back for the rest around now (DD3 had had both measles and 1 rubella and DD2 has had 1 measles). I rang them this morning to book and no numbers that I have work, can't access website and BT directory enquiries no longer have a listing.

Am deffo up for joining together with any action we want to take, whether it's court or media etc. Am really annoyed about this as have now booked them both in for MMR next week - went through all of this just to avoid the triple jab! The money is a pain as I can't afford to lose it, but nowhere near as important as now feeling forced to give my kids MMR becuase this company couldn't manage themselves properly.

I would have minded less if they had contacted me to tell me, but finding out by stealth has really annoyed me.

We too have lost money with Healthchoice UK and I am concerned now about the vaccines that my daughter has had (measles and rubella). I've not made appointment for her to have the MMR as I'm so anti it. My son is now 13 months and I'd like to have him vaccinated separately too but am unsure now what to do!
I would like to be involved with any group action.

we must be 1 of the lucky ones, Health Choice UK never took the payment for the next vaccine, my son is now 3 yrs, he has had the measels and rubella vaccines, we have been waiting for the mumps vaccine, im worried now i know Health choice have gone under, i dont know what to do, does anyone know of anywhere else that does the single vaccines??

Hi
My son was vaccinated by Health Choice Uk in Southampton and I was very impressed by their arrangements and professionalism. My daughter's been part vaccinated - measles and rubella, but not mumps.

At the last injection, they said they were having problems with supply of the mumps vaccine and didn't take payment for the next injection. It sounds like the shortage of the mumps vaccine has put them out of business. Direct Remedies also offers single injections but they haven't got the mumps vaccine either... apparently Merck have simply stopped making it.

What a shame. The Government's put a lot of effort into vilifying Andrew Wakefield and depriving us parents of our freedom of choice and frankly, it seems like they've succeeded.

I guess I'd better get the triple injection for my daughter. At least she's older now....

PS to previous email - the Direct Remedies has more information on the mumps vaccination shortage
www.directremedies.com/mumpsvaxShortage.htm