Local MP Steve Brine has taken up the matter of inappropriate charging for the renewal of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) after a number of constituents raised the alarm.
The Government provides an application service for insurance card renewals free of charge, but some websites have been charging for the facility.
Following an investigation, Anne Milton MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health, wrote to confirm that the Department of Health has been working with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) for over a year following the identification of certain websites charging for the process.
She said: "The OFT also... [announced] new investigations into a number of websites that charge people for government services. It also highlighted that the public should take care when searching the internet for any services that the government may provide without charge, or for a reduced fee, compared to those provided by private companies.
"We are continuing to investigate with the OFT if any further action regarding these sites is appropriate within the law, and will continue to work with it to raise public awareness of this matter."
More information...
Visit the OFT website at www.oft.gov.uk