[ad_1]
One of the UK’s largest providers of COVID-19 tests is under investigation by the competition watchdog after a number of complaints from customers.
Expert Medicals has been accused of failing to provide PCR tests and results on time, or not at all in some cases.
The company also allegedly failed to respond to complaints and allegedly refused to issue refunds, according to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
August 5: How does the government make travel decisions?
The watchdog wrote to 19 other testing companies asking them to stop advertising misleading prices or face legal action under consumer protection laws.
The organization said it was concerned that companies advertised bogus tests at very low prices when they were not available at that price or had hidden conditions, such as where the tests should be collected from.
Expert Medicals has been removed from the government’s list of test providers and has been the subject of numerous complaints to the CMA and Citizen Advice.
Companies on the list must self-declare that they meet the government’s minimum standards for COVID-19 testing.
Last week, the watchdog sent an open letter to service providers warning that a range of harmful practices in the sector could violate consumer protection laws.
In addition to the concerns outlined on Friday, those prices include advertising for tests that do not include hidden fees.
Expensive tests for travel to low-risk countries ‘completely unnecessary’
Ministers had previously said they would tell 82 companies that they would be removed from the list on the government’s website if they advertise misleading prices.
Millions of people have to buy PCR tests in order to travel, and vacationers have expressed concerns about the high costs.
“If we find that companies mislead customers and fail to provide the service that people have paid for, we are ready to take action,” said CMA chief executive Andrea Coseli.
Catch up on daily broadcasts on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Spreaker
He said their measures were taken “to ensure that the PCR test market for consumers is functioning.”
PCR tests, which use a swab to detect coronavirus on the tonsils and inside the nose, typically cost £68 and are offered by more than 400 companies.
|
Sources 2/ https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMie2h0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2NvdmlkLTE5LW1ham9yLXRlc3RpbmctcHJvdmlkZXItYmVpbmctaW52ZXN0aWdhdGVkLWJ5LXdhdGNoZG9nLW92ZXItY3VzdG9tZXItY29tcGxhaW50cy0xMjM5ODUzM9IBf2h0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2FtcC9jb3ZpZC0xOS1tYWpvci10ZXN0aW5nLXByb3ZpZGVyLWJlaW5nLWludmVzdGlnYXRlZC1ieS13YXRjaGRvZy1vdmVyLWN1c3RvbWVyLWNvbXBsYWludHMtMTIzOTg1MzM?oc=5 The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article |
[ad_2]