Over 80 private Covid travel test providers listed on the government’s website receive a two-strike warning over misleading prices. Another 57 companies are being removed as they do not exist or do not provide relevant tests.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid says the move is to clamp down on “cowboy behaviour”. In addition, the government are also introducing spot checks on test providers.
One of the conditions for international travel is mandatory Covid tests before travelling and on arrival in the UK. The number of tests required depends on a person’s vaccination status or the destination they are coming from.
A list of private companies offering tests is published on the government website. But a recent review by the Department of Health found prices displayed on the Gov.UK site were less than the actual cost.
Travellers commonly complained about tests on the government’s list of providers not existing at the advertised price, and also about poor service they received.
The health secretary says “it is absolutely unacceptable for any private testing company to be taking advantage of holidaymakers”. Companies are now warned that if they ever advertise misleading prices again, “they’re off”.
The introduction of spot checks will ensure that all private providers “follow the rules” and meet the government’s “high standards of transparency”.
You can’t get a Covid test for £20
Meanwhile, consumer body Which? claims it warned the government six months ago about the problems with private travel test providers. They say “It’s welcome news that the government is finally taking responsibility for its list of test providers and carrying out an audit, but it’s six months late”.
Which? believe that the government should never have had providers on the list that do not exist. They say they found this during an investigation in April, and repeatedly reported some Covid test suppliers to the government.
A second investigation, looking at the 10 cheapest providers, found that none of the tests listed as less than £80, were actually available for that amount. Following Which?’s submission of these firms, three of the ten names were removed in June.
The government has not named the providers it intends to remove from the Gov.UK website, or those that will receive warnings. But Which? thinks they will target companies that offer Covid tests starting from £20. They say it’s just not possible to get a test for as little as that. Generally, the cheapest prices are around £40-£50. According to Which?, “a lot of these firms offering £20 tests require you to drive to somewhere in England on a specific day, such as in Middlesbrough. When you try to book the test online, the booking calendar is almost always full”.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is “very anxious” to reduce the cost of tests for consumers. However, not enough is being done to protect people, and PCR travel testing is becoming a rip-off.
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