Hello everyone,
I'm yet another soul thats come from google looking at the forum for some advice regarding a recent PCN that I have been sent.
I got a charge back in August of £9 + £45 PCN, this was for a singular item which is odd because I get 3 items on my prescription monthly.
What happened was I was issued an Exemption form back in October 2018 due to Tax credits and income support,
however I decided to not let my disability hold me back and found a place that wanted to take me on, as the government encourages also paying full tax and National insurance.
I though I was doing the right thing,
however the certificate ran out in April and we were not issued another one nor told that we were no longer exempt,
neither I nor my partner checked so I paid the charge after holding my hand up to it,
however I stated that I had received 3 prescriptions since this with 3 items on each and was told that they can only deal with the one on this case that has been opened with the PCN. I thought the matter was settled when I got a pre payment certificate that I could only back date to mid July and received no more letters.
Come yesterday when I get a PCN now for £90 with £18 in prescription charges....
I sent in a challenge explaining what had gone on and all the above and that I would happily pay for all outstanding prescription charges but I would not pay for any more fines as I deemed them unfair.
I got a response today saying there is no way to pay for unpaid prescriptions and as they are classed as legal documents there is no way to remove the fine.
lets say I pay this fine, again....
how am I to stop further letters and fines if they have no way for me to correct the error of an honest mistake.
The respondent also said they have said they understand I did not act with any intent to defraud yet there is still no exemption in this matter.
The only thing they can do is set a payment plan and they havent even told me if that will include all of the prescriptions.
At this rate I am looking at £405 alone in PCN's and the way they push all the responsibility on to the person without sending any notification feels like entrapment.
I am hoping any one can give me some advice here as what to do next,
I am not looking at getting out of paying the prescriptions,
I will happily do so but I feel the fines are unwarranted especially after I have already paid one and tried to pay for the other prescriptions.
I think there needs to be a change in the way this is handled,
I understand trying to catch intentional fraudsters but this was a genuine mistake and one that I am willing to rectify.
As for clarity on my disability I had an at work accident back in 2013 that caused 3 of my discs to herniate causing sciatica and nerve damage down my left leg,
I meet the requirements for Personal Independence Payments but not with help in mobility by a few points.
I also get Industrial Incident disablement benefit.
Thanks for any replies
Jack