CMA warns PCR test providers over 'harmful practices'

The Competition and Markets Authority has sent an open letter to Covid-19 PCR test providers, warning that a range of harmful practices in the sector could breach consumer protection law.

The CMA said it was concerned with providers advertising up-front prices for PCR tests which do not include additional charges that everyone must pay, advertising cheap PCR tests which were only actually available in very small quantities or were not available at all, failing to deliver PCR tests or provide results within stated timescales, or at all and refusing to provide consumers with refunds where tests are not provided within advertised and/or agreed timescales.

The move comes after the Government said it would be warning 82 companies that they face being removed from the Gov.uk list if they advertise misleading prices.

On top of this, the CMA letter also warned that if PCR test providers mislead customers or treat them unfairly they could also face enforcement action from the CMA or Trading Standards and instructed firms to "immediately review their practices and policies to make sure they are in line with the requirements of consumer law and to make any changes where necessary".

CMA general counsel Sarah Cardell said: "PCR test providers should be in no doubt that they need to get on the right side of the law. If they don’t, they risk enforcement action.

"This warning goes hand-in-hand with action taken by Government this week and is the latest step in our work to tackle rip off prices and bad service. We continue to work closely with DHSC in reviewing this market and will be providing further advice to DHSC on action that can be taken."

The letter also listed 11 steps providers should take, including not focusing their advertising on cheap tests which were only available in small numbers, showing the full cost of tests and all compulsory charges and providing "honest, accurate and clear" timescales on when tests will be received.