Travel question of the day: Simon Calder on the right way to apply for an EHIC
Have a travel question that needs answering? Ask our expert Simon Calder
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Q Last week I renewed our European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs) online. I fear we may have been scammed as I was charged £35! I thought at the time that our cards had been free when we first got them and that there had been a change in policy in the interim which I didn't know about. What should I do?
Elaine Ward
A I’m afraid it will be very difficult to get any recompense. I presume you applied through a site run by Application Advice Service UK. It’s one of several intermediaries that has a URL that looks as though it could be official, and which uses search engine optimisation, or pays search engines, to get a prominent ranking when you tap in “EHIC card” or similar – rather than simply going to nhs.uk.
The front page of the Application Advice Service UK web page explains that it is not connected with the NHS, and offers a link through to the official site.
This firm is an interesting organisation, not least because it says: "We do not warrant or represent the completeness or accuracy of the information published on Application Advice Service UK; (b) that the material on the website is up to date.” You will have agreed to this and many other conditions when you decided to apply through it.
All I can do is use your unfortunate case to remind other people of the traps that await the unwary when applying online for EHIC cards, or for the American Esta scheme, or permits to visit Turkey or Canada. The correct link for Esta is esta.cbp.dhs.gov; for Turkey, evisa.gov.tr; and for Canada, currently the favourite among companies seeking to lure unsuspecting travellers into paying more than they need, cic.gc.ca.
Every day, our travel correspondent Simon Calder tackles a reader’s question. Just email yours to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments