The government has asked the competition watchdog for an investigation into excessive fees charged by Covid travel tests.Sajid Javid, Health Secretary, wrote to the Competition and Markets Authority informing them that it was time to conduct a fast high-level review to protect consumers.Many of the 400+ companies offering PCR testing have been criticized by holidaymakers for their high prices and poor customer service.On average, tests cost 75 per person. However, families who want to travel abroad may pay hundreds of pounds.More: MP claims passengers are being ripped off by PCR testsAgents complain about extra costs and confusion in Welsh testing rulesDouble up on TTNG agencies as Covid testing centresTravel industry representatives and MPs have pressed the government to abandon the expensive PCR tests.Chairman of the transport select panel, MP Huw Merriman tweeted lasat week: Passengers being ripped off by expensive PCR testsJavid wrote to Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of CMA: I know that the cost for PCR testing can be a barrier for many people, especially families who wish to travel together.Although we have all been affected by this pandemic, it is unfair that some families are subject to further disruption due to potentially unfair practices on the private travel market.Javid requested immediate advice from CMA regarding how to eradicate any exploitative behavior in this market, rather than waiting for long competition investigations.Julia Lo-Bue, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, questions why Javid left it until this summer to call for exploitative PCR testing.She tweeted: The British people would have spent 50m (10m VAT) on unnecessary PCRs.Javid stated: Everyone should be able go on vacation, regardless of whether it's to visit family or to relax.To combat unfair market practices, I have asked the CMA independent to assist me.Although the government lists a number of clinics and companies that offer testing, there are reports that some have not been fully accredited.Reports indicate that PCR tests are offered as low as 20 and as high as 500.Consumers complained about not receiving test results, damaged PCR kits and high fees.Which? Rory Boland, travel editor at Which? Since several months, Rory Boland has warned the government that private testing is prohibitively expensive for travelers to this country.A return trip to Spain for an unvaccinated person requires four tests. This is an average cost of 219 per person. Even if you have been vaccinated, it still comes to close to 100 pounds. The high cost of testing in the UK is a major reason for this high cost.It is encouraging that the Competition and Markets Authority was asked to investigate the Covid market. However, it is disappointing that this issue has taken so much time to be resolved.The government must ensure that private travel testing is accessible to all UK citizens, not just the wealthy.More: MP claims passengers are being ripped off by PCR testsAgents complain about extra costs and confusion in Welsh testing rulesDouble up on TTNG agencies as Covid testing centres
