The call for action is the outcome of a rapid review of the market conducted by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), launched last month amid mounting concerns over the price, reliability and quality of service provided by some firms.
Complaints from customers include paying high prices for poor service, test kits and/or results arriving late or not at all, and no way to contact a firm when things go wrong. The watchdog had written to PCR test providers last month warning them to clean up their practices or face enforcement action.
Travellers must take PCR tests when they return to the UK from abroad, with more than 400 firms on the Government’s official list of providers. For more info on the rules for overseas travel, see our Coronavirus Travel Rights guide.
