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NHS Prescription or Dental Penalty Charge Notice
If the NHS Business Services Authority cannot confirm you were entitled to free prescriptions or dental treatment, it sends a letter asking you to confirm. If you do not reply within 28 days, you get a Penalty Charge Notice: 5 times the original charge, up to £100, plus the charge itself. A further surcharge may be added if not paid within 28 days.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
How Penalty Charges Work
NHSBSA
If a patient does not respond to an enquiry letter within 28 days, they are sent a Penalty Charge Notice. The penalty charge is 5 times the original amount owed, up to a maximum of £100, and the original charges must also be paid. If no payment is made within 28 days, a surcharge may be added. The letter asks you to confirm your entitlement. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 28 daysReply to the enquiry letterBefore a penalty is issued
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Read the letter and note the reference and deadline.
Step 2 of 5
Gather proof you were entitled, such as a benefit award letter or exemption certificate.
Step 3 of 5
Respond through the NHSBSA service before the deadline.
Step 4 of 5
Keep copies of what you send.
Step 5 of 5
If you were wrongly charged, ask for the penalty to be cancelled.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
NHS Business Services Authority
Respond to your letter.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Check you are entitled before ticking a box for free prescriptions.
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If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 13 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- nhsbsa.nhs.uk/penalty-charges-explained Checked 13 October 2026