Europetpassport.com - surely a scam?

[maz]

This has just been posted on the AHC Facebook group.

Europetpassport.com

Surely it has to be a scam (the website looks highly dodgy for a start) - but what a good idea if it could be done legally!

 

[Phill D]

Great idea, probably not legal.

As you have to attend for a vet consultation you seem likely to get a pet passport for your money.

But will it be useable and a legal document.

 

[Phill D]

Thinking about it...

What's the difference between attending a EU registered vet in a surgery in the UK and in a surgery in any EU country??

How would any one know it was not completed in the original home of the Veterinary.

I am sure you can read.... Clutching at straws.

 

[Aireworth]

Dodgy. I could be wrong but to me I suspect they've got a vet in Slovakia to issue pets passports remotely. I don't think you visit a vet in the UK, just these folks who presumably read the chip and confirm the dogs details. Could be fine but questionable legality. There would be some countries where vets might get disciplined/struck off for this sort of thing. Might not actually strictly be illegal though...

 

[Aireworth]

Great idea, probably not legal.

As you have to attend for a vet consultation you seem likely to get a pet passport for your money.

But will it be useable and a legal document.

I'd be VERY surprised if the vet was based in the UK. Needs to be based in EU to get a hold of the physical Pets Passport ( ie the actual booklet.)

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[Itsmcb]

Why would this be a scam? As above, a great money making scheme for an enterprising Slovakian vet. The fact that you have to visit in person would reassure me. The only risk would be the 'small deposit'

 

[Itsmcb]

Best get in quickly, they will probably be inundated once the first brave person goes through the process.

 

[Aireworth]

Why would this be a scam? As above, a great money making scheme for an enterprising Slovakian vet. The fact that you have to visit in person would reassure me. The only risk would be the 'small deposit'

Yes I don't think its a scam. Just perhaps illegal.

 

[Phill D]

There us another negative it's £174 whereas if you get the average vet in EU to do it a the a lehit surgery it's probably in the region of £50

 

[Itsmcb]

Yes I don't think its a scam. Just perhaps illegal.

Why would it be illegal if they follow the correct procedure?

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[Itsmcb]

There us another negative it's £174 whereas if you get the average vet in EU to do it a the a lehit surgery it's probably in the region of £50

Ah but you need an AHC to take your pet to Europe before they can see a European vet.

 

[Bolti]

There us another negative it's £174 whereas if you get the average vet in EU to do it a the a lehit surgery it's probably in the region of £50

Add together £50 + AHC +Travel sounds reasonable.
But the bit at the end of the webpage about vaccinations and updating the passport sounds well dodgie.

 

[emjaiuk]

There must be basic EU rules somewhere for the issue of an EU pet passport, excluding anything an individual country choose to impose (chip registration?) I would be very surprised if those rules do not cover the vet actually seeing the dog, although the way governments draft legislation it may be possible. As for an EU vet issuing a passport IN the UK that must be illegal, unless their qualifications qualify them as an authorised vet in the UK.
The cost suggests scam to me, but I suppose stranger things have happened

 

[Aireworth]

Why would it be illegal if they follow the correct procedure?

Is the correct procedure to issue PPs to animals outside your country? I don't know, perhaps someone does, but I suspect its outwith the spirit if not the letter of the law. I DO know if any UK based practising vet was involved with this sort of thing there's a very good chance (near certainty) they'd be up before the RCVS disciplinary committee pronto. (and it wouldn't be long before they weren't a practising UK vet).

 

[Aireworth]

There must be basic EU rules somewhere for the issue of an EU pet passport, excluding anything an individual country choose to impose (chip registration?) I would be very surprised if those rules do not cover the vet actually seeing the dog, although the way governments draft legislation it may be possible. As for an EU vet issuing a passport IN the UK that must be illegal, unless their qualifications qualify them as an authorised vet in the UK.

I very strongly suspect the vet will not be in the UK. A UK vet will have no access to the physical Slovakian Pets Passport. Most likely a Slovakian vet in Slovakia is issuing passports based on information passed to them by their associates in the UK (but I could be wrong).

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[maz]

I very strongly suspect the vet will not be in the UK. A UK vet will have no access to the physical Slovakian Pets Passport. Most likely a Slovakian vet in Slovakia is issuing passports based on information passed to them by their associates in the UK (but I could be wrong).

Is there anything tho’ (in law or otherwise) to stop a Slovakian vet coming over to the UK say maybe one day a week and issuing EU pet passports? I suspect this is something that has never even been considered.

 

[bellabee]

I've always thought it would be fairly easy for a half-competent forger to fake the worming entries on the pet passport. All they would need to do, would be to have a stamp made up, and sign the relevant box. Nobody actually checks the details and existance of the alleged vet.

Looking at Gus's Spanish passport, it has a sticker with a barcode, on the cover, and perforated numbers on the bottom of each page. Presumably, this is to prove that it is a genuine document, but nobody ever checks them. I wouldn't think they'd be too difficult to replicate.

In the current climate, how long before some enterprising person decides to print off a few?

I suppose the difficulty would arise in trying to market them.

 

[emjaiuk]

Is there anything tho’ (in law or otherwise) to stop a Slovakian vet coming over to the UK say maybe one day a week and issuing EU pet passports? I suspect this is something that has never even been considered.

wouldn’t he be practicing in the UK as a vet without a licence?

I don’t know, and it’s irrelevant now, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was no mention in the old UK regulations saying the authorised UK vet and dog had to be in the UK when issuing a passport, simply because nobody considered the possibility of him being anywhere else. On that basis it could be legal, expensive but legal. It would all hinge on that particular countries rules regarding examination of the animal.

 

[Aireworth]

wouldn’t he be practicing in the UK as a vet without a licence?

I don’t know, and it’s irrelevant now, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was no mention in the old UK regulations saying the authorised UK vet and dog had to be in the UK when issuing a passport, simply because nobody considered the possibility of him being anywhere else. On that basis it could be legal, expensive but legal. It would all hinge on that particular countries rules regarding examination of the animal.

I think the premise of nothing being mentioned in the EU legislation is correct. However, I can only use my round red stamp, issued by APHA on official documents and under the rules set out by APHA ( I can't use it to authorise a private certificate, for example). So I think it doesn't need to be in the legislation to be something I wouldn't do - and something that could easily be stopped officially by APHA saying you can't stamp passports for animals outwith the UK (for example, if the situation was reversed) Other countries will have similar arrangements - after all all EU countries are working to EU legislation but through implementation via the country's own legislation. Hence French vets needing to register the ID chip on the French system when issuing a PP, other countries not requiring that as an example.

BUT overall I think this is potentially THE MOST DANGEROUS development that has more likelihood of stopping UK dogs getting EU passports than anything else I've seen so far. Its such a flagrant attempt to get round the rules that it might just bring the whole thing to the attention of the EU, and some firmer guidance issued from the centre preventing UK dogs getting passport anywhere in the EU, rather than just being tacitly accepted by most countries at present.

 

[maz]

BUT overall I think this is potentially THE MOST DANGEROUS development that has more likelihood of stopping UK dogs getting EU passports than anything else I've seen so far. Its such a flagrant attempt to get round the rules that it might just bring the whole thing to the attention of the EU, and some firmer guidance issued from the centre preventing UK dogs getting passport anywhere in the EU, rather than just being tacitly accepted by most countries at present.

Exactly. Although the idea is certainly an interesting one, if it can’t be done legally and with the full approval of the EU (unlikely I would have thought), then it needs to be strangled at birth.

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[Jimbohorlicks]

There us another negative it's £174 whereas if you get the average vet in EU to do it a the a lehit surgery it's probably in the region of £50

But you have to buy an AHC first to get to Europe.

 

[Phill D]

But you have to buy an AHC first to get to Europe.

Yes that has been mentioned above. I had forgotten about that cost.

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

I can't get a Pet Passport for my dog because I can't get a photo of him which ticks all the boxes.
He simply won't stop smiling although I did manage to take his sunglasses off.