Warning issued to millions of UK pet owners over vet bills

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Pet owners in the UK are being warned that they could be getting charged too much at the vets. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a formal investigation into UK vet groups after an initial review raised "multiple concerns", including that pet owners are being overcharged for medicines.

The CMA's review was launched in September amid concerns that pet owners are not getting value for money, and that many independent vet practices have been snapped up by bigger chains in recent years. READ MORE: Cat microchip cost as owners given three month warning or risk £500 fine The CMA found that consumers may not be given basic information, such as price lists and prescription costs, at the vets, and that pet owners are not always told how much treatment will cost before agreeing to it.

It also identified concerns about weak competition in some areas, due to concentrated local markets and incentives for large corporate groups to act in ways which may reduce choice for consumers.

About 60 per cent of vet practices now belong to large groups, up from 10 per cent a decade ago, with large corporate groups continuing to look for ways to expand.