Latest Moan From You and Me 2024

Although we don't currently have any pets, and rarely used a vet when we did have one, I try to keep up with what is happening in that business.

One of the problems with vets is that well over half of them in the country are owned by just six companies. In the last ten years the big six have changed from owning 11% of the vet practices in this country to now owning over 60% and they're still expanding.

There are a number of major concerns with this model. Apparently they are not transparent about the cost of services and medicines, they rarely change the name of the practice so that the public still think they are owned by the vets in the practice, and they are overcharging for the service due to lack of competition.

The big six are currently being investigated by the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority).

Last year the government stated that:-

• CMA provisionally decides it should launch a formal Market Investigation.
• Initial review prompts over 56,000 responses from public and vet industry.

The review by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) highlights multiple concerns in the market, including:

• Consumers may not be given enough information to enable them to choose the best veterinary practice or the right treatment for their needs.
• Concentrated local markets, in part driven by sector consolidation, may be leading to weak competition in some areas.
• Large corporate groups may have incentives to act in ways which reduce choice and weaken competition.
• Pet owners might be overpaying for medicines or prescriptions.
• The regulatory framework is outdated and may no longer be fit for purpose.

 

Sadly, it is the same in almost every industry. Even in my industry (pubic transport) there is never any money for things or we are getting told that we are making a loss... yet there always seems to be money for folks to buy and sell bus companies.

It is an exclusive club, and the likes of you and I are not in it.

 

Apparently, that was due to smoke from North America - Full blue supermoon turns red and how you can see it next time

Funny how it can blow all that way, when the stuff that comes out of your exhaust in a town in this country is seemingly confined within the town you are in....

 

Tell that to the CMA

Please don't mention Trump

 

I realise that people have problems with insurance claims as a lot of insurance companies don't make it too easy to claim but using the right way of going about it can make it a lot easier.

I think there should be free classes given Consumer Advice to show how it's done.

 

No chance