Cat registration Price watchdog criticizes lack of price transparency in veterinary practices

SDA

3.9.2024 - 11:00

The price watchdog criticizes veterinary practices for not always disclosing the costs of cat registrations. (symbolic image)
The price watchdog criticizes veterinary practices for not always disclosing the costs of cat registrations. (symbolic image)
Keystone

According to the price watchdog, there is a lack of transparency in the registration of pets, with negative consequences for pet owners. The practices set the costs for this.

Keystone-SDA

In Switzerland, veterinary practices mainly register cats in the Anis database. The fees charged by the operating company Identitas for registration are not published, but only invoiced to the veterinary practices, criticizes the price watchdog in its newsletter published on Tuesday. Practices could take advantage of this by charging their customers a high margin on top of their expenses.

An internet search showed, for example, that veterinary practices were charging up to 60 francs for registration in the Anis database, although Identitas was only charging them 25 francs. According to the price watchdog, this lack of transparency should be rectified.

It has therefore published the tariffs charged by Identitas for registration in the Anis database. The company charges CHF 20 for subsequent identification (additional microchip on an already registered animal) and the processing fee for the paper registration form is CHF 20.

The price watchdog advises pet owners to ask their veterinary practice for an explanation or to obtain a second quote from another practice if there are significant price differences.