Passport providers and microchipping

[Cocorules]

I have just had my two microchipped ahead of the October deadline. Just started to find out how to update the indignation with their passport providers. Only checked one so far and they are going to charge me £10 for updating their records.

I understand they have overheads, but it is annoying when it takes seconds to update a computer system. This passport provider was also the most expensive of three passports I updated when I moved house a few years ago.

It got me thinking whether it is possible to change passport providers. Does anyone know?

 

[Iris1995]

My Irish mare is having her details updated onto the national database by a PIO FOC. The other pony’s PIO is asking for a vet to verify the chip details in the passport, the vet needs to write a letter confirming the chip and I need to send off the passport and £30. That is all despite the chip having been registered and the bar code stuck in the passport by the vet when the chip was inserted. All in all they expect me to pay over £100 for the PIO to enter the details they already have on the register!

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

I received my A4 brochure reminding me about this a couple of weeks ago...had a quick panic, checked passports and both mares chipped ..so phew. I brought it up in conversation with a few folk at my yard and was surprised to hear that some hadn’t got the brochure reminder and had no idea if their horses were chipped. It further unfolded that one owner of 5 horses had never sent passports off to change ownership details...just wrote her name in it. Which I guess is why she hasn’t received any info...she isn’t the registered keeper of any of the horses she has. I also learned that there is a Scotequine card which allows movement of horses without the paper passport...

 

[honetpot]

I used to be very good, but when I moved home three times in the space of 18mnths, at £20 a passport and eight animals for no discernable benefit I left it. I have the same email and phone number for at least 20 years, if someone really wants to contact me they are the most reliable method. I just want to know who is going to check these chips and when?

 

[Shay]

I think the thing is that no-one will check - unless possibly for animals sent for slaughter to enter the human food chain. The intention behind it was to stop the trade in fake passports with horses signed out of the food chain then being slaughtered and used for human food.

The competition animals are already chipped. My golden oldie isn't and tbh I don't plan to. He will never be sold, he will die at home and hopefully feed the hounds. He will definitely never be sold or sent to slaughter. I have provision for him in my will in the event I die first to ensure he is PTS at home and not sold on. I know I have to trust the person I have designated to do that - but I do.

 

[Cocorules]

I intend to keep mine permanently but the reason I have microchipped them is that it would seem easy to enforce. My passport providers have my current address but would have no microchip id, so a quick trawl and fines issued would seem to be easy money