I won't be fooled over companies holding equipment to ransom in future. It amounts to theft in my book, holding onto equipment someone else owns. Wonder how they'd like to see the plod turn up?
I believe it is known as misappropriation.
However, PC Plod won't act unless a complaint is made (and often not even then) ... but why not give it a try?
"OK, it's a fair cop, Guv. I'll come quietly" ... or how about:- "Book him, Danno"!
Meanwhile (and unfortunately), I don't believe that
gouging (of the type you have outlined) is actually against the *law! I'm not sure where the UK stands on
monopolies, however (so-called "antitrust laws").
Again, I can't see why the might of the NHS doesn't get brought to bear on this sort of thing. Central purchasing, and good stuff like that. After all, if any company such as the one you mention lost its NHS business, it would dip out big-time, I would have thought.
* Remember, however, that there are other Laws available. Like the Law of Supply and Demand, for example! And the conventional wisdom (at least) about "the customer always being right"
etc., etc.
