The concept of an ESA letter was primarily started with a thought that pet animals can add positivity to the lives of those who were earnestly in need of a companion to get away from all those fears, anxieties, and other mental health-related disorders.
But, this noble ideal has been transformed into a money-making machine by many online portals who are leveraging this opportunity by providing a fake ESA letter.
Emotional support animal recommendation scams have become a thing nowadays. Some are offering low-cost letters, while others are using the idea of lifetime letters for gaining attention.
So, if you think you are having a genuine ESA recommendation, then beware you might be living under deception entirely. Talking to some of the notable mental health experts, essential tips have been enlisted to understand whether or not the delivered emotional support letter is legitimate or fake.
First of all, the doctor recommending ESA as a part of assistance therapy must be from the same state where you reside. Then, you must check whether the mental health professional’s license is still valid.
“Most of the states have different criteria for license renewal. Some require two years while others have 3 years of validity before the license expires. So, it is essential to clear before going for ESA recommendations from any mental health professionals.
One another concerning area is that recommendations are issued on different pages other than the letterheads of the mental health experts. So, it is important to ask beforehand whether or not the recommendation letter will be provided on the official letterhead of that doctor.
In addition to that, the ESA letter should also include the doctor’s license type, registration number, issue as well as the expiration date of the doctor’s license.
Also, the letter should contain the date of issuance as well as the expiry. This is essential to keep a check on the date of validity so that you can go for renewal.
All this can be checked before obtaining the actual letter by asking for a blank copy of the letter. So, if any company refuses to give it, then it is definitely a scam.
Also, Read: Does American Airlines requires a health certificate for pets?
Other than the above requirements, your emotional support animal recommendation letter should also include the name of your ESA along with its certificate ID number. So, if by any chance, your emotional support letter does not include any of the information as provided above, consider going to any other different mental health professional.
Or else you will be subjected to heavy fines as well as deposits especially when you will be traveling or finding an apartment.
Having an ESA is not a style statement, but a medical aid for thousands of patients. So, instead of going for those eye-catchy offers, it’s better to obtain your recommendation from a licensed mental health professional to enjoy all the benefits that it has to offer without any legal implications.
What online emotional support animal letter is legitimate?
Emotional support animal letter will help you live in a no-pet policy home or fly with your pet in-cabin on a flight without any hassle. If you have a mental health condition and feel that your pet helps you manage it, you can consult a mental health professional and get an ESA letter online within minutes.
Here’s how to tell if your emotional support animal letter is real
Getting an emotional support animal letter has become really easy. Especially after the advent of telemedicine. But with the huge influx of fake ESA letters, it is important that you remain vigilant when getting one for yourself.
Do You Know if Your ESA Letter is Legit?
Check if these points are valid for your ESA Letter to know if it is Legitimate:
- It is written on the letterhead of the clinic.
- The letter mentions the license number of the mental health professional.
- Details of the emotional support animal are mentioned.
- The date of the issue of the ESA letter is mentioned.
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