Grrrr...just had a set to at the vets

olibrofiz

The dobe has gone in today to have an op to have two of her back teeth out. When I rang to book I asked how much - £190-£350 :eek: :eek: but she needs it doing as one side of her face keeps swelling up and going down and is obviously painful, it's already cost me £120 for consultations, tablets & injections etc that have done bu%%er all. Anyways, I said 'ooo, can I pay half at the time of the op and the other half when I get paid in Sept', she said to discuss it with the nurse when I came in as the owner was on holiday.

This morning the nurse tore me off a strip, in front of everyone, and told me I shouldn't have booked if I couldn't afford it and eventually agreed, very snottily, and said 'just sign the form'. At the bottom of the form it says that you agree to pay in full after the op so I started to write 'pay half today...' and she snatched the form off me muttering 'I'VE got to authorise that'.:mad: Okay maybe I shouldn't have asked, but I did and they implied it was possible.

There was no need for her to be so bl!!dy rude. I'm so cross and I was so stunned I didn't really say anything. But I'm going back later .....

I'm prepared for the slagging off for being so cheeky.

I'd just like to add that at the first consultation the vet said the swelling was probably a bee sting, or a boney growth (what? that goes up and down?) despite me saying that I thought it was her tooth. At the second consultation the boss vet said straight away 'any swelling in that area is to do with the tooth'. Then they charged me again for the 1st appointment as they hadn't updated their comp to show I;d paid, I had to go and get the original receipt so they would refund me.

Aaaarghhhh

olibrofiz

As an afterthought, can you have dental cover on pet insurance? I never thought about it and mine are saying only if it's due to an accident. Not sure if they'll pay out. Would biting down hard on a hide chew and snapping part of her tooth off be classed as an 'accident'

Oh and the nurse snapped it didn;t matter whether or not I'd got insurance, I'd still have to pay them first.

My mum, bless her, saw how upset I was and is going to pay the bill in full. I love my mum XXX

Horace

I would write a nice letter to the owner of the practice outlining the treatment that you have received from his staff (include the dog too because it must be traumatic for it to have repeated unsuccessful treatments).

Tell the vet why you won't be using his/her practice again as you are taking your business elsewhere.

See if another vet can offer a better deal - if you are particularly skint you could try the PDSA.

lab-lover

dont think dental work is included in my insurance.

seems a bit steep for 2 teeth, doesnt it? my dog had 4 teeth out about 4 years ago and was £100. but he was smaller as he was only 8 months old. hes a lab so wasnt exactly small. anesthetic is expensive iam told.

the nurse was quite unprofessional talking to you like that in front of everyone, maybe you could point out that next time would she mind taking you to one side and explaining things as youd prefer the whole place not knowing your financial situation.

think you do have to pay first even with insurance, though not sure as not had to make a claim, yet.

good luck and hope op goes well.

olibrofiz

Thanks, I'd thought for a while that I was just being sensitive but no, her rudeness was totally unprofessional. I went in for a pre-op consulation with one of the vets after signing the form and am ashamed to say that I shed a few tears cos I was worried about the op and SOOO mad at how rude the nurse was. I told the vet this and also that her behaviour had made me think of going elsewhere in future. Didn't want to cause too much fuss in case they decided to take the teeth out WITHOUT an anaesthetic!!!

I'm usually more skint at this time of year due to house ins, car ins, phone, gas etc all coming in at the same time.

I WILL be writing a letter

MarkyMarkD

A colleague of mine has pet insurance, and he also has to pay the vet first, before reclaiming from the insurer.

He finds this particularly annoying given that he needs repeat prescriptions for his dog, but has to pay for each one, and then reclaim it (along with filling in forms etc.) even though the vet has said his dog will need the same medication for the rest of her life.

There doesn't seem to be any consideration of authorising the repeat claims in advance or paying the vet direct, even though this would save the insurer lots of effort (and hence cost).

kazwookie

I would contact the pet insurance now, and see if you are covered by your policy. As I understand it you do with most policies have to pay first, claim second, so make sure you get reciepts etc.

I would also write in a calm manner to the owner of the vets and state your case.

Hope the dog is ok.

olibrofiz

Thanks all, I;ve rung the insurers and they're sending me forms. I expected to pay up front, it was just the way she snapped my head off when I mentioned I'd have to bring the forms in. :mad:

I'm preparing a letter now - calm, factual, complaints seem to be my forte if I do say so myself.

Maybe the nurse got out of the wrong side of bed this morning - with that attitude, on her own I guess :rotfl:

Dobiesmon

Hi olibrofiz
Vets been the vain of my life the first vet was great I had to travel some distance some 30 miles to them he would wait for the insurance to be paid to them.

But I had to move to one much near home when tia had her pups they have brought up all the smaller vets locally and you have to pay upfront for every thing and claim back yourself .( I used to have a cc just for the vets as it was then paid back when the insurance paid up ) but now its paid out from my overdraft.any different I would have to get permission form one of the partners in the vets but they would add interest as they told me they are running a business
But I did find if you ask them to fax signed insurance forms to your insurers it is done so at least the insurance gets it the same day .
I hate our vets you never see a poor one .

Keaton had his 4 top front teeth removed some years ago .
hope your dog is ok

olibrofiz

I've been dobie nursing, we all slept under duvets on the lounge floor

She had one tooth out and it cost £169 so not as bad as I'd thought and she's still a bit dopey, whining quite a bit and keeps getting up then whining till I tuck her back into bed.

The arvo nurses (who are lovely) said she was the biggest dog in that day and made a helluva racket coming out of the anaesthetic (she IS a big wuss). I'm glad the op's over

Thanks everyone for being there for me to 'talk' to and for your words of advice. I felt ill with it all yesterday. Ringing the vets later for the name of the nurse to put in my letter.

Thank you XX

orlao

Glad she's ok and that the bill wasn't as scary as you feared!

Do complain about the nurse though....it's the only way that her attitude will change....