PDSA certificate for a PetAid practice

bestpud

Has anyone applied for help with vet fees through a PetAid practice, and if so, how long did it take for the certificate to come through?

I know I am eligible and have provided evidence, and paid the fee, so it is just a case of waiting for them to process it.

I've been told it 'could be a while', but I'm not sure what that means... :undecided

I'm getting a bit anxious about it and would feel easier if I knew what to expect iyswim?

Tia

UKTigerlily

Sorry I don't know, I use a PetAid Hospital (Well, I don't but they're registered there just in case). Have you called them to ask if they can still treat your Pet/s before it comes through?

simontheiceman

Dead simple answer at least it should be: A pet AId application is processed by the practice and then sent to PDSA for validation and certificate issue. We expect our applications to be in by the middle of the month so that we can get them off to PDSA and certificates issued at the end of THAT month.

To clarify, that would mean if you got your application into my practice by Friday 13th March you would get your certificate at the end of March for start date of serviceof 1st April.

We only send one batch to PDSA once a month and if you miss our cut-off date it will be next month before we get it sent and hard cheddar if you miss it. The PDSA prefer us to send in one large batch rather than dribs and drabs. Most of my clients manage to get theirs in on time and if not then the staff chase them really hard to make sure they do.

The PDSA is, in effect, my largest client and worth a staggering sum of money to me every month, some 15-20% of my income.

UKTigerlily

bestpud wrote: »

Has anyone applied for help with vet fees through a PetAid practice, and if so, how long did it take for the certificate to come through?

I know I am eligible and have provided evidence, and paid the fee, so it is just a case of waiting for them to process it.

I've been told it 'could be a while', but I'm not sure what that means... :undecided

I'm getting a bit anxious about it and would feel easier if I knew what to expect iyswim?

Tia

How much is the fee you pay? It's strange because we have a Hospital here so no fee to register, but for the Practices there is? Unless it goes towards the Admin the Vet does to send it in & get the certificate wheras with the Hospital there's nothing to send anywhere?

simontheiceman

Most Pet-Aid practices have only a few Pet-Aid clients to service - I have hundreds, more akin to the levels dealt with by Pet-Aid hospitals. In fact the PDSA would like to get rid of its (expensive) hospitals and turn them into Pet-Aid practices owned by individual owners. This is unlikely to happen as they have already struggled to find any interest in purchase (this is due to client base being seriously skewed in lower income bracket to start with and therefore opportunity to make hard cash more tricky). I can manage this feat reasonably well but it requires a lot more hard work than a lot of vets would like to put in, to create profit from a cash-poor client base.

simontheiceman

UKTigerlily wrote: »

How much is the fee you pay? It's strange because we have a Hospital here so no fee to register, but for the Practices there is? Unless it goes towards the Admin the Vet does to send it in & get the certificate wheras with the Hospital there's nothing to send anywhere?

Its a £5 postal oder to the PDSA to cover their admin. We often collect the £5 direct from the client and send a cheque - this is cheaper for the client.

bestpud

UKTigerlily - The fee is to join the scheme so my dog can receive treatment from our usual vet as there is not PDSA surgery in my area.

It is £5 to register and once I receive the certificate for him, he will be treated free, although they ask for a donation and there are some exceptions.

simontheiceman - thanks for that. I gave them the form on the 11th (wednesday) and the receptionist said they would get it off 'this week'. They do not advertise there being a deadline for applications, but if they have one, it seems I may have got lucky for April!

I've had to take him today, and pay, obviously, but hopefully he will be fine now until at least April.

UKTigerlily

Well i'm glad some Vets will do the PDSA clients too, I have them registered there as back up because being Bipolar I can't have savings or get loans, so if anything major happens I can't be sure of having x amount in the bank (Unless i'm stable at the time which is rare!). Plus like i've said most Vets here won't claim direct from the Insurers, mine will if it's about £500+ so for me it's just peace of mind, but I do take them to my normal Vet for everything generally. They do great work & we need more Vets like you too!

bestpud

UKTigerlily wrote: »

Well i'm glad some Vets will do the PDSA clients too, I have them registered there as back up because being Bipolar I can't have savings or get loans, so if anything major happens I can't be sure of having x amount in the bank (Unless i'm stable at the time which is rare!). Plus like i've said most Vets here won't claim direct from the Insurers, mine will if it's about £500+ so for me it's just peace of mind, but I do take them to my normal Vet for everything generally. They do great work & we need more Vets like you too!

Yes, I agree.

It will be a huge relief for me to know he is covered if I can't pay, as I simply don't know if he is going to cost us a lot or not.

I have done it as a back up as much as anything too, as his costs are affordable at the moment.

simontheiceman

UKTigerlily wrote: »

Well i'm glad some Vets will do the PDSA clients too, I have them registered there as back up because being Bipolar I can't have savings or get loans, so if anything major happens I can't be sure of having x amount in the bank (Unless i'm stable at the time which is rare!). Plus like i've said most Vets here won't claim direct from the Insurers, mine will if it's about £500+ so for me it's just peace of mind, but I do take them to my normal Vet for everything generally. They do great work & we need more Vets like you too!

If I didnt take direct insurance claims I would be absolutely stuffed - I can never see what the problem is, apart from the cash-flow problems when you start taking them. I wont take a direct claim without the excess being paid up-front and am looking at ways of "waiving" the excess in my "preventive health scheme"

UKTigerlily

It's always good to have back up, my Dog & Cat are both Insured & the Cat just cost £211-65 for her dental, which took place at my 'own' (Non PDSA) place, yes it'd be easy to go to them but I took her on knowing it was to provide for her for her lifetime & to me it's my responsibility, but sometimes things go wrong with my meds & such & I don't have a penny, so it helps. Have only used them once in 9yrs for the Cat when she got an eye infection, all the major things have been through my normal Vet. Let's hope the Insurance pays out now! lol