Dentist is denyng receiving money up front for treatment

Hoptoit_2

Hi All,

Bit of an odd one here but please stick with me...

In 2003 my partner paid the dentist for work to be done to his teeth up front, I think it was about £100.

He has not been back to the dentist for the work to be carried out but does need to go now as he is in pain. I just phoned the dentists and the recptionist said his records will be in the loft and there is nothing on the computer showing a credit balance, at first she thought I meant we owed them money and she told me to keep my mouth shut !!!

I asked if anything could be done to investigate this further and she said a blatant 'no'.

We do not have the receipt so am I right in guessing we have no leg to stand on or can I demand to see the paper records that she is saying are in the loft?

Thanks
Hoptoit

kazwookie

let me get this right.

2003 you paid up front for something in 2009 you now wany to claim for? and you have no paperwork??

You will just have to pay again, and in future keep records.

MrsBartolozzi

Doesn't paperwork need to be kept for 6 years (at least)?
You are right on the limit, and as kazwookie says it's a long time since you paid, but the dentist should still have your records, maybe ask to see your old paper records?
Not much help I suppose, next time always keep the receipt.

Hoptoit_2

At the time my partners sister in law worked there so things were a little lapse if you like. At the time it was an emergency appointment which he attended on the way to the airport as we was going away, we came back moved house had a baby in within a few months so forgive us for having our minds elsewhere!

Toothsmith

Clinical records have to be kept for 11 years for a live patient or 5 years after a patients death.

Financial records aren't always noted on clinical records (matters of confidentiality) and as another poster said financial records only need to be kept for 6 years.

Again, for confidentiality reasons, financial records don't always record who the payments have come from. (Would you want the taxman knowing you'd paid cash for your nice cosmetic dentistry?)

Within a reasonable period - like a year or two, and for regular patients, it's quite easy to marry up clinical and financial records.

To match a payment from 6 years ago to a patient who hasn't been back to the practice again since, I would say it would be miraculous if they could!

Plus - if the dentist has changed in that time, it would be the dentist who was there 6 years ago that had taken the money, not the one who's there now - so it wouldn't be the 'practice' that owed it but the former dentist.

I think the lesson is that if you pay in advance, make sure you complete the treatment!

Hoptoit_2

A little update. He has registered with a new dentist and has paid for work to be carried out, all receipts are in a nice little envelope pinned to the memo board! The new dentist is amazing and has put him at ease so he will definately be returning for the work to be carried out.

Thanks for your replies
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