Dentists- moneygrabbing (Title edited by MSE)

isy1011

Went to my local dentist this morning had a check up then booked in early June to have two fillings. Then got charged £47 for the treatment Im not having for another 3 weeks. I cannot claim the money back through my health plan because they cannot give me a receipt until Ive had the treatment.

When questioned the receptionist stated that it was their policy!

It is absolute extortion!

rolleypolleypud

My dentist has the same policy.

They said to me it was because they have so many NHS patients that they struggle to find appointments within an acceptable time frame. Doing it this way stops the few that book in for treatments but then never bother turning up. If they charge first the vast majority will attend and therefore not waste dentist time that they are struggling to find in the first place.

HTH:)

Tiddlywinks

isy1011 wrote: »

When questioned the receptionist stated that it was their policy!

I said Im sure that's what the SS guards said when they were gassing jews. 'I am just carrying out orders'.

A bit strong I know but Im incensed. It is absolute extortion!

Be careful you don't overreact won't you?

For goodness sake - you should just have paid for the check up and said you would pay for the other treatment on the day. If that was not acceptable then you could have complained to the practice manager. If no joy then choose another dentist.

Mentioning the holocaust was just plain rude and distasteful and would not have helped your appeal one bit.

dmg24

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

Be careful you don't overreact won't you?

For goodness sake - you should just have paid for the check up and said you would pay for the other treatment on the day. If that was not acceptable then you could have complained to the practice manager. If no joy then choose another dentist.

Mentioning the holocaust was just plain rude and distasteful and would not have helped your appeal one bit.

I agree - the OP's post is shameful, if someone had said that to me I'd have told them to find another dentist. Some people really need to get things into context.

isy1011

What other business would be able to charge for work 3 weeks in advance of actually doing it and say they were not even prepared to give a receipt for it.

Dentists know they can pull this sort of scam and that you have no choice but to stay with them as there are few of them.

At the end of the day its my money and I dont see why I should have to pay for other people not turning up. That is up to them to make sure their appointment system is flexible or responsive enough. For instance like my optician send out a reminder text.

Tiddlywinks

isy1011 wrote: »

What other business would be able to charge for work 3 weeks in advance of actually doing it and say they were not even prepared to give a receipt for it.

Dentists know they can pull this sort of scam and that you have no choice but to stay with them as there are few of them.

At the end of the day its my money and I dont see why I should have to pay for other people not turning up. That is up to them to make sure their appointment system is flexible or responsive enough. For instance like my optician send out a reminder text.

Regardless of that, you were rude in your approach to them and have ignored comments to this effect - so I thought I'd repeat myself in case you missed it the first time around...

You should be ashamed of your use of the holocaust comparison in your complaint to the receptionist - full stop.

rolleypolleypud

I'm not sure why they didn't give you a reciept just as proof of payment?

isy1011

Tiddlywinks - No offence but I dont really care if you think I should be ashamed or not. I personally think they should be ashamed at ripping off their customers. I was merely making the point that she was blindly following orders no matter how immoral they were.

I am entitled to have my say when they have extracted £47 out of me for absolutely nothing just because they cannot be bothered to improve their service. Just as you are entitled to have your say on here.

isy1011

Me neither rolleypolleypud- when asked she said it was their policy not to give receipts. That is all she would say 'Its not our policy or it is our policy'.

spugzbunny

Totally agree! Comparing a receptionist to someone who carried out multiple, horrific acts purely based on race. All for less than £50? Get a grip and take a look at yourself!

isy1011

Really if I wanted some tips on suitable topics to cover during a heated social interaction I would have asked. However I dont.