Told I owe money two years after bill.

brachyura

I appologise if this is in the wrong part of the forum.

In April 2012 my wife went to the dentist and paid the bill in full that was given to her.

This month (May 2014) the dentist has told us that the bill given was incorrect and we owe them additional money.

They say they tried to ring in 2012 and have sent three letters (none of which we received).

I understand it was their staff that made the mistake when they charged us, but I'm annoyed it has taken two years to find out. My wife feels stressed at being made to feel like it was her fault.

I assume I still have to pay.

visidigi

They provided a bill, you paid it and considered the bill settled. Its the Dentist's problem if the bill presented is wrong - unless the mistake was catastrophic and you were aware of the costings before hand. e.g. they told you it would be £2,000 and you paid £20 on the day, well aware it should have been £2,000.

What are the numbers we're talking about here...It must be really quite considerable to have chased it for this long?

redcard

brachyura wrote: »

My wife feels stressed at being made to feel like it was her fault.

I assume I still have to pay.

Is your delaying payment going to cause further stress to your wife?

brachyura

visidigi wrote: »

They provided a bill, you paid it and considered the bill settled. Its the Dentist's problem if the bill presented is wrong - unless the mistake was catastrophic and you were aware of the costings before hand. e.g. they told you it would be £2,000 and you paid £20 on the day, well aware it should have been £2,000.

What are the numbers we're talking about here...It must be really quite considerable to have chased it for this long?

Bill should have been £48, but they charged us £17.50 - so debt is £30.50. So when my wife first heard about it this month (2 years after the appointment) she thought they were joking.

I just find it all a bit unbelievable. Have spoken to dentist who has refused to let this go.

brachyura

redcard wrote: »

Is your delaying payment going to cause further stress to your wife?

I think her stress is now turning to anger. Especially as in my last email from the dentist they claimed my wife said that she had received a letter - which was news to us!

I know it's a small amount, but I do not think this is right.

It is like a restaurant calling you two years after a meal, saying I'm sorry but we forgot to bill you for the starter, so can you pay us the excess.

marliepanda

So you got charged for a Band 1 treatment when you had Band 2.

Considering band 1 is just a check up/scale polish you probably knew you had a Band 2?

For 30.50 seriously is it worth getting stressed over?

marliepanda

brachyura wrote: »

It is like a restaurant calling you two years after a meal, saying I'm sorry but we forgot to bill you for the starter, so can you pay us the excess.

If you had a starter, and received a bill without the starter listed, then thats acceptable for the restaurant to ask for what you ate.

Morglin

marliepanda wrote: »

So you got charged for a Band 1 treatment when you had Band 2.

Considering band 1 is just a check up/scale polish you probably knew you had a Band 2?

For 30.50 seriously is it worth getting stressed over?

Bearing in mind what they charge, is it worth a dentist getting stressed over £30 he has been owed for two years? :think:

Personally, after this length of time, I would tell him to do one.

His error, his loss.

Lin

tomtontom

Are you going to need to see this dentist again?

What treatment did she have?

hollydays

It doesn't reflect well on the dentist. I'd be looking for a new one.

lincroft1710

If the dentist genuinely undercharged, he has up to 6 years from the date of treatment in which to submit a revised account.