Dental fine error

unlucky204

Hi all, new here so hope this is in the right place. Sorry for the long post, I tried to shorten it as much as possible.

I have the opposite problem to most people receiving a fine for alleged non-payment of a dental check-up. I am not on any benefit (was on jobseekers over a year ago but not now), I went to the dentist, had a check-up-PAID the £18.50 fee (actually my mum paid it on her card, she paid for both hers and mine, it was just easier and I paid her back later) and went on my way.

A couple of months later I received a letter and fine for £111 stating I had allegedly claimed I was on jobseekers, got dental treatment for free and they have checked and found out I was not on jobseekers! Understandably I was livid having paid it and done nothing wrong. I now have a copy of the form from the dentist and I hadn't even checked the box by accident or anything to say I was on jobseekers, and the dentists know and have proof I paid, so how this mistake has been made I don't know. They said they'd sort it out saying must've been a mistake as I used to be on jobseekers before so knowing I had done nothing wrong I forgot about it. I should've contacted the NHS myself, I now know the dentists office do not handle this it is up to me (even though I did nothing wrong) but at the time they definitely said they'd contact them and sort it out-which they obviously didn't.

I've just received another letter with an additional fine and I'm supposed to pay it within 7 days or they will start court proceedings! I can't believe this has happened, all I did was go to the dentist, PAY and do nothing wrong!

Anyway, I requested proof from the dentist of payment-and this is my problem-it seems the receptionist has made a mistake (incompetent staff yes!) as on my account statement it says "patient credit for overpayment of £18.50" and then a couple months later a charge for £18.50-this is supposed to be my proof and it makes me look even worse! How have they done this?! I never got any credit, my mother paid both her and my fee on her card, but yet the account statement says this-how can I prove I paid it when that's the account statement? My mother said she'll testify in court if we have to go that we paid on the day-it's on her bank statement, but it only has the charge for the total amount of 2 check-up fees, which could be for anything or anyone.

The receptionist clearly hadn't even checked what my account statement said as she knows I've paid but the statement makes no sense. I'm so worried they'll just wash their hands of it and leave it to me as it's all on me to prove I paid even though I did nothing wrong! I mean they won't want to admit they made a mistake and I'm sure fraudulent claimers who really haven't paid have used that excuse many times that the dentists made a mistake!

Has anything like this ever happened to anyone else?! I have less than 7 days to sort this out before I have to go to court for non-payment of the fine! Not only that but it's outside the month which I was supposed to contest it as I left it up to the receptionist who said she'd sort it out, can the NHS just turn around and say "well you had a month to contest it, you'll have to pay now whether you're in the right or not?"

brook2jack

Contact the nhs now. Phone and send a letter in. Enclose a copy of the fp17 that you signed that clearly shows you didn't tick the jSA box (your dentist should provide a copy) , a copy of your mums receipt and a copy of a covering letter from your dentist.

Go back to your dentist as it sounds as if someone has checked off the jsa box on computer and not changed it. They should resubmit the form for you as a paying patient . You need them to do this asap it is the work of a few seconds and they must confirm they've done this , they may have already resubmitted the form which is why you have overpayment then charge. If this is the case they should write a covering letter for you.

If you paid and ticked the right boxes on the form none of this is your fault but you must get on the case yourself so you are not slapped with more fines.

unlucky204

Thanks very much for the advice. I rang the dentist (again) to clarify the account statement and ask for a letter stating that I had paid and a mistake had been made-was completely fobbed off by rude receptionist! Needless to say I'll be switching dentists after this! Making me out to be an idiot-she tried to explain to me the account statement-she made no sense, but she tried to explain why it'd been done like that and said that it had absolutely nothing to do with why I'd gotten the fine. Still couldn't explain why this had happened. Hmm of course it had nothing to do with why I was fined when it makes no sense, says I've been credited, then apparently charges me (on statement) 2 months after dental check-up and a couple days after I receive fine and ring them!

She basically refused to write a letter on my behalf and said I had all the proof I needed with the copy of the dental form showing I'd never ticked that I was on jobseekers.

SO I rang up the NHS and I have to say the woman on the line was fantastic. At least she knew what she was talking about! Basically said what you said when I told her what my account statement said-that it sounded like the box had been checked in error and that she'd ring the dentist to check it out. She said she'd sort it all out for me-relieved! So sick of dealing with that awful rude receptionist, wouldn't listen to me at all, people like that shouldn't work with customers! I mean sorry to keep bothering you lady but I'm about 5 days away from getting a summons for court proceedings unless I get it sorted because of a mistake someone at your office made.

brook2jack wrote: »

Contact the nhs now. Phone and send a letter in. Enclose a copy of the fp17 that you signed that clearly shows you didn't tick the jSA box (your dentist should provide a copy) , a copy of your mums receipt and a copy of a covering letter from your dentist.

Go back to your dentist as it sounds as if someone has checked off the jsa box on computer and not changed it. They should resubmit the form for you as a paying patient . You need them to do this asap it is the work of a few seconds and they must confirm they've done this , they may have already resubmitted the form which is why you have overpayment then charge. If this is the case they should write a covering letter for you.

If you paid and ticked the right boxes on the form none of this is your fault but you must get on the case yourself so you are not slapped with more fines.