Advice please! Rip off vet

benny1234black

So, basically our dog eat a screw (or at least I thought he did).

My girlfriend rang the vets and the receptionist spoke to the vet and basically said we need to bring him in to make him sick.

So I took him down and they got me to fill out our details on a form. Then the receptionist said she will take our dog around the back and then somebody will be out to speak to me shortly.

10 minutes later I was called up, they said they had given him an x-ray and found no screw. Then they said that will be £130 please.

!!!!!!.

I wasn't told any sort of price whatsoever on the phone or as I got there. I was expecting to be called in for them to say "here is what we need to do, it will cost £x.. are you happy to proceed etc."

Not just do stuff without explaining and then try and hit me with a bill. At no point no fees or payments were discussed at all.

Am I wrong in thinking that they are bang out of order and even operating outside the law here?

I will be going in tomorrow to speak to them and tell them that I will be taking to trading standards and RCVS (royal college of veterinary surgeons) etc.

What can I do to ensure this is resolved?

maninthestreet

You have pet insurance, don't you??

vikingaero

benny1234black wrote: »

What can I do to ensure this is resolved?

Take it as a lesson to ask beforehand next time.

McKneff

If your pet is ill, it really isn't up to you to dictate how a professional vet is going to treat it.


The vet will do the best it can for the animal, not your pocket.


I would get some pet insurance too.

vikingaero

Just had a brief search on Google. A 10 min consultation would cost £15-40, x-ray £40, sedation £40 small dog, sedation £60 large dog.

So, what does a dog x-ray cost?

In total, including sedation, expect to pay at least £150-180 (unless you’re in the South East, in which case at least £250) for basic set of two views of one part of the body.



Please note this is meant only as a guide, and prices will vary between practices and for individual circumstances. Dog x-ray costs obviously don’t include any subsequent treatment such as surgery or painkillers that may be required.

pinkshoes

benny1234black wrote: »

So, basically our dog eat a screw (or at least I thought he did).

My girlfriend rang the vets and the receptionist spoke to the vet and basically said we need to bring him in to make him sick.

So I took him down and they got me to fill out our details on a form. Then the receptionist said she will take our dog around the back and then somebody will be out to speak to me shortly.

10 minutes later I was called up, they said they had given him an x-ray and found no screw. Then they said that will be £130 please.

!!!!!!.

I wasn't told any sort of price whatsoever on the phone or as I got there. I was expecting to be called in for them to say "here is what we need to do, it will cost £x.. are you happy to proceed etc."

Not just do stuff without explaining and then try and hit me with a bill. At no point no fees or payments were discussed at all.

Am I wrong in thinking that they are bang out of order and even operating outside the law here?

I will be going in tomorrow to speak to them and tell them that I will be taking to trading standards and RCVS (royal college of veterinary surgeons) etc.

What can I do to ensure this is resolved?

you can resolve it by paying, as £130 is reasonable.

You thought your dog had swallowed a screw, so an xray was needed.

If you are implying that you were going to opt to not xray your dog, then that would make you an irresponsible owner.

Just pay it and claim on your pet insurance if you have any.

benny1234black

Thanks for reaponses but the question wasnt about pet insurance. It was about the fact they did stuff anf charged for it before even asking to proceed and discussing price. I wouldnt have had it done knowing that price I would have had a proper look for the screw before proceeding etc. as I was waiting for them to tell me price but they just came back and said we have done xyz now give us £x. Its like me takig a car to garage saying I have a problem and them just fixing it without concent and saying thats £1000 please

LilElvis

benny1234black wrote: »

Thanks for reaponses but the question wasnt about pet insurance. It was about the fact they did stuff anf charged for it before even asking to proceed and discussing price. I wouldnt have had it done knowing that price I would have had a proper look for the screw before proceeding etc. as I was waiting for them to tell me price but they just came back and said we have done xyz now give us £x. Its like me takig a car to garage saying I have a problem and them just fixing it without concent and saying thats £1000 please

Not a good analogy.

Had the dog swallowed the screw it could have perforated it's digestive system - potentially fatal - whilst you wasted time looking for the screw at home.

shaun_from_Africa

benny1234black wrote: »

I wouldnt have had it done knowing that price I would have had a proper look for the screw before proceeding etc.

And whilst you were looking for the screw, it could have been travelling through your dog's system causing severe or fatal damage.

I don't really think that you have the right attitude to accept the responsibility of owning a pet.

benny1234black

Not wasted time no it would took a few minutes to look. My partner was at home so wouldnt have took long to treble check if I knew the price.

If it had been 30-50 I would have gone ahead anyway no problem. But if they actually discussed fee before doing anything I would have checked again quickly to make sure.

cajef

How did you think they were going to find out if it had swallowed a screw?