Advice please! Rip off vet

System

I got my hair cut today. I just sat down and stated my problem (too much hair). Assuming my implied consent to proceed, my hair was then cut.

I was surprised to then be presented with a bill. We hadn't discussed any fees beforehand. I thought they realised that when I asked for a hair cut, I really just wanted a quote for a hair cut? I didn't actually tell them not to cut my hair, why couldn't they read my mind? I mean they were pretty close to it (it's just next to the hair.)

Any advice? I didn't have insurance because, erm, I didn't realise hair grew. Maybe I should have read the price list on the wall? Can I sue? The internet says I have rights, do those rights extend to accepting no responsibility for anything ever, because I'm a consumer? I asked for a service, and I really don't expect to have pay for it.

My hair is a car. Tell me what I want to hear people.

fed_up_and_stressed

mutzi wrote: »

I got my hair cut today. I just sat down and stated my problem (too much hair). Assuming my implied consent to proceed, my hair was then cut.

I was surprised to then be presented with a bill. We hadn't discussed any fees beforehand. I thought they realised that when I asked for a hair cut, I really just wanted a quote for a hair cut? I didn't actually tell them not to cut my hair, why couldn't they read my mind? I mean they were pretty close to it (it's just next to the hair.)

Any advice? I didn't have insurance because, erm, I didn't realise hair grew. Maybe I should have read the price list on the wall? Can I sue? The internet says I have rights, do those rights extend to accepting no responsibility for anything ever, because I'm a consumer? I asked for a service, and I really don't expect to have pay for it.

My hair is a car. Tell me what I want to hear people.

Never let anyone near your car with scissors

photome

OP what happened when you went in to pay yesterday

wubu

benny1234black wrote: »

Still looking for a decent response not some uninformed opinions about my intentions and responsibility as a dog owner.

Here is a non-bias response.

I would appreciate a vet telling me the fees beforehand and I'd still pay them regardless but I prefer openness.

Was the vet wrong to not tell you? Not really. Something like this could well be time critical and fees shouldn't really come in to it initially if they had to act fast. If it was out of hours then you shouldn't expect them to tell until after.

I wouldn't be peeved but you could ask for a heads up on a rough cost when you brought him in.

Look into PetPlan if you don't have insurance as they deal direct with the vet and you don't pay anything apart from an excess when dealing with them.

RuthnJasper

halibut2209 wrote: »

The most annoying thing about this thread is that the vet will probably end up waiving the fee.

... and subjected to a possibly unwarranted disciplinary investigation.

Shoshannah

iammumtoone wrote: »

Are you sure this was what was said? I am not a vet or claim to be any expert but even I know if an animal or person swallows something you do not "make them sick" you give them an x-ray.

Inducing vomiting can actually be very helpful. Socks, toys, plastic wrappers - a fair few things can be brought up if you know they've been swallowed. Not as clearcut in this case, admittedly.

Here's my view: if the circumstances did indeed unfold as described by the OP, then I think the veterinary practice dropped the ball.

I think the X-ray was indicated.
I think the cost was (extremely) reasonable.
I think the OP should have asked for the cost if he was very concerned about it, because although estimates prior to treatment are ideal and recommended they don't always happen.

But...

If the X-ray was taken without the informed consent of the owner, then the owner is right to be annoyed. Signing a consent form is one thing, but did they read what they were signing? Did anyone actually say: "this form includes consent for X-rays", to make sure that the consent was informed?

What other procedures can be performed without the consent of the owner? I would personally only categorise emergency treatments (pain relief, CPR etc) as such - and while X-raying a dog for a screw is urgent, it's not an emergency.

Just my opinion, anyway, based on the facts given.