Will I be chased over £5 of debt?

tallyhoh

Crikey, I pay about £60 for an X-Ray, private because I can't get on an NHS dentist list, count your blessings

buzzyzoe

Pinklemonade wrote: »

I work as a dental nurse and, although im unfamiliar with how things differ in N.I, in my practice an outstanding debt WILL be passed on to a debt collector even if only for a few pounds. The patient will also be de registered from the practice meaning they will need to find a new NHS practice, which is not always easy as practice's are not obliged to take on new NHS patients and will also sometimes ask if you are, or have been, registered with another NHS practice and your reasons for leaving.
NHS and GDC guidelines make it compulsory for all pratices to clearly display both their private and NHS fees. Providing this is done, the dentists themselves are under no legal obligation to discuss fees prior to treatment (though most do out of courtesy). So long as the practice in question has displayed their fees (usually in reception or the waiting room) and the debtist has obtained consent for treatment then they've done nothing wrong and complaing to the NHS, GDC or PCT will be pointless.
Think about it, do supermarkets remind you of the price of every single item AFTER you've decided to buy it even though the price was clearly displayed at the time of purchase??

I think the point here though is that he was told it was a free check up. In your analogy, it would be like the supermarket offering free samples and then charging you afterwards.

That said, and I do think it sounds a little unfair, it's not worth arguing about for the sake of £5, I would just pay it

sourcrates

Judging by the OP's other posts, I believe he is unemployed at the moment, so he may not have £5 to spare.

There was a kid on "benefits Britain" the other night, had pawned his sky box, for £10 and could not manage to find the tenner to buy it back, he was on the dole, no one can live on £40 quid a week, it's just ridiculas !!

OP may be in a similar situation.

shortcrust

Pinklemonade wrote: »

I work as a dental nurse and, although im unfamiliar with how things differ in N.I, in my practice an outstanding debt WILL be passed on to a debt collector even if only for a few pounds. The patient will also be de registered from the practice meaning they will need to find a new NHS practice, which is not always easy as practice's are not obliged to take on new NHS patients and will also sometimes ask if you are, or have been, registered with another NHS practice and your reasons for leaving.
NHS and GDC guidelines make it compulsory for all pratices to clearly display both their private and NHS fees. Providing this is done, the dentists themselves are under no legal obligation to discuss fees prior to treatment (though most do out of courtesy). So long as the practice in question has displayed their fees (usually in reception or the waiting room) and the debtist has obtained consent for treatment then they've done nothing wrong and complaing to the NHS, GDC or PCT will be pointless.
Think about it, do supermarkets remind you of the price of every single item AFTER you've decided to buy it even though the price was clearly displayed at the time of purchase??

Is telling a client how much treatment costs really considered a 'courtesy'?! I've always had costs explained to me very clearly and carefully. Guess I've been lucky.

[Deleted User]

sourcrates wrote: »

Judging by the OP's other posts, I believe he is unemployed at the moment, so he may not have £5 to spare.

There was a kid on "benefits Britain" the other night, had pawned his sky box, for £10 and could not manage to find the tenner to buy it back, he was on the dole, no one can live on £40 quid a week, it's just ridiculas !!

OP may be in a similar situation.

if that was the case they would in all likelyhood be eligible for free dental treatment anyway

sourcrates

woodbine wrote: »

if that was the case they would in all likelyhood be eligible for free dental treatment anyway

Aka - he should not of been charged then !!

kingmonkey

I would pay the £5 its not worth the worry, time or effort.

Otherwise, I would get in touch with PALS to get clarification from the dental practice.

brook2jack

sourcrates wrote: »

Aka - he should not of been charged then !!

If he signed the fp17 form as being entitled to free treatment he would not have been charged. However if he signed as paying for treatment then he would be charged.

Dentists and their staff cannot make assumptions about who pays and who doesn't. If free treatment is claimed when you are not entitled then it is an automatic fine of a minimum of £150 plus treatment cost levied by the NHS even if it is a genuine mistake.

A check up done for a new patient or someone who has not been seen for a few years cannot be done properly without x Rays.

In eg Wales , for certain patients, and Scotland check ups are free , everything else must be paid for .