Late dentist cancellation and debt collection

Aquamania

littld wrote: »

I called the day of an NHS dental appointment in early January to cancel. It was my fault, I apologised and they said I had to send them £20 for cancelling it on the day. I thought that was okay and sent them a cheque.

I got a hygienist appointment around March and attended on time but when I got there they said the hygienist wasn't available so I'd wasted my time going. Given pretty poor service (they could have called to say my appointment wasn't going to happen), I'm switching to another dentist.

Today I've received a letter for £34 from a debt collection company demanding I pay for the missed appointment in January and they will take me to court if I don't pay. They've not sent me any previous request for £34.

While I accept I missed the first appointment I don't feel I should have to pay for it twice. It was an honest mistake and it's not happened before or since. I also want to ensure they don't find a reason for coming up with other demands months down the line.

I haven't given them permission to pass my details to another company and I don't think they have the right to do that if I don't owe them.

Any ideas how best to handle it? I feel ill end up having to pay it but it feels like a scam to me.

littld wrote: »

Update: I've had reply from the company which says I have no defence as there was a notice in the waiting room. They don't answer any other of my questions and says I just pay within 14 days or face court.

It's not for them to decide whether or not you have a defence.

Tell them you deny the amount claimed, and that if they do wish to pursue the matter, they should commence legal proceedings without further delay.
In the meantime, state that you will not be responding to any further communication from them (save in relation to legal action, e.g. a court summons) and that they should therefore desist forthwith.

That will allow the appropriate authority (i.e. the court) to decide if (a) any grounds for a claim exists and (b) if grounds for a claim do exist, then the appropriate authority (the court) can decide if a valid defence exists.

Aquamania

littld wrote: »

Thanks all, I've written to the debt collection company and asked them for the name and address of the person claiming and evidence which suggests to their client that an amount is due. I have stated that I don't think anything is owed. Wish me luck. Oh, not directly related but I found out they were inspected and found horrendous hygiene problems which were deemed a risk to patients! I so wish I'd known that before I went there.

Surely you know what the alleged debt refers to? You've already told us.
:huh:
Any responsible debt collector would not attempt to conceal this matter as they would have to tell the court all the details anyway if, as they threaten, they are going to take that route in the event of non-payment.

Why not ask the dentist directly if you are concerned this is a possible scam? :huh:

Jon8sher1

Were you being seen as a private patient or an NHS one? NHS dentists are not allowed to charge for missed appointments anymore, the rules on missed appointments changed in 2006 and payments for missed appointments were abolished

Rainbowgirl84

Jon8sher1 wrote: »

Were you being seen as a private patient or an NHS one? NHS dentists are not allowed to charge for missed appointments anymore, the rules on missed appointments changed in 2006 and payments for missed appointments were abolished

They still can in NI and Scotland I believe.

littld

Aquamania wrote: »

Surely you know what the alleged debt refers to? You've already told us.
:huh:
Any responsible debt collector would not attempt to conceal this matter as they would have to tell the court all the details anyway if, as they threaten, they are going to take that route in the event of non-payment.

Why not ask the dentist directly if you are concerned this is a possible scam? :huh:

I think the dentist is closed down and they have sold the business on. They were investigated for hygiene problems in 2014 but I've only discovered this recently.

I do know I missed an appointment and I do know I paid for it. The alleged debt they quote matches the date but the amount is different.

littld

Jon8sher1 wrote: »

Were you being seen as a private patient or an NHS one? NHS dentists are not allowed to charge for missed appointments anymore, the rules on missed appointments changed in 2006 and payments for missed appointments were abolished

I think the amount I paid was for an NHS appointment. If NHS rules say this isn't allowed, how do you claim it back?