Booked appointment- price rise

roaduser3189

Hi there, hopefully posting in the correct section re consumer rights. 

I have had a hygienist appointment booked since March for an appointment in June. I have paid the price of the appointment at the time of booking which was £65. In the last couple of days I have received a text from the surgery to say they have raised they have recently prices and I have outstanding amount left to pay. 

I have paid the cost of the service at the time the appointment was made. Are places allowed to charge for price increases retrospectively? In the sense that if the price increased say 20th May to charge all the who booked the appointment beforehand the price difference? 

Thank you for your help. 

Aylesbury_Duck

What do the terms of the practice say about prices?

roaduser3189

Nothing. I have checked this on their website and there is no further information. It is Colosseum Dental. 

lincroft1710

How much extra are they asking you to pay?

user1977

Might be reasonable for them to say that the price on the day of treatment is the price you pay - but I don't think they can pocket your advance payment if you no longer wish to go ahead at the new price.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

What do the terms say about cancellation OP?

roaduser3189

I dont know about the cancellation policy. I can afford the outstanding amount that is left. What I wanted to understand that if you prepay for a service ,  can the price be then increased and if not then what are your rights as a consumer. 

For example if I bought an item on Amazon and whilst it was being delivered the price of it increased, I would not be asked to pay the new price. So what is the difference here? 

user1977

roaduser3189 said:

For example if I bought an item on Amazon and whilst it was being delivered the price of it increased, I would not be asked to pay the new price.

If by "whilst it was being delivered" you mean "before they despatch it", then yes they certainly can decide to change the price, or not to sell it at all. But they can't just keep your money if they're not willing/able to sell at the original price.

km1500

this is all about the law of contract. If there is an offer of a price and an acceptance by the customer than a contract is formed for provision of that service at that price

Having said that all contracts include terms and conditions and if the contract included a condition saying for example that this is only a provisional price and the actual price will be that prevailing on the day then that would be enforceable

in the absence of that provision then you are entitled to ask that the treatment be provided at the price paid and if they refuse than to ask them to cover your losses which in truth probably only amounts to a refund

km1500

user1977 said:

roaduser3189 said:

For example if I bought an item on Amazon and whilst it was being delivered the price of it increased, I would not be asked to pay the new price.

If by "whilst it was being delivered" you mean "before they despatch it", then yes they certainly can decide to change the price, or not to sell it at all. But they can't just keep your money if they're not willing/able to sell at the original price.

the only reason why this is true is because they have a term and condition in the contract specifically saying that a contract is not formed until dispatch

in the absence of such a condition then they could not increase the price

user1977

km1500 said:

user1977 said:

roaduser3189 said:

For example if I bought an item on Amazon and whilst it was being delivered the price of it increased, I would not be asked to pay the new price.

If by "whilst it was being delivered" you mean "before they despatch it", then yes they certainly can decide to change the price, or not to sell it at all. But they can't just keep your money if they're not willing/able to sell at the original price.

the only reason why this is true is because they have a term and condition in the contract specifically saying that a contract is not formed until dispatch

Yes, in common with the vast majority of other online retailers.

Similarly, the dental hygienist isn't going to be providing any services until the date of the appointment. I wouldn't normally expect that making a dental appointment months in the future fixes the price which is going to be payable on the day - they've somewhat muddied the waters by asking for payment in advance. You could certainly argue that helping them with their cashflow in that way ought to fix the price, but if they disagree then at the very least the OP should get their money back.