Paid Deposit - They increase the price 4 months after

kerryjo82

I booked a deep clean with my dentist 4 months ago after my previous clean. I paid £20 deposit with the price set at £57.50. 
This morning they call me to confirm I will be attending the appointment but also added that the price has increased to £70.00 (an extra £12.50) after their January price increase. 

Do I have to pay them or are they still in breach of contract? 

This dentist practice has been sneaky in the past and increased the price on the day when I had paid 100% up front 4 months previously - which I argued, I was told a manager will call me to discuss - who never did. I reported them to trading standards as it was a direct breach of consumer law (as I understand it). They did this to hundreds if not, thousands of customers across their network. A few months after me reporting them we are not asked to pay 100% of the price, only a deposit. 

Thank you

Aylesbury_Duck

kerryjo82 said:

I booked a deep clean with my dentist 4 months ago after my previous clean. I paid £20 deposit with the price set at £57.50. 
This morning they call me to confirm I will be attending the appointment but also added that the price has increased to £70.00 (an extra £12.50) after their January price increase. 

Do I have to pay them or are they still in breach of contract? 

This dentist practice has been sneaky in the past and increased the price on the day when I had paid 100% up front 4 months previously - which I argued, I was told a manager will call me to discuss - who never did. I reported them to trading standards as it was a direct breach of consumer law (as I understand it). They did this to hundreds if not, thousands of customers across their network. A few months after me reporting them we are not asked to pay 100% of the price, only a deposit. 

Thank you

It will depend upon the terms of the contract.  My dentist takes deposits in this way but it's clear that the prevailing price is subject to change.  If your price was "set" at £57.50 then I think they have breached the contract.

However, you need to look at the bigger picture.  If they've breached the contract, they must return your £20 deposit.  Then what?  If it's only a clean (and not essential dental work) then you're perhaps not bothered.  If you want or need the clean, then they'll charge you £70 for it, anyway.  You also need to consider how easy it would be to find an alternative dentist if they elect not to retain your custom.

Grumpy_chap

Is this an NHS Band 2 treatment rate?
If so, the charges are set centrally.

A_Geordie

The increase is probably likely to be regarded as unfair. Your agreement to pay a deposit was based on the price at the time for the fee of £57.50. Increasing the price because your appointment date is after a universal price increase is unreasonable, and that's assuming the terms were clearly communicated to you and a breakdown of how the price increase will happen at the time of booking (which I suspect didn't happen).

As above, either cancel and get your deposit back or pay the £70 and then claim/sue for the £12.50 additional cost, if you feel its worth spending the next 6-12 months pursuing in court.

kerryjo82

Aylesbury_Duck said:

kerryjo82 said:

I booked a deep clean with my dentist 4 months ago after my previous clean. I paid £20 deposit with the price set at £57.50. 
This morning they call me to confirm I will be attending the appointment but also added that the price has increased to £70.00 (an extra £12.50) after their January price increase. 

Do I have to pay them or are they still in breach of contract? 

This dentist practice has been sneaky in the past and increased the price on the day when I had paid 100% up front 4 months previously - which I argued, I was told a manager will call me to discuss - who never did. I reported them to trading standards as it was a direct breach of consumer law (as I understand it). They did this to hundreds if not, thousands of customers across their network. A few months after me reporting them we are not asked to pay 100% of the price, only a deposit. 

Thank you

It will depend upon the terms of the contract.  My dentist takes deposits in this way but it's clear that the prevailing price is subject to change.  If your price was "set" at £57.50 then I think they have breached the contract.

However, you need to look at the bigger picture.  If they've breached the contract, they must return your £20 deposit.  Then what?  If it's only a clean (and not essential dental work) then you're perhaps not bothered.  If you want or need the clean, then they'll charge you £70 for it, anyway.  You also need to consider how easy it would be to find an alternative dentist if they elect not to retain your custom.

Nothing was said when I booked the appointment about there being price changes in the future and nothing else given other than an piece of paper with an appointment date and details on it. 
Absolutely you are correct about the bigger picture as dentists are difficult to come by these days. I was trying to figure out if this is worth arguing tomorrow or not.

kerryjo82

Grumpy_chap said:

Is this an NHS Band 2 treatment rate?
If so, the charges are set centrally.

This is a private clean appointment with a hygienist and not from the NHS, although I use their NHS service when I have general appointments with the dentist so I really need to keep them. 

kerryjo82

A_Geordie said:

The increase is probably likely to be regarded as unfair. Your agreement to pay a deposit was based on the price at the time for the fee of £57.50. Increasing the price because your appointment date is after a universal price increase is unreasonable, and that's assuming the terms were clearly communicated to you and a breakdown of how the price increase will happen at the time of booking (which I suspect didn't happen).

As above, either cancel and get your deposit back or pay the £70 and then claim/sue for the £12.50 additional cost, if you feel its worth spending the next 6-12 months pursuing in court.

Thanks for your comment, it's obviously not worth pursuing in court for that amount of hassle/money. I'm trying to figure out if I should argue it at my appointment tomorrow. As another poster has said I need to keep the NHS side of this dentist even though this is a private clean with the hygienist. 

Aylesbury_Duck

There's no harm in expressing surprise and disappointment at the increase if you weren't forewarned of the possibility of an increase.  They may waive the increase, but I would be wary about pushing too hard if they're a good dental practice and you haven't got an alternative.

Grumpy_chap

kerryjo82 said:

Grumpy_chap said:

Is this an NHS Band 2 treatment rate?
If so, the charges are set centrally.

This is a private clean appointment with a hygienist and not from the NHS, although I use their NHS service when I have general appointments with the dentist so I really need to keep them. 

Then it might be as wise to pay the extra £12.50 without quibbling, however much that might annoy you.
The risk with quibbling is the Dentist discharges you from their books and you can only find a private Dentist from then on - the costs will be more than recovered at the first NHS appointment with the current Dentist.