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Paid Deposit - They increase the price 4 months after

kerryjo82
Posts: 4 Newbie

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
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
0
Comments
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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
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.3 -
Is this an NHS Band 2 treatment rate?
If so, the charges are set centrally.0 -
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.0 -
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
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.
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.0 -
Grumpy_chap said:Is this an NHS Band 2 treatment rate?
If so, the charges are set centrally.0 -
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.0 -
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.0
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kerryjo82 said:Grumpy_chap said:Is this an NHS Band 2 treatment rate?
If so, the charges are set centrally.
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.3
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