Upfront payments for dentist

atdevon

I have a private hygenist (like many others) and am required to pay up front in advance for my next appointment (usually 6 months). I accept this, but when I attend the next appointment, if the charges have increased in the meantime, patients are then charged the additional fee on top of that already paid out. Is this legal? I have asked for the T&Cs but there are none! 

Aylesbury_Duck

Without knowing their terms, no one can say.  They'd be breaching a contract if the terms of that contract say they won't pass on any increase between booking and the appointment itself.

In the absence of any terms then I suspect the contract was formed at the point you initially paid, but how far do you want to push it for what I assume is a relatively small sum?  In some areas, dental appointments can be hard to find.  If you like the practice and there aren't alternatives then you need to consider how much of a fuss you want to make about it.

sheramber

Whay is the advince payment for

Booking the appointment and any treatment is charged in addition?

or is it a payment towards the treatment given?

Or is the hygenist charge a fixed amount regardless of what is done.?

saajan_12

atdevon said:

I have a private hygenist (like many others) and am required to pay up front in advance for my next appointment (usually 6 months). I accept this, but when I attend the next appointment, if the charges have increased in the meantime, patients are then charged the additional fee on top of that already paid out. Is this legal? I have asked for the T&Cs but there are none! 

Why do you have to - are appointments that booked up? Do other dentists in the area have different policies? 

It is legal in that there's no law specifying the payment pattern for dentists.

However its up to you whether you're happy with it - essentially seems they're treating it as a deposit upfront, and then the actual charge agreed at the time of the appointment. If you are expecting the upfront amount to be the full payment for a confirmed appointment, then what did they respond when you declined to pay the top up as it wasn't agreed? 
Of course depends if its worth that bust up if you need the appointment. 

Ergates

atdevon said:

I have a private hygenist (like many others) and am required to pay up front in advance for my next appointment (usually 6 months). I accept this, but when I attend the next appointment, if the charges have increased in the meantime, patients are then charged the additional fee on top of that already paid out. Is this legal? I have asked for the T&Cs but there are none! 

Is this legal?   Well, depends on what the contract says,

Is this ethical business practice.   No, not really.