Dental Practice hassles

bank_of_slate

Hi lakeside, give the practice the opportunity to resolve the problem 'in house'.
All dental practices should have a good complaints policy if you feel it is not being taken care of - ask to see their complaints policy!
If after that time the situation has not been resolved amicably then you can certainly approach the Healthcare Commission or GDC private complaints.
...Linda xx

alison999

lakside500 wrote: »

I'm not blaiming the reception - all was stated that I had to leave a message there and due to the lack of comminucations from the practice in the last few weeks this would suggest I would be struggling to get a response from them.

i was just saying thats all,but why did you leave a second deposit if the first £10 was returned to you? however i DO agree that they should give you a trt plan, it shouldnt take them that long to do. maybe try by phone, as the others have suggested.

lakside500

bank_of_slate wrote: »

- ask to see their complaints policy!

Have done - again it's another thing that hasn't been responded to.

lakside500

alison999 wrote: »

,but why did you leave a second deposit if the first £10 was returned to you?.

First desposit taken for first appointment over telephone. I attended for the check up I was told it would be re-credited back to my account As I came out of the check up while there I booked my 2nd appointment and for this I was asked for the £60.00 deposit. It was the same day so wasn't to know they would keep their word on the refunding!

LondonDiva

I have to say, if I was the practice (and I don't tend to have much sympathy for dental practices) I would be very wary of a client like you.

There are a lot of demands, which seem to be almost 'looking for trouble in advance' (my opinion).

As suggested in previous posts, ring them and have a chat or drop by for a visit to clarify what's going on as there seems to be a serious miscommunication happening.

At the very least, please don't have any treatment without a treatment plan and until this part of the issues are sorted out.

alison999

i have to say im very wary of serving patients that seem to have a lot to say. (though i do agree about hte treatment plan & costs), im always very careful what i say because i know that every last word i say and HOW i say it will be remember for all time. its better to call or pop in. bear in mind that if you pop in they might be busy and you might have to pop back. if they dont sort it out for you the first day, ring back the second, then the third. unless they tell you the practice manager or your dentist is away they should be able to sort out your trt plan & costs at the very least, assuming the dentist has written his notes and planned your treatment.

lakside500

LondonDiva wrote: »

I have to say, if I was the practice (and I don't tend to have much sympathy for dental practices) I would be very wary of a client like you.

There are a lot of demands, which seem to be almost 'looking for trouble in advance' (my opinion).

At the very least, please don't have any treatment without a treatment plan and until this part of the issues are sorted out.

Wary? alot of demands? But you say get atreatment plan/cost! That is all I ever asked for.

I had paid £10.00 in advance - went for appointment. They said they would refund my card. They never did. On that same day I booked a 2nd appointment and paid a £60.00 deposit.

All I ever wanted was a treatment plan and some costs! This is hardly a lot of demands. It's being sensible.

That is what I wrote in my first letter with a S.A.E asking politley for the treatment plan and some cost quotes for all treatment. I never got this. I phoned them up - never replied to. How is this "looking for trouble" when all I want is the details and costs of the treatment. I'm sot sure why it's a big secret to give it to me.

Family problem arose I therefore cancelled the 2nd appointment in plenty of time. I have explained the situation to the practice and wish a refund as they won't give me a treatment plan or any cost details - What am I to think when i've been in touch now they don't respond by telephone or letter, they don't refund the money they said they would, they don't reply and have had over 3 weeks now to sort this out.

I'm the one that seems to be seen to be in the bad light in this situation when posting here.

Fact is i'm £70.00 down. I would have quite happily continued treatment at this place if they could have supplied the information - they can't give out the treatment plan requested and are keeping quiet about what i'm going be charged. It would be silly going ahead without getting this clarified first. It's best for both sides to know where they stand - exactly what is to be done and at what cost.

lakside500

alison999 wrote: »

i have to say im very wary of serving patients that seem to have a lot to say. (though i do agree about hte treatment plan & costs), .

Well again that is all I have been asking for a treatment plan & some costs. It's hardly too much to say or being demanding. It's a simple request that has bene ignored by the practice.

When they don't give you this I wonder why. They say they would refund me and haven't. They don't reply - all I think is why are they acting like this? I have left another message with them today but by Friday that is a month to sort this out. I think that is long enough.

domdent

lakeside 500you are right to be upset , this practice is breaking fundamental rules when providing NHS dentistry.You are exempt so should not have to pay any deposits.you should have been given the treatment plan at your visit this is a fundamental requirement and not to provide 1 is a breach of the NHS regs aswell as being very unprofessional.The problem you have is finding quality dental care within the NHS. It might be out there but is very difficult to find.

alison999

domdent wrote: »

lakeside 500you are right to be upset , this practice is breaking fundamental rules when providing NHS dentistry.You are exempt so should not have to pay any deposits.you should have been given the treatment plan at your visit this is a fundamental requirement and not to provide 1 is a breach of the NHS regs aswell as being very unprofessional.The problem you have is finding quality dental care within the NHS. It might be out there but is very difficult to find.

i dont think its his dental care itself which is in question but the way the practice is as a whole is handling it. we get into trouble for NOT giving estimates and i really dont understand why its so hard for them to sort one out for him, even if it means he would need ANOTHER quick appointment just to plan his treatment for him. id usually have this kind of thing sorted in a day or two max, depending on what day the dentist works and of course if he was on holiday it would take longer. but if he were away surely they could just explain that to him. i dont see what the big deal is.