12 month free dental care entitlement (?) yet private dentist made me pay

[webchick]

I have a 3month old so have my NHS free dental care entitlement. I had a check up with my dentist today and had 2 x-rays and she handed me a bill for £36 - I was taken aback as I thought I was getting the checkup for free - when I said this she said the practice doesnt take any NHS patients and she thought I already knew this.

I couldnt pay there and then as I didn't have my purse with me - what should I do? I feel like calling them up and saying I am peeved I have to pay; if I had known this before getting in the chair I would have gone elsewhere.

[ipodtherforipoor]

you can only have free NHS treatment with an NHS dentist

[Ifonlyhewould]

Actully webchick, you are supposed to be given a written estimate for any treatment, xrays or otherwise before any work is carried out. This is to avoid such situations as yours. If I were you i would write a letter to the Practice Manager stating that as proper procedure was not carried out and you were not made aware you being treated as a private patient you are requesting a refund of your charges. There's no harm in trying

[LucyJones]

I'm with a private dentist but when I was pregnant and for a year afterwards i got free dental treatment.

[madoldcatlady]

I had a similar thing when DD had a filling at our (then) dentist. She had been NHS but the surgery had gone private. We didn't know this. They billed me £70 odd quid!! I wrote a stinking letter and they waived the fee.

[geekgrrl]

same as lucy here
and my children also get free treatment
it's not on, they should have warned you at least.

[GreatGooglyMoogly]

When I had my maternity exemption I went to the dentist (NHS & Private). He explained to me that certain procedures were only Private now including polishing and so I had to pay too. It is outrageous.