£101.67?!?!?!?!

[ChristmasisRuined]

A year ago, DD's Hamster had to sadly be put to sleep. I agreed to let them 'handle' disposal of him due to DD's special needs. She certainly wouldn't have been able to cope with a little burial.
The cost of this, including 'disposal', came to £39 which I thought was reasonable.

Fast forward a year and DD's 1yr old Hamster (who really helped her grieve for the loss of her last little friend) has unfortunately had to be put to sleep this evening as she was really suffering. This was at a different Veterinary practice. They too asked if I'd like to take her home or have them dispose of her. As last time was a reasonable cost which included this, I just agreed to them disposing of her.

So imagine my surprise when I got to the counter after was presented with a bill for £101.27!?!

I paid and when I got home, I called to double check it was correct and yep! Same price for a Hamster as it is for a Cat! Apparently, £30 of it is for them to dispose of her. Now, had I been told this I would've taken her home and buried her myself without DD knowing, as I'm a disabled, widowed parent on a very low income (as I have no choice but to claim disability benefits now). At NO point did anyone tell me that disposal would cost £30 extra. Yes I should've asked but given the other, also independent Veterinary surgery charged just £39 TOTAL last year, I never imagined disposal could cost so much so it didn't seem relevant to ask. Surely if something costs extra, then the morally decent thing to do is to point it out?
Anyway, even without the £30 disposal fee, £71 to put a Hamster to sleep???

I then looked on the website of the Vets I used last year, and their price is now £42 inc disposal for all animals smaller than Rabbits.

Christmas is now pretty much ruined. Due to my circumstances and the COL crisis etc, like many people, I only had £150 budget for DD's presents and the food. Now £101.67 of it has gone when it could've been just £42 down had I used the other practice....

I'm up sh** creek now and could cry. DD is crying because she's lost her little friend and I'm nearly crying because of the cost of it!!

Should I complain? Or is this roughly what others have paid??

Thanks

Sorry about the hamster and hope your DD is OK.

Look on fb marketplace for some bargains on toys. What kind of stuff does she like? We can help with the search.

The euthanasia had already been done!

I doubt they've sent her to Durham yet.

Whooooooole other thread!!!!

She loves Our Generation. She wants the Bowling Alley but that was never going to happen anyway as that's £209.99 new!!

Wow such specific figures!

There is a pet crematorium around Durham. The telephone number has just 1 number difference from ours so I have taken many, many phone calls. Took me a while to convince someone I couldn't dispose of their Shetland pony once. Wonder how much that cost?

Here ends my useless information interlude.

Anyway, I hope they give a discount on appeal. You would have thought that they have duty to make all costs clear at the outset.

Now, had I been told this I would've taken her home and buried her myself without DD knowing, as I'm a disabled, widowed parent on a very low income

I thought you couldn't even throw it in the bin due to your child's school being suddenly closed?

It sounds like you had an individual cremation, not gonna lie for a hamster I would have just asked them to dispose of it rather then have it cremated. If you think about it they’ve fired up the furnace for a solitary hamster. Why didn’t you bury it in a shoebox like everyone else does. My vets also quotes before doing anything. If you do write and complain do some price research online to compare and ask why you were not given any indication of costs. Maybe you could defer payment.

To those posters saying “you should’ve asked”.
The vet won’t know.

They don’t have a price list to hand, your in the room, you have a consultation or what have you and they draw up the medication (I know this was a pts scenario). But no one is there totting each thing up. It’s often an unpleasant surprise at the counter!

Vets fees have gone up so much the last few years, owning a pet really is a luxury and I don’t always feel best interest are at heart.

If you’ve already paid, I think you’ll find it hard to get it reduced. You could ask if you could be refunded partially and make an arrangement for the rest but it sounds like a done deal. Sorry OP.

I can still see the amount on the card machine hovering in front of my eyes... 😩

Why are you being so rude? Obviously I'd find a way if it meant getting £30 back!!!

Ps- for anyone on benefits you will likely get free treatment from the PDSA if you qualify under the postcode criteria. Check the PDSA website.

I was thinking more of how you know the exact price of a toy you were never intending to buy. Right down to the pennies.

I DID just ask them to dispose of it! I had no idea she was being cremated until afterwards

oh gosh, I'm sorry - for it all.

Vets are so expensive. But yes, that does seem ridiculously expensive for what it is.

I don't know if they would, but perhaps go back to them and ask if you could be part refunded and then pay off the balance in instalments ? As others have said, highlight the cost / coming up to Xmas etc. I would have thought vets are often used to delayed payments because they get insurance claims paid weeks / months after the fact.

The other thing is that you might be able to get help with this vet bill (e.g. www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/care/financial) due to your circumstances.

Would you liked to club together to buy an OurGeneration Bowling Alley (RRP £209.99) OP?

Unfortunately some vets really charge loads. I took the dog for an ear infection. Something he had before some time ago. She examined some of the wax without my asking and I was presented with a bill of over £100 with the consult and drugs. Idk why she did this as the treatment she gave me covers both bacterial and fungal infections. Vets should ask and be upfront about fees. They seem to forget not everyone has the means or insurance.

@BloodAndFire the £39 was to have the hamster put to sleep- you know- humanely. Not to “throw it away”. What the hell is wrong with you.

Ime there is a real lack of transparency about the pricing of cremation and disposal. You get asked do you want X when the pet has just been put to sleep with no mention of the cost and it can be difficult to get all the info you need. The fact that no one has mentioned the cost makes you think it will reasonable.

And if money is that tight you ask the vet who will be able to find out before they do anything.

Don't panic about Christmas presents - scour Market place/.local FB groups, loads of nearly new and good as new bargains, some for free.
Checkout the discounted food offerings that can be frozen as they discount at the end of the day.

I don't know but Christmas is definitely ruined if i can't get any toys for my poor daughter.

@BloodAndFire I know the exact price of the toy because I've thought about not much else for the past month. Trying to find it even slightly cheaper elsewhere. It doesn't matter, as it's far too big really and won’t hold its value at all.

Doesn't help having a photographic memory either!

Anyway Christmas aside, I'd still pretty peeved about this vet cost even if I was infinitely wealthy and still married!

While I sympathise it might have been advisable to check the cost before you agreed to pay.
Perhaps speak to the vet and see if they can do anything.