£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

I think that might be all that could possibly save Christmas now.

@Mummyoflittledragon bargain. Mine charged me £400 and then wanted to give him an MRI. I changed vets!

They really don’t give you a menu with options and prices on it. It’s right we will do this, that and the other and you don’t know until you have to pay. By which time, it’s too damn late! Unless you go in and say, cheapest option only please, you’ve had it! They often seem to work from the highest price down 🤣or maybe they just see me coming.

@BloodAndFire What on earth are you talking about now? You're arguing with yourself! Trying your best to 'flame' me and find holes in a TRUE story when all I've done is ask a simple sodding question about a vets bill. Step down

That's crazy !

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/385153292352?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338895997&toolid=20006&customid=255_255_255&

£110 on eBay so all isn’t lost OP.

god see this is the reason we don’t have a pet. I simply do not have £400 lying around to cover some random, unpredictable vet fees. I’m surprised anyone does tbh.

i feel for you OP. There is nothing worse than getting hit with an unexpected large bill when you really can’t afford it.

Well it really depends if you ask them or not. You know, like an adult.

I think people should back off

🤔 I've always received an estimated cost for every treatment/service from our vets BEFORE anything was done. In fact, they usually print off an agreement to sign. The same was true when we had to say goodbye to one of our beloved hounds this summer.

Is this a name change fail? Are you replying to yourself here?

@LittleBearPad it’s not that easy. Help me mr vet? Ps I’ve only got a tenner. Seriously….

Crikey. I had several chickens pts and cremated at the vets. It cost me £12 a time (within the last 5 years). For those that died at home, the vets charged me £3 just for the cremation.

@BagOfBollocks

in the bin

really????

Theres no way I'd do that to a loved pet

@ChristmasisRuined why didn't you take hammy to the vets you used before?

you really can't complain they charge more thst the previous vets. Same as restaurants/dentists/hairdressers, they can all set their own prices, it was daft to
'assume' and not ask the cost before asking them to do it.

im a softie so our hammy cost me a fortune when she became unwell. Baby girl was worth it though.

Definitely email them, see what they say.

Stop bloody troll hunting, if you think op is after money report the thread

£100 does seem excessive. Have they accidentally charged you for individual cremation, which is more expensive? Might be worth checking.

I would talk to the vets about your circumstances, and see if they will let you set up a monthly payment plan.

Someone is selling the our generation bowling set for £50 on FB marketplace. Not sure what part of the country you're in but worth checking out. If not private message me and maybe I can get it posted to you if you pay for it xx

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

Of course they know and yes, they do have a "menu" of services available. On every occasion I have had to have a dog pts I have been offered the menu of services and the cost. The OP should have asked.

?!

Are you accusing me of sockpuppeting. I assure you I’m not - ask MNHQ if you want.

It’s perfectly possible to ask for a quote. You just ask.

A PP asked me what my DD liked and kindly offered to help me find some second hand deals which is a bloody brilliant idea! Hence why I mentioned how much it cost new. Your reading comprehension isn't on top form today is it?!

That’s insane for a hamster. I’m sure I only paid £70 or so to have my medium sized dog put to sleep and the body taken care of. I didn’t ask for her ashes back as that would of cost a lot more and didn’t see the point of having a flake of ash once my beloved dog was gone.

i have to say, all our small pets have just been buried in the garden.

What's done is done. Can you borrow money from a friend or family member? Or get a crisis loan from DWP or worse case provident? Maybe stop getting hamsters too, they dont last long.

You’ve had the RRP imprinted on your photographic memory for weeks now but haven’t thought to buy one secondhand?

• jar of ash.

this was about 4 years ago so may have changed since then.

This year dog PTS, cremated, Oak box engraved £280