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Original poster

£101.67?!?!?!?!

239 replies

ChristmasisRuined · 07/11/2022 20:56

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

OP posts:
Original poster
ChristmasisRuined · 07/11/2022 22:34

@RobertaFirmino I never once said anyone was going to check what it gets spent on?!? I NEED it for bills. Or there really will be a miserable Christmas for both of us!

OP posts:
DarkForces · 07/11/2022 22:34

I'm so sorry you've had such an awful time. It sounds really expensive to me and no wonder you were shocked. You sound a lovely pet owner. No idea why people are being so horrible

WhiteFire · 07/11/2022 22:35

I have just checked my records, we had little hamster PTS in Jan 21. This was still in covid restriction times and it was a right PITA. We paid £31 and they kept little hamster.

We only got into that vets as we were already registered from when we took the first one 15 years previously (had never used them again in that 15 years), if anyone was going to overcharge that was the time they would have done it.

OP have you a bill breakdown, is there nothing else you have been charged for?

Interested in this thread?

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Christmas
Supersimkin2 · 07/11/2022 22:35

You’ve been ripped off. Personal cat cremation is only about £150-£250 for the basic service in London, and you get the ashes back.

Original poster
ChristmasisRuined · 07/11/2022 22:37

alwoaisamcb · 07/11/2022 22:32

I don't think anyone has called you a scummy single mum apart from yourself OP.

Oh come on. You're telling me the attitude would've been kinder if i wasn't a single mum on benefits?
I needed to mention my circumstances for the context. Or at least I felt I did. As to some people, £100 is glove box change!

OP posts:
CopOut27 · 07/11/2022 22:37

Sorry awful OP, on multiple levels.

It’s not going to be a pleasant conversation but personally I’d stop the payment at the bank if you can, say there has been a dispute. Then call the vets, say it is far more than you expected (true), no one broke down all the costs for you (true) and you can only afford a repayment plan of X.

I’m sorry and hope you sort it out.

Leading · 07/11/2022 22:37

I’m sorry OP. You’ve had an awful time of it and are now having to deal with some spiteful and cruel people.

To answer your actual question - yes that seems a lot more than I’d have expected. As above might be worth seeing if you can get her back to save £30.

I hope you manage to find a good deal for your daughter’s Christmas present.

Also, might be worth hiding this thread. Some truly awful posters are out. I can’t imagine what you’ve been through x

alwoaisamcb · 07/11/2022 22:37

"I don't want to go into detail but the cancer was only presumed due to the sudden, rather obvious and gruesome symptoms which appeared this afternoon"

I'd be more annoyed at your vets guessing at a diagnosis then.

Supersimkin2 · 07/11/2022 22:37

The bullying and abuse here is deranged. Suggest you report and leave OP.

Otterock · 07/11/2022 22:37

Also our bills for cremation have jumped up quite a lot in the last month - presumably from the increased cost it takes for incineration which has to be passed to us which we then have to pass onto customers. It’s terrible but just try and call them first thing and ask to collect your hamster and have the cremation costs refunded. I’m really sorry for all your losses but hopefully you can catch them before a collection,

OtterOnToast · 07/11/2022 22:38

I think it's because of your username, your specifics about the gift you went for your child etc

Begging threads are rife at Christmas so I think a few things combined have meant some of the more ott comments

I didn't know anyone took a hamster to he put down at a vets. I'd never want to see any animal suffer but there have to be limits to what you'll pay for and it seems 100 quid for a hamster is about it

If you've just done it, call them tomorrow and explain. You have nothing to lose by doing so as they can only say no

Leading · 07/11/2022 22:39

@alwoaisamcb

Did that make you feel good? The hamster is dead, a child is upset and a family is bereaved.

I suggest you (and many others) reflect on what is missing in your life to feel the need to be so cruel. Disgusting.

LittleBearPad · 07/11/2022 22:41

ChristmasisRuined · 07/11/2022 22:37

Oh come on. You're telling me the attitude would've been kinder if i wasn't a single mum on benefits?
I needed to mention my circumstances for the context. Or at least I felt I did. As to some people, £100 is glove box change!

Show quote history

Who even knew you were on benefits (which there is nothing wrong with). Perfectly possible to be strapped for cash and not in receipt of benefits.

Original poster
ChristmasisRuined · 07/11/2022 22:41

alwoaisamcb · 07/11/2022 22:37

"I don't want to go into detail but the cancer was only presumed due to the sudden, rather obvious and gruesome symptoms which appeared this afternoon"

I'd be more annoyed at your vets guessing at a diagnosis then.

Oh please. They offered a thorough investigation but like a decent, realistic person I chose not to put her little body through that. They said to test her, they'd have to put her under anaesthetic but that there'd be a big likelihood that she wouldn't recover from the anaesthetic as she was a very small hamster for her species and as she had some quite major symptoms, her body would be weaker still

OP posts:
CopOut27 · 07/11/2022 22:42

Troll hunting is banned on MN. If anyone doesn’t believe details then report to MNHQ for investigation.

alwoaisamcb · 07/11/2022 22:42

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
ChristmasisRuined · 07/11/2022 22:42

Supersimkin2 · 07/11/2022 22:37

The bullying and abuse here is deranged. Suggest you report and leave OP.

Thanks. MNHQ are monitoring.

OP posts:
alwoaisamcb · 07/11/2022 22:43

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

WhiteFire · 07/11/2022 22:44

I didn't know anyone took a hamster to he put down at a vets. I'd never want to see any animal suffer but there have to be limits to what you'll pay for and it seems 100 quid for a hamster is about it

I have taken both my hamsters to the vets to be PTS. The first one could no longer walk and was unable to access water and his toilet, the second was just becoming more infirm and it would have been cruel to have allowed him to suffer. The vet actually thanked us with the first for bringing him in rather than just waiting for him to succumb, obviously the circumstances with number 2 were very different.

TattiePants · 07/11/2022 22:44

alwoaisamcb · 07/11/2022 22:37

"I don't want to go into detail but the cancer was only presumed due to the sudden, rather obvious and gruesome symptoms which appeared this afternoon"

I'd be more annoyed at your vets guessing at a diagnosis then.

@alwoaisamcb why do you think the vet is in the wrong? We’ve had a similar diagnosis with our elderly cat today. In the vet’s experience she is 99% sure our cat has a tumour but can’t do any tests to confirm this. If the OP’s pet was that poorly the vet would have put it to sleep without doing any further tests.

Leading · 07/11/2022 22:45

@alwoaisamcb

if you thought the OP was fake then you are supposed to report, not troll hunt. But, I guess if there is nothing better to do in your life then that explains a lot…

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 07/11/2022 22:46

It would be nice if mnhq banned persistent troll hunters as well as trolls . Bloody annoying

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 07/11/2022 22:46

badassbaby · 07/11/2022 22:19

READ THE POST!
It wasn't allowed to suffer hence the vet visit.

Show quote history

i DID read the post: "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."

Mummyofmaniacs · 07/11/2022 22:47

I feel for you
That is incredibly unreasonable but this is how we all learn
yes.. you should have asked first ALWAYS
yes ..you should have queried the price when you were told rather than just paying as it implied that you were happy with it.
But - It is worth getting onto them ASAP as they don't all go off to cremation immediately, and pointing out that the charge is much higher than other vets and asking if you can have a partial refund, return of body
or time to pay.
fingers crossed for you

Boo1321 · 07/11/2022 22:48

Ruined christmas? It’s the seventh day of the month before christmas. Do you not work?

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