£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

The specifics about the gift were in response to a kind poster asking what DD liked and suggesting everyone help find some secondhand gifts which I hadn't had chance to even think of as it had only just happened. The poster asked what DD liked so I told her!

I couldn't think of another username. I was so upset at the time.

I am categorically NOT begging and would absolutely NOT accept a single penny from anybody. My posts have been taken totally out of context. I've been on MN for years and I'm aware that there's begging threads but it certainly was NOT the case here.

Besides, I've never ever been able to access MN private messaging or the website for some reason. I can only log in on the app, even if I change my password. Nobody knows why. So how on earth I could facilitate such a despicable 'transaction' I've no idea

Do you not RTFT?

There are truly horrible people on MN.

You're actually pissing me off. Single mother to two on disability benefits. Never have I once considered myself scummy, or been called scummy on here.

There seems to be more and more trolls on here, so whatever MN are doing, it is not working. Perhaps we need a professional troll hunter squad.

For what exactly?! Asking whether a vet bill is right?!?!

My thread is still here because MNHQ know I've been here for years and I'm not a troll! 😆

I’m sorry, OP, for all you have been through.
I found this which may be helpful
www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/i-m-not-happy-with-the-fees-my-vet-is-charging-what-can-i-do-a2kZW1x84FIL

I am so sorry you have ended up in this situation op. I wonder if you can explain your circumstances and ask for a breakdown of the costs.

@ZeldaWillTellYourFortune She was absolutely fine this lunchtime ffs! Nothing at all wrong, no symptoms. If you'd read the thread properly you would've known this! If you really want the details - Her vulva as good as exploded with pus this afternoon when she was on her little decking in her enclosure and was DD was sat about 4ft away. I was in the vets consultation room round the corner (closest one) within 15 mins. Even the vet said there's no way you could possibly have known this was going to happen.

FFS!!!!

RTFT!! 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

🙄

Sorry about the hamster. the vet could have charged you £10 or £500, you were foolish to not ask the cost. Whether or not you think it’s a reasonable charge is irrelevant

Can you not read?

that’s not how business works. it’d also be a very shitty thing to do

The casual cruelty of some posts on this thread is so depressing.

HOW is it irrelevant?! I've already acknowledged IN MY OP that I was daft not to ask. That is NOT what I am asking. Whether the cost is right IS relevant because IT'S LITERALLY WHAT I POSTED TO ASK!!!!!

it’s not relevant because what you think of the cost doesn’t change it or make any difference, they can charge you whatever figure they fancy

Some of you posting on here should be ashamed of yourselves.

@BlackBarbie And I can ask whatever question I like

Businesses need to notify customers of fees in advance too. There is a consumer act for a reason and not adhering to it is a pretty shitty thing to do - and illegal.

Crikey, hamster cremation is quite lucrative!!
Home burial next time - it's a good way of involving your daughter too so she can have some input, flowers on the grave etc.
If you explain to them what you've said here and ask to pay in instalments they may be happy to help.

Maybe the other vet just incinerated it and this vet has sent it to a pet crematorium?

It's a lot of money, yes, but £35 for a consultation, £30 for the meds and £35 for the disposal - I can see it's possible.

I paid £150 to have my cat put to sleep recently, and that was without any "disposal" (we took her home).

Sorry you’ve had such a hard time OP, and for wee hamster. We were caught out with our cat a few years back - she needed dental treatment and while they were in her mouth realised she needed more work than initially thought. They did ring and ask should they go ahead, and of course we said yes. It was £500 more than the initial quote! I stuck it on my credit card on the day, and she is insured, but I looked at an elderly man in the waiting room who was with an equally elderly dog and wondered if all patients could swallow that. (The man may well have been very wealthy, of course.)

You’ve had some thoroughly shitty comments on here Op. I’ll admit my first thought was that this was a begging thread but then I read it all.

I would complain, I had my dog PTS in 2020 and that was only £75, I’m sure it’s increased now but £101 for a hamster is insanity. But I also think we underestimate vet care because we don’t pay for our medical care, maybe we would appreciate it more if we did.

If nothing else they could do with being more transparent about the cost and a breakdown of what you are paying for. I’m guessing some of that cost was a consultation fee.