£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

If you believe I'm a troll - report me. But MNHQ know I'm not and have already looked at this thread and found no issues. Otttttttherwise it would've been deleted.

All I've done is ask a question. Yet I'm being cross-examined like a grade A criminal

@EtonMusk Yes this is what I presumed but apparently it was £71.67 for euthanasia and £30 for disposal

Wow. Some of the answers on here have reminded me why I rarely start threads on MN.
Sorry about everything, OP. It sounds like you've had a terrible year.

Pretty sure I paid around that for a rabbit to be put down last year and I took the body home.

It’s not really relevant what other places charge though. They can charge what they like and it’s your own fault for not checking beforehand. You only have yourself to blame.

Sorry OP that people on here are being so shitty with you. They sound like nasty bullies to kick someone when they’re down. Best to just ignore them!

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Thanks.

I think the price is probably quite normal. I paid £68 to have a rat put to sleep a couple of years ago (it's stuck in my head as I thought that was a lot!) They offered cremation but I declined and took it home with me to burry in the garden.

I think unfortunately you need to chalk this up to experience. Hard lesson learnt about enquiring about the price before hand.

Not read the WFT but OP, if you're not already making a claim for your injuries and your DH's death, obviously you must. Even if your DH was partly to blame, that will only reduce your claim for his death, you'll get full compensation for the consequences of your injuries from the combination of his insurers (I'm assuming he was driving too) and the drunk driver. If the drunk driver wasn't insured, that's where the MIB comes in.
Your financial issues will not be long lived, you'll be ok. Sorry for your loss (DH and hamster) though.

Based on this vet it looks expensive
£9 for small animal cremation plus £15 for euthanasia
www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.glebevets.co.uk/documents/prices-2021.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjOjKjyl5_7AhUMTcAKHcG-AJAQFnoECB0QAQ&usg=AOvVaw2M6KIRq2ZJXo0CxvDPy7jn

THANK YOU!!!!

Which vet was this OP? So posters know to avoid it.

I'd rather not say if that's ok? After all it was partly my fault for not checking the price & assuming it'd be similar to the other Vets. I mean I'd say it's fair to assume that the price wouldn't be as 150% higher, but I still should've asked.
I will say though, they honestly couldn't have been kinder. The Vet was possibly the nicest, kindest & friendliest person I've ever met, she sat on the floor and helped me console my 7yr old and after I spoke to them this morning to arrange to collect the Hamster to bury her (which they agreed to & agreed to refund the Cremation cost and even offered to still send her for Cremation for free, which I gratefully but politely turned down as I felt that would be wrong for me to accept), the Vet herself called me to check I was sure!

So the people I've dealt with are certainly good people. Which I've never disputed. I simply asked on here whether people thought the price was right before I spoke to them as I didn't want to query it, if it was actually the average rate now. No idea why everyone blew up into a frenzy over it.

Thank you. There's so many twists & turns to it all. I wouldn't dare share any of it on MN, can you even imagine the troll hunting that would conjure up?!

What’s the harm in saying? If that is their price, they won’t care. It could really help someone else not go through what you are.

@ADogNamedCat I don't want to shame then or damage their business. I've worked out how to PM now so if anyone local to Harrogate really wants to know, then I'll say privately

Yes, PM me please. ☺️

Oh, not suggesting you should share. Just making sure you're aware of the options. If a drunk driver killed him and injured you, there aren't that many twists and turns that would prevent compensation. Just make sure you're taking actual proper real life legal advice

It seems you’ve messaged me but then asked for it to be deleted before I read it. Strange. Could you send it again? Or maybe you have deleted your account as I think that deletes messages. 🤔

I wouldn't tell anyone on here after the troll hunting last night

I haven't asked for anything to be deleted? As I said last night my PM's have never worked properly. Sorry

You're probably right there!

Anyway, update! Christmas isn't^^ ruined anymore as this morning I received a very random rebate cheque from my energy company for just over the bill amount - result! Oh and the Vets have agreed to me picking the Hamster up to bury her & refunding the Cremation cost.
However, now given the above I think I'll just collect her (as it's all arranged now), politely refuse the refund and ask if they can maybe let someone else who indicates that they're struggling, use it or donate it to an animal charity. Then at least some good can come from all this. Even if it is only £30!

Relief all round I think.

I for one will never start another thread on MN again, that's for sure. Though I do appreciate all the genuine advice

Christmas was almost ruined because you have no money, but now you're going to give away £30 of your own money for nothing? That's a bit bonkers. Maybe take the money and hold on to it in case something breaks.

what a magical feel good end to the thread huh?

I agree. Totally odd.