Not to pay this bill?

[LBOCS2]

My neighbour has form for being a cat stealing loon over involved with my pets. She has adopted two of my cats since I have lived in this house by tempting them in to hers and feeding them. I mind, but I'm not going to kick up a fuss - cats choose their owners and these two were not happy about the addition of a 7lb 3oz screaming smelly interloper to their calm and peaceful life.

However. We have another cat, and in March I had a call from my vets surgery saying that my neighbour was there with my cat who was 'struggling to breathe and foaming from the mouth' according to my neighbour - but showed no sign of this when actually at the vets. I spoke to them, confirmed that they were happy to let the cat come home for watchful care, they weren't concerned.

I just rang them to book in the dog for his boosters and they said that there was an outstanding balance of £51 on my account, because of the cat's visit.

I said to them that I was not happy about paying this cost - they saw my cat without contacting me to confirm that I would be liable for any costs incurred on the say so of my neighbour who they and I know is a bit twitchy and has a habit of overreaction (for example she once called the fire brigade because her fridge was making a funny noise and she was convinced it was leaking 'gas'). They have my number - they called me to tell me that they'd seen the cat, so I think they should have rung me first and I'm not intending to pay it.

The receptionist sort of didn't say anything when I said this to her (I suspect it's not her call to write off costs) but WIBU to pursue this further when I take the dog down there? I think it's cheeky beyond belief.

I think you need to transfer ownership properly or tell the neighbor to stop encouraging the cats over.

YANBU. If the cat has actually needed treatment that would be one thing but £51 on the say so of someone not the owner when the cat had no symptoms? Fuck off.

By the sounds of it your neighbour has taken things to the next level, you've already let her take two of your animals - how far is is going to go before you take action?

Little old bats.....a bit ageist don't you think? What's wrong with just saying batty women?

So £51 to have the cat looked at & say that there was nothing wrong with it??

That's extortionate!

Did she just walk in with the cat then claiming that it was an emergency?

Your neighbour sounds like a complete loon.

The vets should not be billing your account or treating your animal without your prior knowledge or consent.
I work at a vet's and we have had trouble with this in the past - though usually we don't realise it is not the owner bringing the animal in until the the owner disputes it.

But unless there is at the very least a note on your record saying that NDN has authorisation to bring in the cats they should not be treating them.
They also can't pursue neighbour as the bill is in your name - so with a bit of niggling with a manager/credit control you should have decent grounds to get this one wiped off.
(Note the phone call could be taken as authorisation I guess if it happened before the cat was seen).

But I would definitely get them to put a note on saying they need to contact you before any treatment happens in future, or to confirm it is you bringING in the cats before they treat them.

I'm a vet and have had a similar situation before - it is actually the responsibility of the person who presents the animal to pay the bill ie your neighbour. It's very difficult though as you don't know what your neighbour said to the vet about whether she had authority/ you would pay.

If an animal is taken to the surgery with 'breathing difficulties' no vet will send it away without being examined and yes, technically, that then incurs a fee. Was any treatment administered? Consultation fees will vary depending where you are in the country.

Our local vet warned us, when we were concerned about a possible stray, that if we brought her into be checked over we'd be liable for the cost of any treatment (irrespective of whether she was chipped) unless we called the RSPCA first and brought the reference number along. Based on that I'd say YANBU and they need to write it off. Can you ask them not to treat your animals in future unless you've agreed in person?

Well I am a cat 'stealer'. One of our cats lived in a house across the road from us. His family moved a couple of streets away and he decided to move to ours. I spoke to his 'owners' about keeping in him for a while to readjust to his new home, but they weren't prepared to do this as he was "a bad cat who kept peeing on their furniture". My husband took the cat home so many times, but he was wasting his time as the cat was back before him". I suppose he now lives with us. Because of any further lack of communication from his people, I have now taken over all responsibilities for the cat. I had to take him to the vets a couple of months ago, and I have now registered him as mine and paid the bill.

BTW, he isn't a "bad cat" and is fully house trained. We are really happy to have him live with us, he a delight.

Seems odd that they put the bill on your tab in March, but didn't send anything to tell you that they'd charged you (if I'm understanding correctly, you only found out that they charged you now because you rang to book in your dog?). Neither is really appropriate - I'm not a legal expert, but a bill you didn't agree to, and that you weren't told about for 3 months sounds bizarre.