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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I shouldn't have to pay for the missed hygienist appointment

107 replies

quittinaeete · 03/03/2019 18:52

My dentist sent me an appointment reminder by email with the wrong date and I added it to my phone calendar.

They sent out a correction just via email an hour after this and I didn't read it. They have my address and phone number but didn't get in touch.

So now I've missed an appointment and they've charged me £120 for this, I did have an appointment a few days later and paid £120 for this. But they've sent an invoice by post.

Aibu to think they made a mistake and should have made more of an effort to inform me?

OP posts:
Arowana · 03/03/2019 18:54

How long between the email and the appointment?

Original poster
quittinaeete · 03/03/2019 18:55

7 days

OP posts:
HarrysOwl · 03/03/2019 18:56

£120 for a hygeinist appointment Shock

But yeah, I think I'd phone and use my nice voice to explain and hope they waived it.

Hairyporker · 03/03/2019 18:56

Just forward on the email and say you will not be paying.

Original poster
quittinaeete · 03/03/2019 18:58

It was a double appointment, but thanks I do want to ask them to waive it

OP posts:
PinkiOcelot · 03/03/2019 18:59

Their mistake. I wouldn’t be paying it.

£120 for hygienist appointment seems very steep!

Fantababy · 03/03/2019 19:00

£120! Shock

HaventGotAllDay · 03/03/2019 19:03

You can try and ask them, but they might refuse seeing as they did, quickly, send you a revised email.

Original poster
quittinaeete · 03/03/2019 19:05

Was a double 1 hour, but they've already made models of my teeth and in the middle of several treatments so sadly can't even change dentist

OP posts:
exLtEveDallas · 03/03/2019 19:06

You didn't read an email for 7 days? Why on earth not?

I think you are in the wrong here, sorry. They corrected their mistake within an hour. By not attending you have effectively 'lost' the hygienist £120 when they could have passed the appt to another client.

The hygienists at my dental surgery are sub-contracted so if I don't turn up they don't get paid.

Livedandlearned · 03/03/2019 19:08

I had to pay for a "missed appointment" for being 5 minutes late, because I couldn't find a space in their car park and even though they have no obvious cut off time, say ten minutes.

She called in the next patient and I paid £20 for fuck all.

This was years ago and I'm still angry!

Livedandlearned · 03/03/2019 19:09

Sorry OP that wasn't helpful

Joebloggswazere · 03/03/2019 19:14

£120!!!!! Wtf is wrong with your teeth??? Grin

Original poster
quittinaeete · 03/03/2019 19:15

I never read the email. They pile up and the dentist sends lots of automed ones so don't read everyone.

In my line of work an email to correct a mistake would not be sufficient

OP posts:
Original poster
quittinaeete · 03/03/2019 19:16

Don't even ask Joe!!!!

Ha live feel free to vent, I understand!

OP posts:
cardibach · 03/03/2019 19:30

I get a lot of emails too. I would definitely have read one from my dentist when I knew I had an appointment coming up. I think YABU to have missed the appointment and TheyABU for charging £120 in the first place.

Heatherjayne1972 · 03/03/2019 19:38

That time was allocated for you
The hygienist is likely self employed and would have missed payment for the missed appointment
It’s standard to charge if patients don’t turn up
It’s the patients responsibility to be there at the right time and say
Reminders are only a courtesy

ilovesooty · 03/03/2019 19:38

Was the email a reminder email for an appointment you'd originally arranged?

exLtEveDallas · 03/03/2019 19:39

In my line of work an email to correct a mistake would not be sufficient

But that's neither here nor there. People make mistakes, if they hadn't emailed you then they would be at fault. But they did, and it really isn't their fault that you are happy to let your emails pile up. What would you have wanted them to do instead?

I do sympathise, £120 is a lot of money and I would be horrified to receive such a penalty. But it's probably a lot of money to the hygienist as well, and they did correct their mistake in a very timely fashion.

(FWIW my hygienist charges £35 per 20 min appt which I find expensive - but it's an expense I have to swallow as gum disease is no laughing matter)

CantStopMeNow · 03/03/2019 19:40

They sent out a correction just via email an hour after this and I didn't read it
So for 7 days you didn't check your email - your own fault.

In my line of work an email to correct a mistake would not be sufficient
This isn't your place of employment and it has nothing to do with how you do things at your place of work.
The email method of communication worked as you used it and booked in the (incorrect) appointment.
Therefore it makes sense to keep using the preferred - and working - method of contact.

My dentist sends reminder text messages a week or two before the appointment.
They only charge £24 to see the hygienist as well.

ilovesooty · 03/03/2019 19:40

It seems it was. In that case the original appointment should already have been in your calendar. I think you should pay.

Heatherjayne1972 · 03/03/2019 19:40

Btw I’m a hygienist and if people don’t turn up I get £0
I have a mortgage to pay !

Fraxion · 03/03/2019 19:41

Shocked at £120 for a hygienist appointment. My dentist is private and it's nowhere near that cost. I have a dental plan which covers it though. YABU at missing the appointment.

FriarTuck · 03/03/2019 19:44

Was the email a reminder email for an appointment you'd originally arranged?
This ^^. If it's only a reminder you should have had the original details correctly recorded and could either have ignored the reminder or read it and rung them to check which was correct.

greendale17 · 03/03/2019 19:53

They sent out a correction just via email an hour after this and I didn't read it

So for 7 days you didn't check your email - your own fault.

^I agree. You should pay up