AIBU refusing to pay this vet bill?

[NicoAndTheNiners]

I have an elderly, poorly cat who I took to the vet last week. Vet did a consult and said he wanted to run blood tests which I agreed to. He never said how much they were. £140 when I got to the desk which I nearly fell over at but paid. He said he would ring with the results either that evening or the next day.

I was out when he rang back and he spoke to my teenage dd. He admits he didn't clarify who he was speaking to. He told her some of the blood results and said he'd like to "do some more tests" He said he wasn't sure what was wrong and was going to speak to someone and ring back the next day.

He rang the next day to say he thinks the cat has a terminal condition, we can do more tests to confirm. I declined as when I asked how much it will be £hundreds. Cat is 15yo.

I've been back at the vet today about something not to do with the cat and they called me over and said I need to pay £48 for the extra blood tests. I asked what they're on about and they said they'd run an FIV test after the other tests. I said I hadn't agreed to this extra and wouldn't have done.

Vet came out and said he'd spoken to someone on the phone who said ok. DD said she had no idea it was another blood test, that it would cost more money. She thought when he said he wanted to do more tests that I would need to take the cat back in for these tests and that's what he was going to ring about the next day.

I haven't paid. They've said they will knock it down to £40 and give me till next month to pay. I am close to ringing them up and saying it's not happening. There is no way I would have said yes to another £48 of tests and dd had no clue he meant to charge more or that she was actually agreeing to anything.

Problem is if I fall out with them its 8 miles to the next nearest vet. So maybe I should just pay to keep the peace. But I did that 5 years ago when my dog died during a routine dental and they billed me £300 for the dead dog. Now I just feel like they're fucking useless and taking the piss.

Tbh your daughter should of said my mum will sort it out and told them to call back

Tbh the daughter may have been caught with heart over head and maybe thought it was good for the family pet. The vet should've clarified he was talking with the bill payer.... you know how the premium rate numbers say.... please make sure you have consent of the bill payer!

Cross posts. Definitely stop taking your cats to them
Please! First thing that happens with any animals we take in is eyes, ears, heart and lungs all checked.

I wouldn’t pay either

They implied the further testing wouldn’t cost anything. A reasonable vet would say

“Hello, this is riverside vets surgery. I’m calling about Sooty. I want to do further blood tests on him would be an additional £48. I believe he may have FIP. Would that be ok?”

No, you're not being unreasonable. Legally you are in the right, she is not the registered owner nor someone entitled to make decisions on behalf of your pet. This wouldn't be honoured if you have previously paid by card, since it would be classified as an unauthorised purchase presuming she doesn't have registered use of the card. Ultimately it seems like they didn't allow her to have informed consent anyway, so if I were you I'd refuse the bill in writing and continue to use the vet. If they wish to make it a big deal, they will lose.

I wouldn’t pay, it’s a scam. It doesn’t matter how old your daughter is. She isn’t the cats owner, or the person making the financial decisions.

Well I've rung and politely told them I'd disputing the bill. They're going to talk to the practice owner and I have to ring back on Thursday to see what the result is.

I’d definitely use the phrase ‘informed consent’ When you challenge it and ask them how that was achieved considering that the price of the tests were not discussed with the owner of the cat.

*At 17 I would be aware of what was being said on the phone.

YABU*

Mine would understand what was being said, they're not toddlers. However, it's up the the bill payer not a highly emotive teenager who if like my eldest would've agreed to give the house over to save the family pet. It's not a case of understanding it's a case of decision of age of cat and likelyhood to survive and live a good life.

It’s the same as if the vets daughter answered you and said they would refund you all the cats expensive and hand over 50% of the veterinary business. The owner of the business would say “sorry catlady, my daughter wasn’t authorised to make those decisions”.

They never tell you how much anything is beforehand. I always feel bad asking because I think they will judge me for making decisions about what's best for the animal based on how much it costs.

Your daughter's age is irrelevant. She is not the registered owner or the bill payer. YANBU.

@NicoandTheNiners - sounds like you'd be better off going elsewhere after this is done, in all honesty. They don't sound like a very ethical business. But please don't pay, you do not have any responsibility to do so and it simply reinforces their behaviour.

I'm so sorry about your cat, I hope you can have some happy times with him for a while if a second opinion doesn't alter the facts.

Always ask. Last time I took our cat to the vet he reeled off about ten tests he wanted to do.

I said how much would that be?

He said ‘ah, well if you don’t want to claim on the insurance I could sedate her and have a look for £50?!’

Reader that fixed the problem.

Well I'm not paying. I've had reservations before about the vet's competence and I think this just confirms it all. I'm more annoyed about the lack of listening in to a sick, elderly cat's heart than the bill to be honest.

I've paid £140, (charged £188) and still have no idea what's wrong with the cat!

I had a rabbit years ago which they said needed £200 of eyelid surgery and I muttered that I didn't want it done as I could get a new rabbit for £20 and was totally bullied into it. Young, healthy rabbit, would be cruel to not have it done as rabbit was suffering, etc, rspca might be contacted. They were horrified at me broaching pts as an option and said there was no need. I paid and the rabbit died 2 days later!

Vets practices employ debt collector firms as people (believe it or not) think that the vets is like the nhs and they are left thousands and thousands of pounds out of pocket when owners don’t pay for treatment delivered.

I am surprised that your vets don’t have a consent type policy where treatment is discussed and signed consent for treatment is given by the owner based on full information is given.
It’s a bit crap doing business the way that they have done it.

They obviously should have checked whether your dd had authority first.

It's actually quite hard to say no to a vet who suggests doing further tests without feeling heartless and a 'bad owner'. We're currently going through the same with elderly ddog and our vet gave me a list of further tests we could do (including costs). It was only when I questioned in more detail whether their recommended treatment would change depending on the results (and it wouldn't) that I felt comfortable saying no to the tests.

I'd suggest to them that you split the cost half and half and let it be a lesson to them and your dd to clarify exactly who is agreeing to what.

A debt collector can only enforce a debt if you have a CCJ against you and I'd love to see them try and get this to stand up in court. I've no fear of the baliffs coming round or a bad credit score.

I've been dealing with a stupid car parking firm and their attack dog of a debt collector's firm for 5 years now over an unlawfully issued ticket. I keep begging them to take me to court!

They don’t sound brilliant vets anyway. Why would the rspca care that you had a rabbit put down when it was ill?.

Vet was refusing to put the rabbit down so said I had to do the operation or it would be animal cruelty.

Don't pay and don't wait for them to tell you...tell them. They made an error by not asking if she had authority to order more fee paying treatment and want you to compensate them for their foolish error.

If that is an example of their competence, I wouldn't bring along a stick insect to them.

Different vet but same practice. That vet isn't there anymore, she was the worst in a long list of not brilliant vets. I just keep thinking oh it's ok will just use them for annual booster/check and the suddenly someone gets ill.

They sound pretty awful OP
I’d go elsewhere

I am not one for trying to get out of paying anything but this is not ok and I'd refuse to pay and move vets. They should have been clearer and obviously checked they were speaking to the bill payer. Yanbu.

Apart from my unlawfully issued parking ticket I've never refused or argued about a bill in my life before. I normally put up and pay even for stuff which isn't very good.

Your vets sounds awful, I would definitely find somewhere else. Can't believe they forced you into expensive treatment for your rabbit but I can see why it's difficult to stand your ground. We had some slight judging when I refused further testing on our elderly cat (wanted more bloods done and an ultrasound).

Our cat can't take tablets so I'm wary of spending lots of money getting a diagnosis we can't effectively treat. The vet, of course, wants what's best for our cat, but I would like skin left on my arms and a cat that doesn't run away from me and hide in fear after being man-handled into trying to get a tablet in her!! Plus, she's our cat, a loved pet, but an elderly pet nonetheless.