What happens at dentist if you have treatment but no money to pay after?

[HighlyOptimistic]

Need emergency dental treatment wisdom tooth acute pain.

Furloughed on about £200 month absolutely zero money in bank until next pay day. Nobody to borrow from, work won’t sub me, don’t have credit for loans, not eligible for free dental.

If I just have the appointment and afterwards present my debit card for payment, it will be declined as there’s about £3 in my bank, what happens next?

Will dentist just invoice me? Keep my bank card as security? Call police?
I have no way of paying but the pain is making me nearly faint and I’m already at the limit of how many paracetamols I can take in this 24 hour period.

I’m not trying to defraud or steal, I just genuinely have no money in my bank until pay day in 2 weeks time (work pays early at Christmas so it will be Christmas Eve , too late to wait).

Is there a dental receptionist or dentist/assistant on here that can advise?

I don’t want to risk saying before my appointment I can’t afford to pay as they won’t take me in. My whole face is throbbing. I’m not wasting A&E time as 111 said only go if you’re having breathing difficulties. I am but that’s me trying to keep a panic attack away because of the pain (I’m managing the panic attack).

Fully appreciate you're in pain, and please don't take this the wrong way, but this verges on fraud.

I would try and prioritise going to a dental A&E, or even normal A&E for some painkillers, than to try and get dental treatment in this way.

Your DH should absolutely help you money wise if you’re in horrific pain!! There’s no excuse for that surely, you poor thing..

It’s been a few years since I worked in dental but like a lot of people have said, there is a huge chance you will be asked for payment prior to any treatment. It may be worth having a quiet word with the receptionist but we would never let people pay afterwards due to the outstanding debts we then accrued. Every dental practice will work differently though.

The best places are the dental hospitals. I know you said you’re too far away but they are the only places where you wouldn’t have to pay.

I would also try a pharmacy. They can be very helpful with dental pain. Nurofen Plus is good as are things like clove oil. I hope you get it sorted OP!

I don’t understand why your dh won’t pay, also don’t understand why you can get UC, I’m paying of a dept with child tax credit but still claiming?

Talk to your dentist, I’m sure they will allow you to pay at the end of the month, if not maybe take your dh’s wedding ring and porn it 🤔 will serve him right for not helping you.

Oh and just to clarify ONLY qualified dentists are allowed to practice dentistry in the UK ( unless studying in a dental school under supervision of a qualified dentist).
And we are far cheaper than vets !

@HighlyOptimistic

No 12 year old has no piggy bank money ! And DH wouldn’t pay if it was the apocalypse and the last dentist on earth

(Wish there wasn’t Advanced Search on Mumsnet always feel very judged if someone searches out I hate the colour purple and uses that against me in a thread somewhere on why I like the colour Orange, makes it feel like we have to change usernames and be devious every time want to post a question).

Whoa you have a husband who’s happy to leave you in agony so long as his wallet stays shut? I think you have bigger problems than your tooth! Is he helping with the household expenses while you’re out of work or is he leaving you to get into debt for your share?

If I just have the appointment and afterwards present my debit card for payment, it will be declined as there’s about £3 in my bank, what happens next?

Cna you not ring bank and organize an emergency overdraft?

I'd be worried it would go through and you'd be hit with huge bank fees though that may depend on type of account - as my kids accounts you can't do that and it wouldn't go through.

Otherwise talk to dentist and ask if they can invoice later.

Our dentist don't ask you pay upfront yet - though I suppose if they had a spate of people doing that they might.

DMum recently was rushed out and they forgot to bill her - they sent an invoice and as they don't accpet cheques she had to pay over the phone with a dedit card - which she wasn't keen on- she dosen't have a credit card.

What an absolute arsehole. How dare he? OP, your husband is a bellend of the highest order and you shouldn’t put up with that shit. That is financial abuse clear as day.

Your DH needs a massive kick up the backside. Refusing to pay for treatment when you’re in pain would be abuse in my book. What on earth is wrong with him?😡

I’d be sorely tempted to let his friends and family know that he’s allowing you to suffer like this and see what happens. Perhaps they’ll open his eyes for him, it’s despicable behavior.

So your DH is abusive.

No decent person would leave their wife suffering for the sake of £20. What a dick.

When I was 2 months pregnant during the summer, I had a chipped tooth and my husband was ringing the dentist and driving me to emergency dentist hospital 25 miles away because I was literally crying and couldn't eat. My tooth had chipped and the sharp edge was scraping along my tongue and it was unbearable to swallow and eat. I couldn't eat anything and was so weak as I was pregnant that I was throwing up bile.

Your husband, should be helping you.
Am so sorry for your pain. Toothache are horrible

And DH wouldn’t pay if it was the apocalypse and the last dentist on earth

That sounds worrying like financial abuse- any one else who might lend money to you?

@CupboardOfJoy you are truly lovely to offer that to op.

Your "D"H is a scumbag. I wouldn't leave an animal in pain let alone my spouse.
Hope the dentist can help and will be flexible with a payment plan.

How can they charge you before they know what the problem is? I'd just go and get the work done and tell them to invoice you.

As suggested 111 will direct you to an emergency dentist who will do basic work until you can sort it out later...here in london, the dental hospitals stopped seeing public years ago and very few regular hospitals have on site dentistry. the nhs fee would be about £67 max for your issue.

He's not much of a "D"H then is he.

Another one asking about your "D"H - are you still together?

If he has the money then surely he can (at the very least) lend it to you?

If he is too mean to give it to your for this then you have more problems than dental.

Ring your bank - see if they'll do you a small overdraft - it may depend on your credit history and their policies but they may be able to sort a small overdraft out over the phone very quickly.

If not ring dentist - explain situation and ask them if they can invoice you after the treatement this once.

Can you sign up for something like denplan to spread the cost? I believe you don't need to be 'healthy' to start the plan.

Our Dentist is NHS and payment upfront! If you are really desperate do you have a Pawn Shop nearby? Could put in some Jewellery/phone /Computer or whatever .Gives you up to 6 months to repay.

May not be useful at all but remember if your pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months you’ll get free dental

Ouch you poor thing. Your husband sounds like a callous man, why on earth won't he pay for your dental treatment? If the roles were reversed and he was the one in agony with no money, I'm sure you'd pay for him.

And DH wouldn’t pay if it was the apocalypse and the last dentist on earth

I would be posting on FB asking if anyone could lend you £20 for an emergency dentist as you're in absolute agony and your husband won't pay it.

See how he likes that, the wanker.