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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Did he think we are poor?

50 replies

Obsessedwithbluey · 08/10/2021 13:42

For context, we live in another country, we generally use their nhs but occasionally pay for private doctors/tests etc.
Last weekend, Dd, 3 was really sick and wouldn’t stop vomiting, she’s never ill and has no energy and completely not herself. We started to get a bit worried about her. It was a Sunday so surgeries were shut apart from doctor call outs. It was either this or A & E at the local hospital, which ideally we wouldn’t want to do.
We called the private doctor we’ve used before, we knew it would be expensive as was a house call out and a Sunday. I didn’t check the price in all the fuss.
When he’d finished, we asked how much and he said €170, we paid and he left.
Dd was fine by the evening, thank goodness.

On the Monday, the surgery secretary called and said the receipt was available did I want her to email etc. She then asked if she could just clarify the amount paid as call outs by the doctor are €200 normally, I said he said €170 and she said ‘Oh ok he must have charged you less’

It did make me wonder afterwards, why?

I do know that the majority of people he likely attends to are very wealthy, the area the doctors is in is v expensive-millionaire territory. The house was also pretty messy as we were busy looking after Dd

Why did he charge less?

OP posts:
Obsessedwithbluey · 08/10/2021 13:42

*Had no energy

OP posts:
sirfredfredgeorge · 08/10/2021 13:44

Who cares? If you feel you got some charity that you don't need, pay it forward to someone else.

summercupcake · 08/10/2021 13:45

Maybe it was a quicker and less complicated call out than he's used to so he felt £200 was excessive?

Maybe the receptionist isn't used to the differ codes and charges for different types of call outs?

Cofifeefee · 08/10/2021 13:47

Obviously nobody can tell you what the doctor thought of you.

It could be for lots of reasons - are you regular patients at his surgery? Was it a fairly quick visit? Did he happen to be in your area when he got the call and so there was less travel time for him?

I wouldn't care about a doctor's opinion on my financial situation.

Thecurtainsofdestiny · 08/10/2021 13:48

Could be he was doing a call in the area anyway, so charged less for the travel aspect of the call?

Thecurtainsofdestiny · 08/10/2021 13:49

X post!

Suzi888 · 08/10/2021 13:49

Ask, that’s the only way to know.

SW1amp · 08/10/2021 13:49

He might have felt sorry for an ill child
He might have thought it was a quicker than expected call out
He might have lived close to you and not had much travel time
He might think you couldn’t afford the full price

Does it really matter though..?

FangsForTheMemory · 08/10/2021 13:51

He probably assumed you're not millionaires like the people in the big houses you mention. Possibly he has a sliding scale based on area.

Dixiechickonhols · 08/10/2021 13:51

I wouldn’t jump to that conclusion op. Surely he’d have given bigger discount. Either receptionist mistaken or a reason like short call, already in area so no travel time etc. I wouldn’t give it another thought.

Lipsandlashes · 08/10/2021 13:52

I do know that the majority of people he likely attends to are very wealthy, the area the doctors is in is v expensive-millionaire territory.
So are you telling us that you live within ‘millionaire territory’? Congratulations. Why does it matter how much the doctor charged? Maybe it costs less for children? Who know

Obsessedwithbluey · 08/10/2021 13:55

@Lipsandlashes Five minutes down the road from us, but just a normal, but nice area where we are. Compared to the houses he sees and lives in, it’s a massive difference at ours!

OP posts:
Obsessedwithbluey · 08/10/2021 13:56

I checked the price list online-call outs are €200

OP posts:
EerieSilence · 08/10/2021 13:56

Call him back and pay the additional 30 euro, so you don't feel like "dem poor people".

SalmonEile · 08/10/2021 13:57

Did you pay in cash? Maybe he was hoping to pocket it and not run it through the books and then changed his mind or forgot or something

Lipsandlashes · 08/10/2021 13:58

Honestly I’d just say to myself “great, I’ve saved 30 quid,” and move on.

WorraLiberty · 08/10/2021 13:59

So what if he did? Confused

Being poor isn't an insult!

Porfre · 08/10/2021 14:06

Maybe cos it was a kid ?

ittakes2 · 08/10/2021 14:06

It suspect he either made a mistake or felt like he wasn't there long enough to justify the full amount. If he did it to save you money he would have saved you more than just 30 ie charged you 150 or 100 even - 170 / 200 is not really here nor there at that high amount. The bigger worry is why you are worried - I would be pleased I had saved money as long as no one had gotten into trouble for their mistake.

mm40 · 08/10/2021 14:09

We had a private consultancy earlier this year and whilst fully expecting to pay the full amount the bill was around 50% as the consultant realised that we were actually NHS staff. We didn’t take offence at all and said ‘thank you’ very sincerely when we left.

BoredZelda · 08/10/2021 14:10

I went to the sandwich shop and the lady said she’d only charge me 2.50 instead of 3.00 for my roll. The other lady charges me 3.00. I assume she has a reason for it, and isn’t thinking I’m poor.

BoredZelda · 08/10/2021 14:12

Five minutes down the road from us

Which is more likely the reason for the discount.

CommanderBurnham · 08/10/2021 14:12

I charge people less than advertised if it's an easy job.

Winniemarysarah · 08/10/2021 14:13

Are you actually upset that he charged you less??

Nap1983 · 08/10/2021 14:13

Dear god… the shame of someone thinking your poor…

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