Can't get through to cancel!

[Ellessdee]

Been away for work meeting. About to drive back but my car has broken down. AA can't fix it (they're unable to diagnose the issue) so need to take to local garage tomorrow. Work have put me in a hotel overnight. Have an appointment with cardiology for minor surgery at 7.45 tomorrow morning. Can't get through to hospital to cancel (just rings out) and apparently their phones open at 8. What do I do? Just not show up?

You need to get to your appointment. There is no such thing as a “minor” cardiac surgery. I think you are just looking for an excuse not to have the surgery.

^ and if you can afford to run a car, you DO have the money

If I were your hospital I’d be putting you to back of list/discharging you honestly. I know this is bad luck and bad timing but I think your priorities are in the wrong place!

It’s a missed appointment even if you got though as it cannot be given to anyone else at less than 24 hours notice

Could you get relay with the AA to a local garage at home then you could go to the hospital. You may have to upgrade your membership

It's a day procedure and I can drive home after. It is minor and I'm not looking for an excuse. I'm just panicking a little. Others are suggesting I just find the money from somewhere and pay for the train or car hire but I'm in my overdraft and cannot afford it. I didn't realise it was the norm for hospitals to not answer the phone. Sorry, not sure what I'm expecting I'm just very stressed.

Another one here who would prioritise the appt over £100.

Just because someone has a car doesn't mean they have £100 lying around for a train fare. Work pay my fuel for these trips.

I don't have £100! I literally do not have it in my bank! I don't know where I'm meant to get it from.

How can a working adult (and a parent?) not get their hands on £100 for an emergency?

This is an emergency… I have lived in poverty myself so I understand that sometimes money can be tight but I find this questionable and irresponsible

Id get to your appointment (even if I had to get £100 via a payday loan) and then build an emergency fund …

Chase up the car garage and see if it’s fixable?! Otherwise you really are stuck.

Can someone come and get you, or get the train home paid fit f by work then ask a friend or family member to take you back tomorrow? If you miss that appointment you'll probably wait 3 years for another one.

Can you ask work for an advance? You've been stranded after a work meeting and will miss a long-awaited medical appointment as a result. It's worth asking.

Even if you take the hotel and wait for car to be fixed, it may need several days to wait for parts, have they given you a quote for the repair?

Can't the garage loan you a hire car? or hire one to you at a reduced rate? They often do. Our clutch broke on holiday and we were lent a hire car as it took 4 days to wait for parts.

Is your health worth that £100?
I think you need to get back for your appointment if there is any physical way you can & figure out the car etc later … maybe a friend could drive you over at the weekend to collect your car?

I had this once with an appointment for surgery that my child no longer needed. I'd completely forgotten he was still on the waiting list and then the letter with the date was delayed and I was out the day it arrived so I ended up only finding out the afternoon before he was supposed to attend first thing. I also couldn't get through on the phone to anyone in the hospital and felt awful that they were expecting him and I couldn't let them know. Of course I'd prefer staff to focus on patients than answering the phone but it was frustrating. Sorry that doesn't help you though!

OP, don’t stress about your appointment. You won’t be classed as not turning up if you phone in the morning, even if it’s past your appointment time, and you won’t be put to the bottom of the list.

Life happens, and this is something beyond your control. Just explain when you (finally) get through to someone.

Might be worth looking on the hospital website to see if there’s an email address. Or go via PALS and they’ll get the message through.

And ignore the posters saying you should be able to just put your hands on £100. Some people are so removed from the reality of life it astounds me!

I'll contact my employer and see if they can help. Thankfully my car has 2 years warranty even though it was a second hand car.

Good for you. Unfortunately many people just don't have £100 at a moment's notice!

@Ellessdee can the garage loan you a car? Mine had a couple of cars they lend to people while their own car is being repaired.

It's not being removed from the reality of life. The op can get home, work will pay. Go to her appointment and then get someone to get her car or ask work to get it delivered?

I wasn’t referring to those suggesting options, but those who seem to miss the point that the OP (and many others) don’t have £100 lying around. I stand by my point - that is unrealistic for a great number of people.

It’s often not much more to get a return? Work will pay for you to get home. Can you just pay the return part? Go to your appointment.

Can you borrow money from a friend or family or ask someone to come and pick you up? Id do this for a friend or family and have at least 10 people I could ask to do one or the other for me. Start calling in favours!

How far are you from home? Surely someone can come and pick you up? Or get a cheap train to a mid way point etc and ask someone to pick you up from there?

You wouldn’t be having surgery if there was nothing wrong. You obviously are in serious trouble. You must be able to borrow £100 from a friend or family member? This is ridiculous.

I feel awful about my financial situation I really do. I have been dragged through the family courts by my ex and it has put me in so much debt. He now has no contact at all thanks to the courts so absolutely worth it but I'm on a debt management plan to try and sort my financial situation. Anyway, I got through by phoning about 10 different numbers and managed to speak to the person who was fitting the device. She was lovely and told me absolutely not to spend money I don't have because they can fit me in another time during the week, and they have other things that they can do in that time so it's no cost to anyone. Panic over.

Would love to know where people work that will pay for their broken down cars to be delivered though!