Do I need to pay this?

[Everlygreen]

Hi, I'm not sure what to do in this situation. I went for physio (private) which was covered by my insurance. At the consult I brought up another issue I was having and the physio said a brace could assist.

It is a customised item and very expensive to make so they took my measurements for it and verbally gave me a price and said 2 things:

The quicker I pay, the quicker they will start making it as it needs to be sent somewhere else.

They will send me the details.

I received 'details' which was a text message with the bank details of the physio practice. So not an invoice or any details of the brace.

On research, I found this to be incredibly overpriced.
And I was concerned that should I have issues, I didn't receive any details for queries. So I replied and said I haven't paid as I'm still checking if my insurance will cover it. Turns out that they won't cover it.

I have now been getting so many messages insisting payment as the customised brace was made. I just want to know if they can legally pursue me for this as I have not paid for something incredibly expensive and no invoice received.

I’d quote back at them saying they wouldn’t start making it until you paid. You haven’t paid so it’s on them to foot the cost.

No if it’s expensive they should have let you know the cost and double checked you wanted it before going ahead. Also sounds a bit odd that they were advising a brace at all. It’s generally better for healing to to not immobilise parts of the body.

What I'm concerned about is that they can legally pursue me for payment.
This all took place verbally. No detailed invoice and should I have an issue, I wouldn't have recourse as I paid into the physios account directly.
It also sounded very unprofessional to me.

I also researched the procedure to have this brace and it seems like a full consult is needed, yet the took a few measurements in 5 minutes?

At the consult, I vaguely remember him mentioning a price. I thought that sounded a lot and would go home and check it out once I got an invoice. So they went ahead and took measurements and said the quicker I pay then they can make it.
I'm just concerned as they took the measurements and gave me a price - it's an implication on my part that I intended to take it?

After I left, a few hours later the physio sent me her practice bank details in a WhatsApp message. That's all. No break down of price, or who is making it etc.

So I replied to say I haven't paid as I'm checking with my insurance if they will cover it. I've received 4 messages since Friday that the brace is made and ready to collect and I need to make payment.

Bump

From what you have said, they provided a quote in person for a brace. They took the measurements as part of the quote and said that payment was needed upfront so, had you paid, that would indicate acceptance of the quote and entering into a contract to buy.

You have not accepted the quote nor paid, in fact you said in writing you were not ready to proceed as you needed to check with your insurance.

The physio sounds unprofessional and pushy.

You have not agreed to anything and they would not be able to provide any evidence that you agreed to this. Just tell them you did not accept the quote and have not agreed to purchase the brace.

Send a very clear email outlining the conversation.

Dear X,
Last week, you suggested I needed a brace, for which you took basic measurements. (I understand that the proper procedure for fitting requires a much lengthier and detailed consultation than this.) You clearly stated that the construction of the brace would not go ahead until I made a payment. At no point did I agree verbally or in writing to purchase this equipment. I have since found out my insurance does not cover the cost, and therefore, I will not be going ahead with any purchase. If at any time in the future I do consider the use of this equipment, I would expect a thorough consultation and explanation of the whole process before coming to any decision.

Don't let them pressure you into buying this. You haven't signed any agreement saying that you want it.

@MakeItRain thank you, this is helpful and I will use your response.
They sent me details which was a WhatsApp with an amount and banking details. I replied to that a day later stating that I need to check with my insurance if they will pay a portion. I never heard back and neither did I reply to them again.
I'm shocked they went ahead. Surely this is very unprofessional but more so, this isn't how it's done.

I had another medical issue and after the consult they sent me a detailed statement, and then I proceeded. This was a WhatsApp with an amount and bank details.