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Has anyone refused to pay a bill and then changed vet?

100 replies

vetprob · 29/11/2024 10:15

I'm unwilling to pay the final part of our bill due to the surgery not having been completed to the agreed standard.

Has anyone moved vets with something like this in the background? I realise notes may not be passed along, but I'm hoping that won't necessarily matter.

OP posts:
Kibble29 · 29/11/2024 10:17

You’ll likely have a debt collector after you if you do this.

ZippyLilacStork · 29/11/2024 10:18

I don’t understand how surgery isn’t completed to an agreed standard?

My cat had surgery for an injury we were told it may fail but if it worked would be the quickest resolution. It initially looked to have worked then failed with infection later. We still paid the bill.

edit to add : and a few more hundred for additional treatment. She’s fine now.

vetprob · 29/11/2024 10:21

ZippyLilacStork · 29/11/2024 10:18

I don’t understand how surgery isn’t completed to an agreed standard?

My cat had surgery for an injury we were told it may fail but if it worked would be the quickest resolution. It initially looked to have worked then failed with infection later. We still paid the bill.

edit to add : and a few more hundred for additional treatment. She’s fine now.

Edited

They didn't do everything they said they would do.

There were also communication problems and they underquoted us by a huge margin.

OP posts:
3luckystars · 29/11/2024 10:22

Do you have insurance?

vetprob · 29/11/2024 10:23

3luckystars · 29/11/2024 10:22

Do you have insurance?

Yes and it would have covered us had the original quote been correct. As it stands we are many hundreds of pounds out of pocket.

OP posts:
tedgran · 29/11/2024 10:23

You can complain to their governing body.

vetprob · 29/11/2024 10:24

tedgran · 29/11/2024 10:23

You can complain to their governing body.

I most certainly will be.

I'm just wondering how moving to a new vet would go with all this going on. It wouldn't hinder us would it?

OP posts:
vetprob · 29/11/2024 10:28

Kibble29 · 29/11/2024 10:17

You’ll likely have a debt collector after you if you do this.

I would expect that but hoping for some negotiations before it gets to that.

OP posts:
Letmegohome · 29/11/2024 10:50

Move this to legal section? You need knowledge not opinions.
Or speak to citizens advice?

Hoppinggreen · 29/11/2024 10:56

You may need legal advice on the bill itself BUT I would say that the vet world is quite small (I have friends who are vets) and if you are asked who your previous vet was and refuse to say it could make them wonder why and if they find out you moved after not paying a bill they may start asking for payment upfront.

Solent123 · 29/11/2024 10:57

My Vet lied (said they did this operation all the time so need to go to a local specialist Vets, then later admitted they had only done it once in six years) and messed up an operation on my cat - they used the wrong size metal pin after a leg/hip break, they repeated the operation with the correct size pin for free and my insurance covered the original cost, I would never have had them carry it out had I known they weren't experienced, it didn't occur to me to complain or try to stop the insurers from paying.

cantarguewithfools · 29/11/2024 10:59

You said they under quoted - if you agreed to pay a certain amount, that’s what you pay. If they requoted at any stage (due to further complications etc) and you still proceeded, you pay the final bill.

vetprob · 29/11/2024 11:07

Hoppinggreen · 29/11/2024 10:56

You may need legal advice on the bill itself BUT I would say that the vet world is quite small (I have friends who are vets) and if you are asked who your previous vet was and refuse to say it could make them wonder why and if they find out you moved after not paying a bill they may start asking for payment upfront.

Thanks. I'm happy to disclose all info to new vets. I just wondered if they'd be allowed to take my pets on without the other issue being resolved. I'm probably over thinking!!

OP posts:
vetprob · 29/11/2024 11:10

Solent123 · 29/11/2024 10:57

My Vet lied (said they did this operation all the time so need to go to a local specialist Vets, then later admitted they had only done it once in six years) and messed up an operation on my cat - they used the wrong size metal pin after a leg/hip break, they repeated the operation with the correct size pin for free and my insurance covered the original cost, I would never have had them carry it out had I known they weren't experienced, it didn't occur to me to complain or try to stop the insurers from paying.

If the insurance covered the whole bill I would not be stopping them from paying out. Why would I?

If you still had to pay hundreds of pounds that you can't afford perhaps you'd consider you might be entitled to not pay at least some of that.

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 29/11/2024 11:10

vetprob · 29/11/2024 11:07

Thanks. I'm happy to disclose all info to new vets. I just wondered if they'd be allowed to take my pets on without the other issue being resolved. I'm probably over thinking!!

They can do what they want, they are businesses and that may well be not wanting you as a customer and/or being very cautious about payments.
Even if you are completely justified they may prefer not to deal with you

vetprob · 29/11/2024 11:11

cantarguewithfools · 29/11/2024 10:59

You said they under quoted - if you agreed to pay a certain amount, that’s what you pay. If they requoted at any stage (due to further complications etc) and you still proceeded, you pay the final bill.

There was no re-quote, just a bill after the op. 3 x the original quote. But they call it an estimate so they get around it that way.

OP posts:
coffeesaveslives · 29/11/2024 11:17

Well, on a basic level you're free to use whichever vet you like - practises can't stop you leaving or being registered in multiple places.

But the vet world is small and any new vet is going to want your pets' medical history and details of your previous practise. Any future insurance claim will require this as well and if they contact the previous surgery and find out you have an unpaid bill, they may refuse to cover you.

I suspect it's not uncommon for clients to find themselves blacklisted if they have a history of refusing to pay - ultimately vets are private businesses and, unless it's discriminatory, can easily refuse to take you as a client.

If you don't pay your bill then be prepared for it to be taken go collections and ultimately to court. It would probably be much cheaper to pay upfront and then complain afterwards imo.

The main problem you'll have is "satisfactory" is very much down to individual interpretation and the vet will likely argue they had your animals' interest at heart which is why they did X and not Y, for example.

Whenever any of my animals have gone for surgery I've had to sign a form to say I give them permission to operate and that I understand that costs may vary depending on what's discovered while under anaesthetic.

So I guess it depends what has happened and what your complaint is about as to whether you'll be able to reduce your bill.

Beautifulbouquet · 29/11/2024 11:17

Is it a chain vets or independent?

vetprob · 29/11/2024 11:22

Beautifulbouquet · 29/11/2024 11:17

Is it a chain vets or independent?

Recently changed to a chain. It's the first time we've had a problem in about 30 years.

OP posts:
vetprob · 29/11/2024 11:24

Thank you@coffeesaveslives I am concerned about blacklisting.

They were supposed to take all his teeth out to avoid future problems (he'd had removals periodically for several years, prone to infections).

It turned out at one of his post op checks they left one in. So will need future treatment when that goes wrong. 😢

OP posts:
starrymidnight · 29/11/2024 11:25

vetprob · 29/11/2024 10:23

Yes and it would have covered us had the original quote been correct. As it stands we are many hundreds of pounds out of pocket.

I’m confused as this isn’t how pet insurance works - you get treatment, you claim, a quote is irrelevant surely?

Hoppinggreen · 29/11/2024 11:26

vetprob · 29/11/2024 11:24

Thank you@coffeesaveslives I am concerned about blacklisting.

They were supposed to take all his teeth out to avoid future problems (he'd had removals periodically for several years, prone to infections).

It turned out at one of his post op checks they left one in. So will need future treatment when that goes wrong. 😢

So pay and then when/if the final tooth needs treatment ask for a discount.
I am not legal but it does sound like you have to pay.
I am also confused why its not covered by insurance

vetprob · 29/11/2024 11:26

starrymidnight · 29/11/2024 11:25

I’m confused as this isn’t how pet insurance works - you get treatment, you claim, a quote is irrelevant surely?

To explain.

The quote came in under our insurance limit.

The actual bill was 3x the insurance limit.

OP posts:
chollysawcutt · 29/11/2024 11:27

I guess it depends on the way your insurance works? So for eg, for mine you pay the bill up front from the vet (when all is done) and then upload it online and the insurer pays you back, minus the excess (£200 for us, so I know our claim will always be minus that).

It sounds like you don't have enough insurance to cover? Do you have a limit?

LadyGabriella · 29/11/2024 11:27

What makes you educated on the standards of veterinary surgery to be able to determine this?