Bizzarre Vets bill

P

POLLDARK

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 March 2011
Messages
1,211
Location
HEREFORDSHIRE
Visit site
I have just recieved a rather bizzarre Vets bill from 14 months ago !! I pay my bills quickly every time, usually in cash & keep the receipts for a while (not 14 months) They say they forgot to invoice it, even though I have had other bills during the last 14 months (which were paid promptly) which made no mention of an outstanding amount. Are there any Legal Beagles out there who know how I stand on this as I might well have already paid this.
 
have you checked your cheque stubbs (if you still use them) or bank/credit card statements for this amount at/around the same time of the invoice??

Proof you paid is all I can suggest :)
 
Do you just go round with cash all the time, or do you withdraw it especially for such things? If the latter, have you checked you bank statements for any withdrawals for a similar amount around the date of the vet's visit?

There is, I think, a certain length of time for cheques and debit card transactions to be processed by, but I'm not sure about outstanding bills.

I had a similar thing when I paid cash for a vet bill, I went to the surgery and paid the exact amount, but they forgot to make a note of it and I didn't get a receipt. Did get invoiced again! Told them I'd paid, on the date I paid it and the amount-even remembered the time of day! They traced it back and sorted it. It wasn't fourteen months later though!! Think there may be a year cut off, but I'm not sure.
 
I have a cash savings pot for Vet bills, farrier, bits & pieces etc. I keep my receipts for months but not 14 months. This item has NEVER shown up as outstanding at any subsequent bill. I mean after 14 months they would have been tearing their hair out. I do always pay up on the dot. Can't figure out which way to go on it but i begrudge paying for something twice maybe.
 
No legal advice, but Ive had a similar problem before.

I had a pretty sour letter from the vets telling me I had x number of days to find a new practise as they were striking me off for non-payment of a bill. I sent them a nice letter back explaining that I had, and enclosing a copy of the cheque stub etc etc. The vet himself sent me a nice letter of apology saying they had checked and I has indeed already paid.

My current vets have just sent me an invoice that has/had been paid already and that needs phoning about, not sure if its overlapped in the post or the card reader didnt work (although other invoices were paid at the same time)
 
I got charged twice once when the receptionist allocated a previous payment to somebody else with the same surname. Luckily I noticed my bill seemed a bit high and queried it - they were able to check my credit card back against the card slips to confirm the payment was mine.
 
That same thing has just happened to me! I tried to argue it but I knew I wasn't going to win so I paid and have moved to another vets as this was the last straw as far this particular practice was concerned! Hope you have a better outcome.
 
In our practice the computer system automatically records when an invoice is printed so if you haven't been invoiced then it will be there in the history. Mind you it will be upto someone to actually download and send the invoice so not beyond doubt that it may not get sent when due. Though v unlikely to get sent twice without being noticed. Worth a phone call to check out.
 
Unfotunately for you, if they've now realised they hadn't invoiced you for something (maybe it got picked up in an audit), then as long as it's within 6 years, they can raise the invoice now. Perhaps you could ask them for a detailed statement of your account, showing all invoices and payments for the ladt couple of years. All computerised accounting systems should be able to produce this, pretty much at the click of a button.
 
As an accountant, I agree that if a bill is outstanding it must be paid.

HOWEVER.

In my experience, I've known many accounting, bookkeeping and billing software packages be "upgraded" or changed, and then generate bills in error. And that is without the additional chance of human error (as a previous poster says, you payment could have been wrongly allocated, or the work wrongly billed to your account).

I would firstly write a letter or email to the practice, requesting a detailed breakdown of what the bill is for - exactly what it represents. At least that should jog some memories and perhaps remind you if the bill is genuinely unpaid.

You should also ask for a statement of your account including past bills and payments. You need to try to write down anything you can remember you have used the vets for and then compare to this statement (think of vaccinations, worming, general check ups as well as anything major).

If it turns out that the bill is genuinely owed, I would write to them again (or email) saying that you are unhappy to have this bill "dropped" on you, that you have always paid very promptly and that you are concerned with their lack of organisational skills, which is worrying when using any professional service. I would then request a discount be credited to your account as a sign of goodwill (perhaps suggest that any items of medication are paid for, but that the examination time is discounted) to reflect your long standing relationship and the wish to continue this.

In these hard economic times, the writing off of a proportion of a bill such as this, in my opinion, would be money well spent to keep a promptly paying client, and I wouldn't hesitate to do this in my position.

Hope this helps!

Oh, and a word of advice. Bank the cash and pay everything by card/cheque so that you have a paper trail. Sorry!!! I know this isn't always popular but it's a godsend when proving something like this has been paid!!

:)
 
POLLDARK,

after 14 months, my response to the vet's would be that just as you can't be certain now after 14 months that you have paid the bill, so they can't be certain that you haven't.

If you're certain, in your own mind, that you have, or would have, settled the debt, then stick to your guns. There has to be a degree of responsibility resting with them in that they've left it too long for evidence to be produced in either direction.

Alec.
 
Many thanks everyone for the advice. re Teddi my problem is that the bill would have been paid for certain had I had it, with cash, promptly sowould already be paid. Very good advice Redmone & Alec Swan. Many thanks everyone for your time, I have phoned them & their Accountant is on holiday for 2 weeks. Groan !!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top