Callout charges, cheaper if prebooked, anyone?

chrissie1

chrissie1

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Have just been looking through the vets bill. I noticed that the one visit was £27 less than a subsequent vist by different vet, to the same horse but unrelated problem.

I have just spoken to the practice, and I do appreciate we are quite a long way away so while the vet is driving they aren't earning, and have no issue with that.

But apparently if you ring and say I'd like the vet to come out 'sometime' for say lameness examination that is classed as prebooked and you get charged one price. If you ring and say that you need a vet the same day because it is urgent you pay £27 extra.

I think I shall be looking at the more local vets for anything that needs attention the same day, or is this normal? :(

I don't think they have zone days yet for vaccs etc.
 
Think it can depend on which practice you use. I use Avonvale and if you prebook by 2 days and don't mind which vet, then it's reduced call out/travel fees, so great for routine stuff. Whereas Cornerhouse do free zone visits on set days.
 
I know my vets (oxon/warks border) have recently introduced zone days for non-urgent appointments, when no call-out fee is charged. Great for injections etc - you are given a day and then they call the day before to give you a time-slot. A good idea to reduce customer bills and reduce vets travel time. A Win-Win situation!
 
I pay £20 for a zone visit on a Friday afternoon but you cannot specify a vet and call out must be for something routine like vaccinations.

It's £40 for everything else I.e. lameness work up :( You can split the charge though if someone else needs something done.
 
I'm not aware that our vets yet operate a zone day, if they did and it was routine work then that'd be great. Maybe due to the distance involved (45 minute drive) they don't do it this far away from the surgery, and they don't have many clients that far away.

But the point is does prebooking with a vets that don't do a zone day, and for non routine stuff like a non urgent lameness, cost less? The first of my visits was a post foaling check, and I need to wait a certain time to take the blood test from a foal, so I booked it for the following day. Had I rung first thing and said I needed the vet there the same day I'd have paid £27 extra.

The non prebooked charge to come to me was £80. Plus examination.....
 
Our vets do a £9.50 call out on a wednesday, you wont know what time till they ring you late tuesday night but its great for vacc etc
 
I think a lot of vets have now adopted this idea, and the lady I spoke to at the vets said that they have a morning every week that you can take your horse there for vaccs too. Which is fine but with broodmares/foals I don't want to box them up to take them to the vets, plus if you have a sick horse you need it to stay at home. And a vet the same day.
 
no same price for us regardless. I would worry that people would put off calling us just to get the cheaper call out! Only extra charge is for out of hours. Obviously call out is split between owners if more than one on the same yard.
 
Mine do a selection of call out fees - I have had 4 so far. Prebooked in advance (can specify time and vet), on the day more urgent stuff, emergency call out (weekend / evening), and call out witihin 10 days for related problem (reduced rate).

I think they charge more for on the day as have to fit you in amongst others who have prebooked, or move them should an emergency come call come in. I know I will be getting a hefty bill for my call out yesterday morning but the vet was there as quickly as possible and obviously had to others rearrange who had prebooked.
 
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