Paying vets bills

Birker2020

Birker2020

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How do you pay your vets bill off when you are responsible for it rather than going through your insurance company?

Just wondered because my vets are very understanding and let me pay off my bills at a rate of anything between £20 + pounds per week or fortnight and are happy to wait for a few weeks for settlement. I always try to get it paid as soon as I can, sometimes I forget until the reminder comes through the post with a smiley face saying 'settlement when you can please' on it.

I suppose they know I am good for it and have been a loyal customer for over 12 years, but even so I think they are incredibly good.

Do you pay yours off in drips and drabs?
 
I pay off the full amount each month. I don't know if my vet practice accepts payment by instalments, I've never asked them.

Someone I know was surprised that I still receive a monthly bill, which effectively means that I am always paying in arrears. They understood that my vet practice normally insist on payment at the time of consultation. Maybe as a long standing client (30yrs) and a good payer I'm allowed some leeway? Not sure, really.
 
I try to pay on the day if I can, I don't like owing. If there's a cost the vet doesn't know how much until later eg blood test or something requiring multiple visits to sort out then they'll send me an invoice when it's all over and I'll go up there and pay.
 
Tiddlypom said:
I pay off the full amount each month. I don't know if my vet practice accepts payment by instalments, I've never asked them.

Someone I know was surprised that I still receive a monthly bill, which effectively means that I am always paying in arrears. They understood that my vet practice normally insist on payment at the time of consultation. Maybe as a long standing client (30yrs) and a good payer I'm allowed some leeway? Not sure, really.
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I'm the same. I wouldn't ask to pay in installments unless it was a giant bill (£1000s) and I was flat broke.

My practice and others in the area ask new clients to pay upfront. First 3 visits/treatments I think, and then they will send a bill out after that.
 
equine vets invoice at end of the month once you have jumped the new client hoops and I've always paid off in full. Last equine practice would allow you to split a bill if you asked although I always got insurance to pay them direct. I had a big transport bill once which I paid in two halves. It would be a shame if equine practices went the way of small animal and you had to pay up front but I understand why they might and more of them seem to be bringing in health plans.
 
My vet will let me pay bigger bills off in installments, I do have insurance but had a couple of large claims rejected which really set me back.
 
One of ours is going through an insurance claim.but a chuck if it we have to pay as not covered. They are okay to let the insurance pay their bit then we finish what's left.
 
I pay mine in full as soon as they come in if possible. If it's a particularly big one I'll put it on the credit card then pay that off over a month or two.

I hate owing money.

I think new clients have to pay upfront, but we've been registered at that practice for almost 15 years so we get invoiced after treatment!
 
Our vets give 10% discount if you pay on the day. So I always stick the full amount on credit card and pay it immediately. If claiming back through insurance, they will only pay the amount less the 10% early discount so it makes sense to me to pay it immediately. When I was unsure if insurance would pay a £1000+ bill, I signed up for a 0% interest credit card so I could pay it off slowly if needed.
 
We are billed at the end of the month and I just send them a cheque for the full amount. We have 400 animals here so it isn't many months we don't have a bill from the vet! I ask them to bill the horses separately as I pay that one out of a special saving account (I don't insure for vet bills), the other bills go through the business. In the last 4 years I've only had annual vaccinations and one cut that needed stitching to pay for.
 
Always pay in full when bill received. Vets are a business, not a loan facility. I want them to come urgently when I need them, so in return I pay them in the same manner.
 
I always pay the full amount of each bill - I wouldn't dream of paying in dribs and drabs. If it were my business I would expect the bill to be paid in full.
 
I pay most bills on the day or the following day (to give the vet time to price it up and it go on my account). Anything large I pay off over a month and my vets are very good about that as I've been a client for a very long time! They usually send an invoice at the end of the month, you then have 14 days to pay the full amount unless agreed otherwise.

My cousin had a visit the other day and because she's not used them for a few years she had to pay £250 upfront before they would come out (was an emergency visit and if it was any less then what she'd paid they'd refund her). Which I think is fair, as an unknown client they don't know if they'll actually pay afterwards or not!
 
One vet practice I use does a discount for payment on the day, so I usually pay on my credit card and then clear that when it is due. Other practice invoices and terms are net 30 days, so on day 29 they get a call with my card details which then gets cleared when that is due.

As far as I am concerned I am responsible for the bill regardless of whether I intend to claim on the insurance or not. Any hassle is my problem, not that of the vets, although they are normally more than happy to help clarify any issues.
 
My vet bills were enormous, for drugs. Never less than £500 a month, every month. My vets gave me an account and I paid the biggest sum I could every month. They were perfectly aware it was a big drain for me and knew that I was doing my very best for my horse and they knew me for many years so knew that I would never default on them. After she was PTS I was able to pay off the entire outstanding sum in one payment.
 
Most vets you get 28 days from date if invoice to pay or interest gets added.
For a smaller amount they won't say anything if you pay in installments of its a large bill you will get a letter and phone call!
Most will help and let you have a payment plan but it must be agreed.

After all they are a business and need the income, they aren't charities!
 
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