Referral Vets crazy crazy Bill! Nothing like the quote!!!

Having read the rest of your posts it would seem that your horse was receiving intensive care treatment which will have a significant impact on your costs.
 
amymay said:
Isn't an estimate just that - an approximation of costs?

I'm assuming that the bill breakdown looks correct and that you have no complaints about your horses treatment - however if this is not the case a letter outlining your concerns is how to start discussions with the practice. And if you can't reach agreement you then proceed to take legal action.
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I rather think that the Referral Vets will be the one's to initiate legal action to recover the moneys owed to them. The owner of the horse mey be willing to pay the estimated cost and no more, btw if you send a "final payment" cheque, take a photocopy as you wont get it returned.
 
My main gripe is that the estimate was huge and she was only there for 18 days not the 4 weeks they gave a price on, they stated that she would be on bute and antibiotics and box rest with a cast and one cast change halfway through, now their letters are written to make me look like I just don't want to pay, but that is not the case I am happy to pay a reasonable cost towards the original quote and the cremation costs but I feel as though they are just ripping me off, the place had more empty boxes than you could shake a stick at now I know why!
 
My horse went into hospital in November for a bone chip removal from the fetlock. I was quoted £1500 and was told that included everything. They asked me to phone my insurance company to check that they would cover it - my insurance company confirmed that they would - the bill when I went to pick her up - £2800.
I think Mike's idea is the best one. Good luck!
 
Firstly you need to be clear if this was an estimate or a quote you were given. A quote is legally binding, an estimate is not. Veterinary practices who produce quotes are few and far between, so it is likely that it is an estimate.
The consent you signed on arrival will likely have made some reference to this e.g. "I accept that the price I have been given is an estimate, and that due to the unpredictable nature of veterinary care my final bill may be significantly different. I agree to pay any costs incurred in the treatment of my horse in full."
If you are taken to court, I would suggest that you have realistically very little chance of winning.
I would not make the effort of a "full and final payment" cheque - practice managers are wise to this tactic and will not cash it. I am also dubious that their acceptance of it would settle the bill legally anyway.
If you truly believe they have changed their clinical notes to cover deceptiveness, then a complaint to the RCVS is a legitimate option. While this may result in disciplinary action against them, it will not relieve you of your responsibility to pay. Bear in mind that as stated above, veterinary practice management software is designed so as not to allow retrospective note changing, so if you are wrong then they will be able to prove this beyond any reasonable doubt.

My ultimate recommendation would be phone the referral vets and apologise for any remarks made in the heat of the moment re: note changing. Whether you mean it or not doesn't matter - if the practice won't talk to you then you will lose this battle in court. I would explain that you were surprised by the amount of the bill, as you were given a much lower estimate, and that you feel that you were not kept adequately informed of the rising cost, and may not have opted to continue treatment had you been fully aware of the worsening prognosis and rising cost. I would offer to pay a substantial lump sum toward the bill, with regular monthly payments to follow. However, in view of the miscommunication between the practice and yourself re: the rising cost of treatment, you feel that a substantial reduction in the final bill, as a goodwill gesture would be appropriate.
 
In this instance the agreement would have to be made before she started paying in installments, it does not sound like they are going to be co-operative, they must be aware why she is angry and upset about the bill.
I can't see any any reason not to send a full and final payment cheque. it may slip though the net and get cashed, also it indicates a level of goodwill
The changing of notes is another issue, imho she will not be able to prove it.
I recently asked for a price for a possibly difficult procedure, still waiting
 
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MrsD123 said:
I can't see any any reason not to send a full and final payment cheque. it may slip though the net and get cashed, also it indicates a level of goodwill
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To me it would indicate not only a failure to accept the sum of money owed, but also a level of deception. Not what I would call goodwill, and certainly not likely to reflect well should matters go further. I personally think it is intentionally deceptive, and more than likely will only serve to make the practice less likely to offer any reduction in fees.

IMO the OP has little legal ground to stand on - she signed a consent form, and is liable for the bill. Actions now should centre around reaching an agreement with the practice and hoping they will reduce their fees as a goodwill gesture. Any issues the OP has with the treatment of her horse and/or clinical records are a separate issue, which should be taken up with the appropriate regulatory body if appropriate, but I do not believe this holds any impact on her liability for the fees.

However, I am not a lawyer. It may be appropriate to consult a legal professional, but beware the fees involved. Maybe the Citizens Advice Bureau or similar could be a good starting point.
 
Offering a payment in "full and final settlement" is in no way deception. Giving a customer a bill which is massively different from the original estimate, without reasonable justification ,IS ,however.
 
This is going round in circles, Mike and I tend to agree on limited payment as initial action. If you r own vets do not want to get involved, and they did suggest that you use them , for whatever reason. I think you could ask the BVA to look at the bill, particulalrly exact costing for the drugs, they should only be charging a reasonable price, certainly not ten times cost.
 
Referral vets now won't speak to me and have sent a letter stating that I can only go through my vet now, apparently saying something is a lie, when it is a lie, is a serious allegation, or in my book the truth, glad I will never go up the M11 again, I am really shocked they are lying now, would love to know what they are covering up, but I guess I never will, I have contacted Trading Standards who have advised me what to do.

Mike 007 brilliant idea! shall be doing this soon!
 
Mike007 said:
Offering a payment in "full and final settlement" is in no way deception. Giving a customer a bill which is massively different from the original estimate, without reasonable justification ,IS ,however.
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You don't think that offering 60% of the bill as "full" payment, in the hope that it will be accepted by mistake is deceptive?
An inaccurate estimate is not deceptive, especially in an area as unpredictable as veterinary medicine.
 
alsiola said:
You don't think that offering 60% of the bill as "full" payment, in the hope that it will be accepted by mistake is deceptive?
An inaccurate estimate is not deceptive, especially in an area as unpredictable as veterinary medicine.
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How is it deceptive?
It's completely standard to do this for debt settlement and potentially avoids huge legal fees in a case that neither side is guaranteed to win from the offset.
 
alsiola said:
You don't think that offering 60% of the bill as "full" payment, in the hope that it will be accepted by mistake is deceptive?
An inaccurate estimate is not deceptive, especially in an area as unpredictable as veterinary medicine.
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The point is that the estimate included more work than was done, not least because the poor animal was put down.
The poster is suffering great distress at this time, and I don't think you are being heplful or sympathetic to her situation.
If you asked your dentist to estimate for two crowns, and he said a hundred pounds per tooth, then you only had one done because you were unwell during treatment, and he had to stop, would you be happy if he then gave you a bill for £195 pounds?
It is not fraudulent to send a cheque to the R vets, that is nonsense, it is up to them what they do with it, they may then choose to swallow their pride and accept the money. For all you know they know there mayhave been a lot of ill feeling in the practice, even though they are presenting a united front, and they may even want to preserve or even improve their reputation in the industry.
 
snopuma said:
Referral vets now won't speak to me and have sent a letter stating that I can only go through my vet now, apparently saying something is a lie, when it is a lie, is a serious allegation, or in my book the truth, glad I will never go up the M11 again, I am really shocked they are lying now, would love to know what they are covering up, but I guess I never will, I have contacted Trading Standards who have advised me what to do.

Mike 007 brilliant idea! shall be doing this soon!
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Which vets was it? PM if prefer. I live at the top of the M11 so am curious

Don't know what to do about your bill but I'm really sorry about your sad loss :(
 
Ok so 2 letters sent recorded delivery, will keep you posted on the replies! Not looking forward to any of this, everyday I walk past an empty stable, I still expect to see her there, I hear her little whicker for her tea and remember just how wonderful she was, I don't think I will ever get over this, she was totally irreplaceable, knew her as a foal and couldn't believe that she grew in the huge but graceful creature that she was, she was a fluke, and I loved her right from the start. 10 years old is too short a time for such a girl, love you M and always will x
 
MissTyc said:
How is it deceptive?
It's completely standard to do this for debt settlement and potentially avoids huge legal fees in a case that neither side is guaranteed to win from the offset.
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Agree. Its not deceptive. If the practise choose to accept it - with the wording full and final payment then it becomes a cleared debt.

In fact, there is now a whole other industry springing up whereby you suddenly get letters out of the blue, claiming a debt and giving you the opportunity to clear it for a percentage of the debt. (In these instances, a quick call to the number on the letter asking for a copy of the signed agreements puts a stop to all that nonsense - but on googling it I have found that there are a LOT of people who assume its an elderly debt and they should pay up...)
 
Ditchjumper2 said:
Chances are they will bank the cheque but write to you to say they have accepted it as an interim payment.
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Yes they possibbly might say somthing like that ,but it would pretty well close the matter as far as making a further claim. Thats why the words"in full and final settlement"are so important.Also since they would now be pursuing a much smaller sum of money,it would make it very difficult to go through any other route than small claims court.Often the "High Court" is used as a way of frightening someone into paying,for fear of all the legal costs.
Incidentaly ,if they return your cheque and threaten court action ,send them a recorded delivery letter informing them that you do not dispute that some payment is due,and that the payment you have already offered and which they have refused, will be paid into the court if they pursue legal action.Then suggest that they might like to seek legal advice and review their position and re offer your cheque in full and final settlement.
 
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