Should I wait to pay vet bill?

[Casey76]

Sorry, I’m still trying to figure out UK etiquette for things like this.

Last Wednesday Tartine had some bloods taken and hoof xrays as a general check up

(RBC/WBC WNL - just; selenium good; AST and CK elevated, but nothing too drastic, and not unexpected; GGT great, Thyroid... appears to have Euthyroid Sick Syndrome, and I’m waiting for feedback from the vet on how to approach this)

Today, a week later, I get the results of the blood tests and the bill, but no xrays.

I sent an email to the vet, saying thanks for the test results and the bill, could he please forward the xrays at his earliest convenience.

Normally I prefer to pay vet bills as soon as I get them, especially when they’re a bit heft, but in this case I’m a bit hesitant to pay for something I haven’t received.

Should I just pay anyway and hope the vet doesn’t forget to send the xrays?

Invoice is due by 7th July.

 

[Tiddlypom]

If invoice is due by July 7th, then that is when they are expecting to be paid by. Often people pay sooner.

Maybe ring the practice rather than email them to chase the x rays? I'd be hanging on re paying til they were through.

 

[Goldenstar]

I don’t usually receive xrays unless I need them for the farrier or physio .

 

[Carrottom]

If the xrays are on the bill I would wait until I received them.

 

[ycbm]

The fee is for the taking of the x rays and interpretation by the vet. You don't actually own the images unless you specified that before they were taken. Copyright is owned by the vet that took them. Giving a copy to the owner of the horse is a courtesy only. You need to pay.
.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I never receive the xrays from my vet, only results. Unless I might need them for my farrier etc. Has he told you the results of the xrays? If so I would pay now or at least before 7th July unless you particularly need to have them. If you haven't got the results it might be worth a phone call to chase those up before you pay.

 

[Casey76]

No, I haven’t received any interpretation of any of the views which were taken. Other than them being invoiced, they are not mentioned at all.

I guess that’s one big difference between the UK and France/Germany/Switzerland, where I was forwarded a copy of the views as a matter of course

 

[Renvers]

I have never received xrays or mri's for my horses although vets have always been happy to show them to me.

 

[ycbm]

Since they were a check up to compare with previous ones and not taken to try to find an issue, it sounds like nothing has changed or all change is for the better on the x rays and the vet just hasn't got around to telling you, but I would definitely be calling to ask.
.

 

[Tiddlypom]

My practice always send the x rays across to me if I ask them to, no issue.

If you've not yet received the interpretation, then that is fine to hang off paying at least that part of the bill til you do. It's likely just a short delay, though.

 

[SEL]

I always receive the x rays and chase before paying the bill

 

[spotty_pony]

I have all of the x rays and the full mri from my last boy I think jt depends on the Vet but I did state that I wanted these, and also got the Vet to sit down and go through them with me.

 

[conniegirl]

I normally receive a report from my vet with any images and the interpretations.
I’d phone and chase the images

 

[sunnyone]

Casey I'd definitely ask for the x-rays and wait to pay until they arrived. If you are worried about late payment charges then pay a percentage and include a note to say why it is a reduced amount.
As a POI UK hospitals don't usually give out X-rays to patients. I have a file full of my French scans though.

 

[PSD]

I didn’t receive x rays from my vet unless I asked to receive them and they were willing to send. I’d always pay before any results/x rays come through anyway.

 

[MissTyc]

I too always receive a copy of the X-rays by email, but I agree that the payment is for the service + consultation/interpretation. In your situation, you're not withholding payment since the invoice isn't due yet anyway, so no harm in popping an email to the clinic and asking for a copy of the Xrays, no need to link that request to the payment.

 

[Casey76]

Thanks everyone. I know I have plenty of time before the invoice is due. I’ll wait a couple of days before I call the clinic.

I think it may have been an oversight as others who had xrays taken the same callout have received theirs.