Vet bill

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st8ce

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I received my vet bill yesterday and was horrified to see that A i had been charged for something that was already paid for on collection and B I had a visit fee and examination fee . Is this new ? I’ve used the vets for years and never seen that b4 but equally that was a new vet so not sure if that’s something he does as an individual
 
When a vet does the billings they probably don’t know that it was paid for on collection. Just ring and ask for it to be amended.
Yes, I always get charged a visit fee (to cover the traveling time and expenses) and an examination fee (to cover time on site and expertise needed to examine the horse)
 
You shouldn't be charged twice for the same thing so that needs to be challenged. Unfortunately, IME it's been a long time since a call out (visit fee) included anything other than pulling up onto my drive. Everything else is extra, the fixed fee for dental or vaccination does include listening to the heart but otherwise if the vet looks at a horse there will be an examination fee for each horse if more than one on top of the call out. There is no visit / call out fee if I drive my horse to the clinic.
 
st8ce said:
I received my vet bill yesterday and was horrified to see that A i had been charged for something that was already paid for on collection and B I had a visit fee and examination fee . Is this new ? I’ve used the vets for years and never seen that b4 but equally that was a new vet so not sure if that’s something he does as an individual
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Charged twice? Human error, needs lopping off.
Fee for travelling to premises plus fee for consultation has become increasingly common - has your practice recently become corporate, or hired a new practice manager? If that’s their new procedure, think you’ll be liable, altho might reasonably ask why clients haven’t been notified of the change.
 
Exasperated said:
Charged twice? Human error, needs lopping off.
Fee for travelling to premises plus fee for consultation has become increasingly common - has your practice recently become corporate, or hired a new practice manager? If that’s their new procedure, think you’ll be liable, altho might reasonably ask why clients haven’t been notified of the change.
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Why would it make a difference if they are corporate or not? The time needs paying for. It’s simpler for the client to understand if that is broken down into 2 charges rather than just 1 fee, especially as some clients choose to take the horse to the practice to save on the visit fee
 
TheMule said:
Why would it make a difference if they are corporate or not? The time needs paying for. It’s simpler for the client to understand if that is broken down into 2 charges rather than just 1 fee, especially as some clients choose to take the horse to the practice to save on the visit fee
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Asked, because apparently itemising two charges is a change in the billing procedure in this veterinary practice.
Also asked, has there been a new practice manager?
As in, is there now a new way of running this practice, a way which was not previously in evidence or in client experience? Note : not a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ change, simply, what has occasioned it?
It is an increasingly common thing for vet businesses to do - but certainly not universal - to itemise such costs separately. It is also increasingly common for practices to become corporate - I have no idea whether or not there are any UK corporate practices which do not separate out the two charges; have no idea whether or not the change in this particular practice relates to that, or to something else entirely, thus asked. Which the OP client paying the bill is entitled to ask, too.
FWIW, our independent vets, don’t, but I am quite sure they will be remunerated.
 
maya2008 said:
Ring and ask? We have a visit fee and exam fee for anything beyond basic vaccination. Always have had.
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Afraid we do too *sigh*

I have also been on the receiving end of an accidental double charge though, I just phoned and they sorted it immediately and issued a revised bill. It's usually not the vets doing the billing themselves and you can't expect the office staff to always know the exact ins and outs. That's why i always read the itemised bill. They're only human
 
I have always had a visit fee and then a “service/consultation fee” if they’re out for lameness it’ll be down as visit fee plus trot up and advise for example.

Some vets choose to invoice as 1 item so they’ll have it all included in one fee, but most vets will invoice each item or service individually for transparency.

Hope your horse is doing okay now!
 
Our vet practice has split visit and consultation fees for some time. If they are seeing more than one horse, the visit bill is split between the horses. Seems pretty sensible to me.
 
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