Vet charge - would you consider this fair?

[EQUISCENE]

I recently had a referral vet out to examine one of the horses, a young vet working for a large mixed practice who just happens in addition to general work to also specialize in one area of horses . The practice is 15 miles away and I have been charged £96.00 before any examination or treatment. Just wondered if anyone else would think that this was expensive?

 

[mogs22]

Last summer while I was in North Oxfordshire I was charged £117.00 for just a flu jab! The reason was that they only have a normal radius of 10 miles and my horse - at a livery yard who organised the jab - was 12 miles so a further charge for time was made. A few weeks previous, my other horse in West Sussex had his flu jab for £36.00

It depends where you live and which practice you use it seems.

 

[lizzie87]

is that just for the vsit then? or some sort of other fee? is it broken down at all?

 

[angie1]

You say "referral vet" so presumably this is the visit charge plus a second opinion charge? What breakdown of charges have you been given?

 

[teddyt]

If that is just for the call out charge, yes i would consider that to be expensive

 

[EQUISCENE]

It is broken down as follows;

1) Visit horse routine £42.45
2) Visit horse, charge per mile £53.65

Then a third separate charge for the examination and treatment.

 

[teddyt]

That looks like you have been charged twice for the same thing, even though it is different amounts. Paying extra for every mile over a certain radius is normal but £53.65 extra for being 15 miles away is expensive.

 

[mymare]

I had my vet out last week, he came 18 miles and charged me £30 for the call out. Maybe it varies from area to area, but I think what you were charged is extortionate!! I would definitely query it. Good luck!

 

[Chumsmum]

It sounds like you should have been charged one or the other - not both - I would query it.

 

[angie1]

Would ring the practice on Monday- certainly looks like a double charge - if they insist it is right I would be asking how far the "routine visit" can be from their base & is the mileage charge only calculated from the outer point of their "normal" visit area? How much per mile does that work out at?

 

[fatpiggy]

I think they can charge what they like. I just had the bill for my mare's "period pain" (looks and is treated like spasmodic colic) plus he did in-house blood tests on her liver. The bill was just under £150. I know the bloods cost £40, so £110 for ermergency call out ( a few minutes away), examination and a buscupan jab.