Vets bill I am being unreasonable?

[Clover Girl]

I would query the call out charge, vet should have had a scanner at a lameness visit.

 

[sunnyone]

I'm astounded at the number of people who have said that they, as customers of the vet, need to request that the scanner be brought out.
There is an assumption here that all owners know exactly what is going to be diagnosed, and how.
A vet is a professional who should know what kit they need to do a job e.g. lameness diagnosis ,and bring it with them for the appointment. If for some obscure reason they can't bring one item and the vet realises it's needed then the return visit should surely be at the expert's cost, and not at the customers?

 

[little_critter]

I'm astounded at the number of people who have said that they, as customers of the vet, need to request that the scanner be brought out.
There is an assumption here that all owners know exactly what is going to be diagnosed, and how.
A vet is a professional who should know what kit they need to do a job e.g. lameness diagnosis ,and bring it with them for the appointment. If for some obscure reason they can't bring one item and the vet realises it's needed then the return visit should surely be at the expert's cost, and not at the customers?

I was thinking exactly this. Many horse owners are knowledgeable but we are not the experts. The onus should be on the vet to think about what equipment might be needed.
You wouldn’t book a roofer and say “you’ll need to bring your ladder”

 

[MurphysMinder]

I am so sorry you lost your horse. I think a polite request for explanation re the bills would not be unreasonable. We lost our old boy in August after 2 months of battling, we didn't receive an invoice till over a week later.
I have also had an occasion where our old pony fell and injured herself, vet who came out decided an x ray was necessary and called the practice for a nurse to bring x ray machine etc. We weren't charged any more for the nurses visit .

 

[Pinkvboots]

Is this an ambulatory referral vet?

If you requested a lameness workup at the yard I’d expect the vet to bring all the equipment necessary to do nerve blocks, x rays and ultrasound scans on the day.

I’d certainly not expect to pay any more than as if the full workup inc scans was completed on the one day. A scanner is basic equipment in a work up.

See I agree surely the vet has the sense to bring everything needed for a work up abd not have to be told by the horse owner to do so

 

[Fieldlife]

I don't think it's unreasonable to explore it either.
Many years ago I had my childhood pony pts. I'd booked the call out and it was planned. To my surprise when the vet turned up, they combined my visit with another horse on the yard. Pts mine, and from memory vaccination and dental given to another horse. I thought that was insensitive but I guess it's just business. I was only 20 and it really stung.

That is poor of the vet. Most book extra time, one visit, and turn their phones off whilst doing the deed. I have been trying to reach a vet, and manager told me he's unreachable as doing a PTS this afternoon. (Where other vets that could be reached).

 

[Fieldlife]

See I agree surely the vet has the sense to bring everything needed for a work up abd not have to be told by the horse owner to do so

For my vets, you need to specify what you want them to bring. There will not bring xray machine and scanner to every lameness visit (as they dont have enough on the road).
Many lamness work ups, are a look see and nerve blocks. It is relatively rare to scan and xray together on first lameness visit.

But if I booked a visit and asked to bring both, they would (but might impact the timing / availability of visit).

 

[Tiddlypom]

Lameness work up = expect vet to bring all necessary portable diagnostic kit without the owner having to give a check list.

Earlier this year I requested my vet to bring just the portable x Ray machine, as all I wanted were lateral images of all 4 feet to check for any lami rotation or nasties (none found, thankfully). Had the vet found something else that she wanted to scan then I’d have stumped up for the second visit. That wasn't what happened to webble, though, she wanted a workup done on the one visit.

 

[webble]

For my vets, you need to specify what you want them to bring. There will not bring xray machine and scanner to every lameness visit (as they dont have enough on the road).
Many lamness work ups, are a look see and nerve blocks. It is relatively rare to scan and xray together on first lameness visit.

But if I booked a visit and asked to bring both, they would (but might impact the timing / availability of visit).

But I wouldnt know what equipment I would need to ask them to bring, I dont know what they do and dont have, whats portable or what can be used where to view what, I dont think thats unreasonable, I wouldnt expect them to know how to do my job

 

[Fieldlife]

But I wouldnt know what equipment I would need to ask them to bring, I dont know what they do and dont have, whats portable or what can be used where to view what, I dont think thats unreasonable, I wouldnt expect them to know how to do my job

If you dont specify, and book a vet for a lame horse, (unless the vet already had it the car from a previous visit) an initial lameness visit would be look at horse in straight line, on hard and soft, on lunge, maybe flexions. Feel for swellings, palpitate. Maybe nerve block if indicated.

Book follow up visit for xrays or scans.

Different example if you phone and say that horse has a swelling on lower leg, not lame, but definite swelling. They will then say, do you want a vet today, we'd not normally scan until swelling has had X days to subside, to get a good reading on scanner. You book a vet for that day minus a scanner. Or you decide to wait and rest the X days, then have leg scanned.

 

[webble]

If you dont specify, and book a vet for a lame horse, (unless the vet already had it the car from a previous visit) an initial lameness visit would be look at horse in straight line, on hard and soft, on lunge, maybe flexions. Feel for swellings, palpitate. Maybe nerve block if indicated.

Book follow up visit for xrays or scans.

Different example if you phone and say that horse has a swelling on lower leg, not lame, but definite swelling. They will then say, do you want a vet today, we'd not normally scan until swelling has had X days to subside, to get a good reading on scanner. You book a vet for that day minus a scanner. Or you decide to wait and rest the X days, then have leg scanned.

Ah the vet had already had videos and through conversations we thought there was something orthopedic going on in the hind quarters

 

[4Hoofed]

Ah the vet had already had videos and through conversations we thought there was something orthopedic going on in the hind quarters

Personally like you when I’ve asked for a lameness work up, the vet has seen videos, we’ve had the conversation, and I’d expect them to come with the correct diagnostic equipment on that visit. So sorry for your loss, and I agree a polite discussion about the timing of the bills and second visit wouldn’t go amiss.

 

[Pedantic]

This month after 20 years with the same vet practice, I have dumped them, total p***stake with the charges, I have always paid immediately or next day every time, never ever have they had to chase me for money, I phoned at 5.05pm, they demand £250.00 upfront or wouldn't come !!, vet came at 6.00pm, vet was about 20mins, meds about £20.00, 3 email invoices sent and a txt over the next 3 days saying I owed another £10.67, then a fourth one invoice saying it's now £21.77!!! phoned up and paid, said that was the last money they would get from me, so they lost jabs and Cushing's meds etc for my old lad, and any future treatment for my loan, they have lost 5 horses now on our yard, obviously 20 years as a customer meant f***all, I have registered my two with another vet now, same one the others changed too.

 

[webble]

Well I am still waiting for my phone call so will update if it happens. I'm half expecting a reminder about the bill rather than a call

 

[Rob1585]

Just on the note of bringing out all the diagnostic equipment to a lameness exam. The commonest lameness consults are foot abscess’s/laminitis/etc, which usually require no imaging at the first visit. Is it unreasonable for the horse to be examined, triaged and a plan made first. Combined, a good quality ultrasound machine and digital X-ray machine is around £20-50,000 worth of kit. To keep pricing competitive it is often shared across multiple vets within a practice. What would people say if there was a charge to bring the kit out, even if it wasn’t used? Massively helps the efficiency of a practice when horses are brought into clinics for lameness evaluations requiring imaging/blocking/etc while also frequently proving better images and diagnosis.

 

[webble]

@Rob1585 that's fine but we had already narrowed it down to likely an orthopedic issue in the hind quarters. There was no charge for bringing the kit just for scans/ rays which i am happy to pay for

 

[teacups]

I sort of wondered if the practice had meant to not bill you til 3 months for the putting down, but someone got their wires crossed and sent the wrong bill promptly, delaying the other bill.

True…but it would still be pretty insensitive to send ány bill out 2 hours after a PTS appointment.

ETA I also feel the second call out should be disputed by OP - paying for the actual scans, fine, but not the call out. Though if a vet forgets to bring equipment necessitating another visit, the vet practice might consider the inconvenience to the owner who might have to cancel appointments, take time off work, or pay someone to be there for the scan.

A good response imo would be to apologise and cancel the bill altogether.

 

[webble]

On Sat I received a reminder letter through the post so I emailed explaining the situation. Still not heard anything

 

[Fieldlife]

This month after 20 years with the same vet practice, I have dumped them, total p***stake with the charges, I have always paid immediately or next day every time, never ever have they had to chase me for money, I phoned at 5.05pm, they demand £250.00 upfront or wouldn't come !!, vet came at 6.00pm, vet was about 20mins, meds about £20.00, 3 email invoices sent and a txt over the next 3 days saying I owed another £10.67, then a fourth one invoice saying it's now £21.77!!! phoned up and paid, said that was the last money they would get from me, so they lost jabs and Cushing's meds etc for my old lad, and any future treatment for my loan, they have lost 5 horses now on our yard, obviously 20 years as a customer meant f***all, I have registered my two with another vet now, same one the others changed too.

Are you a regular customer? As that is typical treatment for a new customer, or a long term dormant but not for an active, several visits a year customer? Sounds like an error by receptionist?

 

[Pedantic]

Are you a regular customer? As that is typical treatment for a new customer, or a long term dormant but not for an active, several visits a year customer? Sounds like an error by receptionist?

The answer to all your questions are in the post

 

[Fieldlife]

The answer to all your questions are in the post

No they arent. And I also stated you situation sounded like a receptionist error.

You state you are a customer of 20 years, with multiple horses. You dont state when you last had this vet practice out on a visit.

I have a long term vet of 15 years, however I dont always see them every year, as if it is a good year, and I have jabs done by a different vet that was out for someone else, I dont see them.

You might be seeing them regularly for the cushings medication or you might not, hence my question, when you last had this practice out on a visit.

 

[Pedantic]

No they arent. And I also stated you situation sounded like a receptionist error.

You state you are a customer of 20 years, with multiple horses. You dont state when you last had this vet practice out on a visit.

I have a long term vet of 15 years, however I dont always see them every year, as if it is a good year, and I have jabs done by a different vet that was out for someone else, I dont see them.

You might be seeing them regularly for the cushings medication or you might not, hence my question, when you last had this practice out on a visit.

Read my post

 

[Fieldlife]

Read my post

I have read your post. You clearly think you are answering something you are not. Or you are deliberately trying to be obstreperous.

 

[Indy]

I have read your post. You clearly think you are answering something you are not. Or you are deliberately trying to be obstreperous.

If he's got a pony on Cushings meds, the vet would have to come out twice a year to do bloods, that's for starters otherwise he wouldn't get the meds(mine does anyway)

 

[Exasperated]

This month after 20 years with the same vet practice, I have dumped them, total p***stake with the charges, I have always paid immediately or next day every time, never ever have they had to chase me for money, I phoned at 5.05pm, they demand £250.00 upfront or wouldn't come !!, vet came at 6.00pm, vet was about 20mins, meds about £20.00, 3 email invoices sent and a txt over the next 3 days saying I owed another £10.67, then a fourth one invoice saying it's now £21.77!!! phoned up and paid, said that was the last money they would get from me, so they lost jabs and Cushing's meds etc for my old lad, and any future treatment for my loan, they have lost 5 horses now on our yard, obviously 20 years as a customer meant f***all, I have registered my two with another vet now, same one the others changed too.

Whew! Sounds like they’ve invested in a ‘practice manager’.... is it one of those outfits now under control of a veterinary conglomerate? Tact and bedside manner straight out the window!
Some seriously unfriendly vet practices on here, and disorganised, too: Client books an orthopaedic workout, vet thus knows to bring the necessary equipment, it was pre-arranged, an ongoing case - no excuse for a second ‘call out fee’ if unable to get their act together the first time.
Losing horses is bitter enough without being harried, feel very sorry for Webble.
In contrast, our local hunt are sympathetic and respectful in the extreme, and they don’t invoice for a month, maybe two.

 

[Fieldlife]

If he's got a pony on Cushings meds, the vet would have to come out twice a year to do bloods, that's for starters otherwise he wouldn't get the meds(mine does anyway)

Which I acknowledged and asked if was the case. I can’t assume to be the case from original post.

 

[Lois Lame]

... Sounds like an error by receptionist?

That was my thought also.

 

[WrongLeg]

I had a similar issue.
I phone for a vet to come out to PTS a horse which was under treatment by them.
They said they had to access so came out the next day.Their assessment was made and it was agreed treatment wasn't improving the problem so horse to be PTS.
Even though I had said my strong feelings was PTS when I phoned they then wouldn't do it on that appointment but wanted to come back the next day .It was late afternoon they didn't have an appointment after me and were informed before coming disposal was sorted.
It cost me another call out and another visit fee for the visit the next day.
Unnecessary expense for me.
I never did bother to query it just paid up it was upsetting enough without getting into a row over payment
I feel your pain and perhaps I should have argued at the time.

Out of interest, is this an independent vet or IVC?
IVC have a monopoly round here for at least a 60mile? radius.
2 vets have recently walked out of a local IVC practice due to pressure to maximise bills in a way that they perceive as unfair.

 

[setterlover]

Out of interest, is this an independent vet or IVC?
IVC have a monopoly round here for at least a 60mile? radius.
2 vets have recently walked out of a local IVC practice due to pressure to maximise bills in a way that they perceive as unfair.

It is an independent horse veterinary hospital.
The problem is it is a bit of a monopoly the only horse specialist in the area and it is where all the general vets refer horses to for anything that needs specialist treatment.

 

[webble]

Out of interest, is this an independent vet or IVC?
IVC have a monopoly round here for at least a 60mile? radius.
2 vets have recently walked out of a local IVC practice due to pressure to maximise bills in a way that they perceive as unfair.

Mine is IVC. Luckily there are about 7 other equine vets that cover the area