£130 for missing a 1 hour dental appointment

tedaC

tedaC

tedaC

Associate
Joined
26 Apr 2006
Posts
711
Hey all,

Just had a phone call from my dentist (private dentist) to say that i was already 40 mins late for my appointment.

I had forgot all about the appointment and am at work now.

They said as they couldn't fill the appointment space with someone else there would be a £130 charge for missing the appointment.

Is it just me or does this seem extreme and are they fully within their rights to do this ?

I fully understand it was my fault and also understand i am wasting their time... but £130 :(
 
Within their right, unfortunately. You contracted them to serve you for an hour. They charge £130 for this, I'm guessing, and you didn't turn up. They tried to find someone to take your place at last minute, but couldn't. Hence you owe them the £130 you've cost them. :(

Next time, put a post-it on your monitor or something.
 
Blimey that's a tough pill to swallow.

Seriously though, erm, **** in their letter box. Then turn up the next morning with beard and plasticine nose with a mop and bucket. Clean it up - and charge THEM £130.

See how they like them eggs.
 
tedaC said:
Hey all,

Just had a phone call from my dentist (private dentist) to say that i was already 40 mins late for my appointment.

I had forgot all about the appointment and am at work now.

They said as they couldn't fill the appointment space with someone else there would be a £130 charge for missing the appointment.

Is it just me or does this seem extreme and are they fully within their rights to do this ?

I fully understand it was my fault and also understand i am wasting their time... but £130 :(
Click to expand...


Never heard any greedy dentist jokes?
 
Generally, they'll only be able to charge for it if the right to do so is contained the terms and condtions which they gave you when you signed up - check the small print on the back of leaflets, invoices etc.

Otherwise its down to demonstrate that £130 is the value of their loss. Unless they have a constantly filled appointment book and their waiting lists stretch into years ahead, that will be difficult for them to do. Simply fact of the matter is that the likelihood is that they haven't lost business as a result of that missed appointment - presumably your happy to come back another time.

Tell them to Foxtrot Oscar and argue it out in the small claims court if you have to.
 
mame said:
You might only have to pay it if you go back
Click to expand...

If they're anything like my dentist they'll post a bill on to you followed by solicitors letters if you don't pay up....my missed appointment only cost £40 and I thought that was steep but after reading op I think I got off lightly
 
Yes, unfortunately for you, they are well within their rights. :)

To look at it from the otherside, the Dentist has made an appointment for you, and will have not seen anyone else during that time. Thus, if were not to pay, he or she would be losing income that you promised to provide. :)
 
I hate to say it but, you should have made sure you didn't forget. The dentist works on the expectation of completing scheduled work for which they would be paid. You cost them earnings today. The only thing you can do is pay it and move practice if you think you're likely to forget appointments in the future.
 
No idea of the legal ramifications of this, but I once missed an appointment because I'd forgotten about it. Since then I've started heavily relying on Google Calendar, it's absolutely fantastic - at my dentists you make an appointment for 6 months time, stick it in Google calendar and I'll get a text message the day before it's due. You should use it or a similar service.
 
Their hourly rate is probably £130, thus an hour app you get charged if you miss it. I'd be amazed if they don't have signs up around the palce to reflect this, as well as notification of it on their leaflets. If you made the app and they have signage, then you agreed to the contract.
Most charge if you miss, or don't give 24 hours of notice.
Some charge per slot, every 10 or 15 minutes worth, so missing a 15 minute checkup would lead to a fee of 1/4 what you paid.

Place I know charges £10 per 15 minutes, it is a deterrant rather than a profit making exercise, and since introduction at start of 2010 (about 15 years after everyone else was doing it) their missed appointments dropped by over 80%. They are booked up months ahead, so it is beneficial to those waiting weeks for an appointment that people at least ring and cancel, so they can be slotted in sooner. Same place also sends a reminder text 48 hours prior to the appointment, so folks have no excuse not to cancel.
If people are sick, geniuinely sick they tend to ring at 8.45am and say so, often this is treated with sympathy unless they happen to be sick over and over on the day of their app.
 
In a world where you are probably walking around with ANY kind of calendar/reminder program in your pocket, how can anyone forget? :/

Book appointment.
Make calendar entry
Don't lose £130.
 
Does your dentist charge £130 an hour? If not then they have to prove it has actually cost them £130 worth of business/time to be able to charge you that much. You will probably have to pay them SOMETHING, but £130 is ridiculous.
 
Yeah, if there is a warning to the effect on their literature and posted clearly in reception and waiting rooms then you don't have a leg to stand on.

If this is the first time you've missed an appointment I think £130 is a bit harsh. It's inevitable that people forget things (even if they should have written it down). It's the people who simply can't be bothered to turn up or notify the surgery/practice that should be fined.


£130 seems harsh, though. Something like £20-40 would sting you enough to make a difference. I bet the dentist didn't sit around for your allotted time playing Peggle, either. He must have completed other work during that time or seen another patient.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom