Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Our cat wasn't well yesterday, so Marie took him to the local vets, not our usual one as we have just moved.
Straight away the vet asked her if she was insured to which Marie said yes and we have never claimed before.
Basically, it appears that he had developed crystals in his urinary tract, so they put him on a drip (apparently he was de-hydrated), inserted a catheter and kept him over night.
Wife spoke to them this morning at which point they told her that the total cost so far is £650!

Seriously, this can't be right can it? Yes, I know it is only going to cost me the excess, but that's no excuse for them sponging off our insurance company.

What options do I have?

And no, I am not having him stuffed!

Baby


Yawning


Sleeping

davyboy

Would you expect a smililar cost if the illness was with a human and we didn't have healthcare?

My guess is it would be twice as much, so you it seems the going rate to me....anyway, stop moaning you will only have to pay £50!

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

£650 seems a lot, but .... well what a lovely cat

fpan

iTrader: (11)

That's not the point, regardless of who pays, prices of insurances are only going to get higher to cope with balooned bills.

Isn't this why we pay so high insurances with cars?

Because as soon as bodyshops hear insurance they "optimise" the bill.

The same applies to health insurance for humans when they smell private they start rubbing their hands.

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

That's my point. I hate being ripped off and will not stand for it.

davyboy

Not sure I agree with that.

I have had lots of private medical work done lately, some of it I had to pay myself....funnily enough it was the same as they charged the insurers.

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Then why was the first question when Marie walked into the place, 'Are you insured?'?

fpan

iTrader: (11)

I wonder what would happen if you said no and in the end when you received the bill, a yes I forgot I was insured

This is the same question bodyshops ask, I wonder why!

davyboy

Maybe, if she had of said no, they would have told you details of costs at this point and taken a swipe of your credit card?

Still, if you aren't going to stand for it, so something about it.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

British vets are a rip off.

We get Rolly treated in Spain....he suffered an acute stomach infection and couldn't eat, he just kept throwing it back up. He had various drugs and was kept in overnight on a drip and also on two occassions during the day (he lost alot of weight due to being unable to eat/digest, so needed the drips to keep his energy up).

Cost of all this treatment? €80 cash INCLUDING the drugs and overnight stay!


Rabies tests and innoculations to keep his passport up to date were €10. They'd charge you more in a UK vet just for farting in the reception!

Leslie

I think they are well into the rip off club. Of course that will cause the insurance premiums to leap up with far more restrictions too.

I think the phrase is "not selling themselves short"...in spades!

Les

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

If you think there is a scam going on then tell the insurance company. There was a programme about this sort of thing not too long back with made up treatments etc being put on bills.

5t.

davyboy

I'd expect a VET to cost a lot though.

They have studied for years to practise (longer than a GP). The animals can't tell them what is wrong (like 'some' humans). They treat lots of different animals.

Therefore I expect them to cost more than your average mechanic in a franchised dealer.

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

I haven't even been there yet, going to there tonight after work.

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Well if they charged just 4 people a day the same amount they are charging me, the yearly turn over would close on £1m for a small vet centre.
May be you have just got used to being ripped of and now 'expect' to have your trousers pulled down.
As said, our cat had a similar complaint 18 months and the vet charged £60 for a check up and some anti-biotics. Murphy was fine in a day.
I will list the charges on here when I have them.

oldsplice

£650?? £650????? For a one night stay and re-hydration???

Sorry, but that sound exorbitant to me. Crystals in the urine are quite common in boy cats. Usually caused by too many biscuits and not drinking enough. Does he have wet food as well? You can get specific biscuits for cats that suffer with this.

Was the vet part of one of those franchise thingies? Medivet for instance. Lee on here will tell you her story about them.

billythekid

Average pay for a vet these days, £60k+ I would say. I guess the average vets practice has a couple of vets on the books, plus maybe what 3 or 4 other staff at £20k each. Add onto that their overheads such as rates, utilities etc and even a small vets is going to cost £1000 a day to run. Thats before you start looking at medication costs and stuff like that.

The owners will want to make a good profit too, its not a cheap business to be in. Thats why we have insurance for all our dogs. Costs us a fortune (best part of £500 a year) but if one of them gets sick long term you are looking at thousands.

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

It is a franchise. 'Wellpets' I think.
I have told the mrs not to pick the cat up without me as I am going to have words.
He has both wet and dry food and in very small measures.

davyboy

I'm suprised they earn so little after all that training!

scud8

iTrader: (1)

Seems like a lot to me. My dog had a prostate problem which required lots of tests, some expensive antibiotics (£120 a course) plus an operation to have him neutered - I think the final bill was about £800, so £650 for an overnight stay and a drip seems extortionate.

scooby L

Our older cat got the crystals in the urine problem.

Overnight stay etc etc...not insured.. the bill was just shy of £500 iirc

200sex

iTrader: (2)

worst thing is depending on the insurance and the vets you might have to pay the £650 your self and then claim the money back from the insurance company which can be a ball ache

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

How else would I pay it???
Will go on the credit card. But I am going to refuse payment of that figure. £650 is rediculous.

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Update: The price Marie was given over the phone was actually £665....at the moment!

200sex

iTrader: (2)

check with your insurance some time them and the vets sort it out so the insurance pay the vet direct

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Sorry, yeah you are right. They have offered to deal with insurance company directly.
Going with wifey at 5.20 to pick the little sod up! I keep telling him he needs to get a job or he's out. Now it's time to get serious with 'The Smurph' as we call him.

oldsplice

Yeah, it's about time he got a paper round!

Purina, Royal Canin and Hills Science all do low protein bikkies which help prevent the formation of crystals.

Tell him if he doesn't buck his ideas up, he'll be sent to No 10 as a ratter!

Freelance Badger

That does sound on the very high side just for an overnight stay....had diabetic cat always going into comas and being rushed into vet and staying overnight - never paid that much....

David Lock

Rip off price IMHO.

And they seem to overcharge for drugs too. Our dog was on some expensive stuff and vet just gave us a prescription and we got drugs at Boots which was a lot cheaper.

£650 for a plastic tube and some clean newspapers overnight. Bollox to that.

dl

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

They had to clear all the crystals out of his Urinary track apparently. That must be where the extra £500 came from!