Had a bit of a row with one of the Vets Receptionists, asked for the usual detailed bill and found an extra £45 on it under…“Appointment Reserve Fee”. WTH??? I asked what that was, and was told it was to reserve my appointment, I said so I turned up I’d like it refunded please, was told it’s not refundable. I then said …So your telling me it’s cost me £45 just to walk through your door? She said everybody has to pay it. By now I was on the boil, I told her, I remember when you Vets were all about helping the animals, now your all about seeing how much you can screw out of people, and you’ve not heard the last of this lady. I then left while my temper was still under control (just)
Have any of your Vets started this piece of nonsense?
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Thanks @Rox. Our cats are overdue for a check up, and I’ll deffo be asking about this new fee.
In the meantime, if they hadn’t advised you about the fee beforehand, then you probably stand a chance to have it refunded. The only problem.then would be if it’s clearly visible on their website; so I’d be inclined to check on there first and take screenshots if it’s not mentioned.
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Blimey… that’s extortionist Rox … and they know they’ve got you as you love your pets and want the best for them.
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They get plenty of money off us as it is, the dog, 2 Clydesdales, the sheep. They’ve no need to be taking that as well. Just wait untill Dunc hears…Light the touch paper and stand well back.
Just booked my cat in. Checked. They don’t charge that fee.
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It sounds suspiciously like when Dentists say they reserve the right to charge you a Cancellation Fee if you don’t give them sufficient notice and don’t attend.
I’d be so tempted to think it was a mistake by an inexperienced receptionist.
Trouble is you can haggle and point out that you’re a client of longstanding and bring such and such an amount of business their way but in the end … how close is the next vet?
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About 20 miles away.
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How dare they charge that! Are they independent, or part of a huge money making conglomerate (like mine, unfortunately).
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They are independent, Started as a small family affair and grew.
I suppose it’s down to if you feel annoyed enough about it to create a fuss and demand a refund … I’m afraid I would be angry enough but in the long run, if you need a vet urgently it might not be the best course.
You’ll have to pinch a cushion instead.
Hey … I shudder to think what their call out fee would be.
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I’m not sure, as Dunc pays the farm bills, the vets are here sometimes for one or other of the horses, and at Lambing if it’s an emergency.
Stick it on your local towns social media page. You’ll be surprised how quickly you will be refunded.
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Well, we haven’t encountered that at our vets’, although they do seem to charge rather a lot for not a great deal. For example, they charge a large amount for a couple of small pills for worming and a couple of plastic containers for anti-flea droplets.
Of course, they have recently moved into a much larger premises including a large car park, and I suppose that has to be paid for.
When we look on social media - local Facebook is useful - we often read posts from other local people who also feel that their charges are excessive. Fortunately, we also hear recommendations for other vets’ practices, not much further away from us, who are both cheaper and provide better service in some ways.
I agree with Dex. If they have not mentioned this ‘fee’, either verbally or especially in their written documents or conditions, I’d follow this up as it is probably illegal!
Not that you’d end up winning in a tit for tat exchange, but the next time the vet has to visit you, you could charge them for parking. And heaven help them if they use your loo or heaven forbid you make them a cuppa!!
Good heavens! You have a vet who’ll come out to visit you?
I thought that was only on the TV programmes from the last century!
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I believe that Rox, to whom I was addressing myself, has a farm or smallholding based upon her having a couple of horses and some sheep.
Maybe I am behind the times, but I am of the opinion that vets do still tend to do home visits for such beasts. 
Ah, that’s reasonable.
I don’t think our vet would be too happy if we took our horse into her surgery.
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When I had to have my lovely Polly dog put to sleep I arranged for the vet to come to my home to do it. She always hated going to the vet. She was curled up in her favourite place on the settee when it was done. I was very grateful to them for coming.
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Our vets charge £86 consultation fee on a Sunday, if you need them for an emergency. My dog was poisoned by nicotine gum lying on the ground and became very very ill. At the time, I was so glad they would actually see her and fix her, but later I was horrified by the bill.
Consultation fee is £27 on any other day, before anything takes place or medication given.
Yes the Vet does have to come to us and other farms in the area, there’s a few vets in the practice and you never know who will arrive. They also have the Surgery at their premises for the areas pets ect.
I had never encountered this charge before but I’m seldom at the Vet with Dageus. I was grumbling away in the village shop about it and a lady piped up and said it started not long after Covid and the Lockdowns started. Nobody seems to know why and the receptionists won’t give a straight answer. Dunc knows the Vets well and sees one of them out n about a lot, he’s going to have a word and see what they are doing.