Bank Holiday Vet Charges..

[masma]

< Coco was being violently sick on Monday, so much so that she seemed on the point of collapse. I rang the vets who said to take her straight in and that a fee of £100 would apply as it was bank holiday. Is this normal practice? We've taken her on a Sunday before without being charged so much, final bill was £150. We'd give anything to help her but thought this a bit cheeky.

[sunny-dave]

It's disgraceful - but not unusual - I've been faced with similar charges.

Vets are one of the last unregulated rip-off businesses - a huge fraud playing on people's love for their animals.

[B00]

Wish I could like your post Dave!

Never a truer word said- sadly.

[masma]

I too wish there was a 'like' button on here.

[gingejbee]

I suppose a vet can charge what they like, when they like....as long as they tell you in advance of the visit, so that you can choose to go (or not).

[wolf63]

That is how much my vet charges for out of hours. Ours is a small practice and they are very reasonable with their costs! How is Coco?

[pixie373]

Double (or triple) is normal for bank holidays anywhere? But it is harsh when your animal is sick and you have no choice.

[237SJ]

I would say it`s normal practice. Other services charge more on Bank Holidays so I would think that Vets would be no different (see under Prices) http://www.northsurreyvets.com/vebo/index.php-idPage=95.html

[237SJ]

There`s always the PDSA though. I don`t know how that works but they are cheaper as far as I know.

[RATTER15]

The vets here in Mid Wales are very strange to say the least, we took two dogs to a vet for two different issues, the vet just gave us advice on how to treat these issues, NO CHARGE. We then thought our wolfie bitch was pregnant after an accidental mating, we took her to the vet for a scan, they checked her over and told us to bring her back in a few weeks for a scan, No CHARGE, we took her for three different scans at different dates, no puppies and a bill for £35.00 Im certainly not complaining but I find this to be strange pricing.

[pixie373]

Wish they were round here, ratter. Mine caused a pressure sore on my dogs foot with a bandage- and charged me to treat that too. Hmmmm.

[237SJ]

IMO vet`s charges increased dramatically when pet insurance was invented. Before that, prices were fairly reasonable.

[Prudie]

I think you have to prove you are on benefits before the PDSA will treat you. I think I've spent nearly £2000 at my vets in the last couple of years. That's just to see 2 old cats through their passing and 2 kittens through their normal growing up. They have you by the short and curlies unfortunately.

[anneasquith]

hi, do you have pet insurance ? how is she now ? any change at home ?

[masma]

Thanks for all your answers - she's gettting there, eating for England at last! All I can say is thank goodness we've got her insured. The vets we take her to are so good that I really can't complain, although getting her tail fixed cost £2000!

[masma]

Hi Anne... Things here are much the same, taking one day at a time. Thanks for asking, hope you and yours are well xx

[EDDIE51]

For PDSA not only do you have to prove you are on benefits or a low income you have to prove you live in the catchment area for the clinic as well.
RSPCA and Blue Cross are the same , live 100 yards outside the area and you are stuffed. An artical in the news a while back said Vets were the most profitable of all small businesses.

[Spannerfiend]

Vets, Dentists, Opticians, Insurance companies.......uully all under the same stone!!

Hope Coco is better

[Peter Pedant]

Because the NHS is free at the point of application / need,
you lot have no idea how much it costs to run a service
or to get one up and running on a bank holiday

a lawyer would charge this on a bank holiday
and if you were private down BUPA charges such as this apply

get real pay up and thank God you dont have to pay this level for your sick kids....

honestly - are you lot real ?

[Prudie]

Peter I would suggest most of us are real and most of us do pay up. I'm not sure what point you are making, Bank Holidays are hardly Christmas.

[237SJ]

PP - considering the average Vet`s appointment lasts 10 - 15 minutes (max) and the charges are £100 per consulation out of hours I think that is a nice little earner. To be fair, I think the Vets need to get real.