my bull dog is at the hospital and they are maken me pay $4.500$ for the operation?

Question

i whent to other pet hospitals and they only charge $1.000$ for the operation should i run agenst them in court because thay wont give me my dog until i pay in full

Answer 1

$4.50 isn't bad. I pad 200.00 for an x-ray.

Answer 2

Afraid it's too late for that. Always in the future remember to get a quote BEFORE you tell them to go ahead with a surgery etc. At this point, you gave them the permission to do it, so you are technically responsible for the bill. I would call the sheriffs office though, and ask if they are legally allowed to keep you dog. I'm not sure about that part, it differs from state to state. You can also let it be known loudly and publicly that you were 'robbed' and make a big deal about how people that use this vet should get quotes and so on. They may not like the bad publicity. It isn't against the law for you to run an add in the local papers letters to the editor sections about the way they treat customers and it isn't against the law for you to spread the warning to others by mouth. Just don't cross the line and tell lies about the place,,,as that is slander,,,and slander is against the law. You can always take someone to court (or threaten to) for any reason, I just don't think you'd win in this case. However, they may be willing to let it go, to keep from going to court at all.

Answer 3

No, you won't win. You had to consent to the operation prior to the procedure, so in doing so, you agreed to their costs. Even if it is so much higher, the court will wonder why you did cost comparison after the procedure instead of before, and if it was an emergency, then you are kinda stuck. But, I have never heard of someone keeping your dog until you pay in full, they can't do that, even with a stipulation that all charges are due and payable at time of service. Check the papers you have signed, read the fine print-sounds very fishy! The dog is still owned by you, and they are not granted a share of ownership of the dog. The worst they can do is turn you in for an unpaid bill and sue you to collect it.

Answer 4

You can't sue unless they have been negligent.
I'm sure they must have a written policy about their expectations for payment, which you signed prior to the surgery.
Not only will you be liable for the vet fees, they will charge you for boarding, too.
My question is, why did you not take your dog to the less expensive vet?
Were there complications? I have an English bulldog and it's hard to keep an open airway during surgery, so they are more likely to have complications.
Private human hospitals won't allow babies to go home, either, until the business office is assured of payment, particularly for patients who have no insurance.
Next time, do your homework.

Answer 5

Why didn't you take your dog to the hospital that charged $1000?

They operated on the dog, they still have the dog. You don't get the dog back until you pay.

Did you check upfront and see how much it was going to be? Did you arrange for payment in advance?

Doesn't seem to me that you have much of a case, other than not being able to afford to pay your bill.

Answer 6

If they already did the operation then they completed the service. You should have asked for a quote prior to the operation.

I'm sure that somewhere they have listed what they charge. But if they just pulled that number out of the air, then I think you could have a case. Contracts need to be in writing.

Answer 7

Nope.

Most vet offices give a quote and you sign off on it. For major additional expenses, they will usually give you aphone call to get approval.

And bulldogs can be more expensive to do surgery on because of their breathing problems and metabolic issues. Are you sure the other quotes you got were complete and not just estimates?

If you contacted other vets after you agreed to the surgery with this vet, you are S.O.L. If you did this research before, why didn't you use the other vets?

Answer 8

Well... did you sign anything agreeing to the charges? If you did, then you're responsible for all 4,500, regardless if other places charge less. Now if you didn't agree and sign a paper agreeing to charges and didn't know that the operation was going to be that much, fight it for sure. Good luck and I am very sorry to hear about your difficulties, but glad to hear your bull dog is ok.

Answer 9

Not to sound heartless why don't you just get a new dog?

Let them keep your dog if they are over charging you.
That will teach them a lesson. What would they do with your dog. Tell them you do not intend to pay that much for a surgery. Tell them what you will pay. And if they don't agree with that amount tell them they can keep your dog. It's a gamble but they are over charging based on your emotions over your love for your animal. Don't play their game. Did they tell you the amount of the surgery prior to it being performed?
If they did, then you owe them the money. If they did not then simple tell them you can not afford that much and that you will have to let them keep the dog.

It a game.............are you ready to tango?

Answer 10

Time to find another vet. We had a similar problem some years back. This one vet would give me several sample pills, (that he charged me for) then said to bring her back in a week, then it was bring her back again in a week. Every time he would charge for the visit.

We took the dog to another vet and he had the dog cured in about 3 days. (It was a skin condition).

The first vet was also the President of the Vet Assn in my city.

Answer 11

This is how they do it. They play off your heart. Figure you will pay or they will sell off the dog. Some don't and pay to have the dog put to sleep and no body wins! It's a sick thing when people don't care about your feelings for your pet. Buty to them it's all about money pure amd simple.