Cancellation Fee for appt

**scfr** · 07-09-2007, 02:00 PM

Wow - $350 seems so excessive! I can understand $25 or even $50, but $350, come on! Normally my approach is to negotiate costs calmly, and so I would probably call them up first and ask them if it was a typo ... Did they perhaps mean $35?

If they playhardball and demand the $350, then I'd play hardball right back at them.

Ask them for a copy of the paperwork you signed off on where you agreed to pay a $350 cancellation fee (they probably don't have it but if you did sign off on that you're probably stuck). Or, I'd ask them where on the appointment card it says they will charge a $350 cancellation fee (it probably isn't there). Then, I would let them know I am prepared to contact the organization for my state that oversees dentists and/or the BBB, and if they don't back down I would go ahead and contact those organizations ASAP and file complaints.

Good luck and sorry you had such a bad experience.

**DebbieL** · 07-09-2007, 02:31 PM

$350 is a ridiculous cancellation fee. Most will allow you to cancel for no charge if you cancel at least 24 hours in advance. Most dental visits don't cost that much even if you do go. That is highway robbery, and no way would I pay it. I would also switch dentists (and make sure they knew why). Thieves!

**neatdesign** · 07-09-2007, 03:48 PM

Forget the BBB -- contact the consumer news reporter at your local television news station. A lot of news stations have investigative reporters who will look into these sorts of bogus charges and try to help you out.

The threat of their outrageous billing practices being publicized to the local community might just be enough to make the dentist's office back off and give you a more reasonable (or at least common sense) cancellation fee, like $25-$50.

Whatever you do, please keep us posted on this one -- and good luck!

~ Jenney

**Scanner** · 07-09-2007, 07:24 PM

Tell them you'll take it up with the Dental Board by filing a complaint if they don't remove the charges.

Yes, a nominal cancellation fee is fine but actually in this case, it's not fine - you cancelled the day before. We require 24 hour notice at my chiropractic office - that's it.

I don't charge a cancellation fee but have tossed around the idea a few times - the most I'd charge would be $35.00

**JanH** · 07-09-2007, 10:41 PM

Wonder if they tried to tie the cancellation fee to the charges they didn't get to make for your work? That sounds real fishy. Maybe you could argue that they never stipulated the amount of the fee and that it seems to be outside the realm of most cancellation fees. They should have told you upfront the amount of the fee. I'd flee that place.

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 07-10-2007, 10:41 AM

The cancel fee was because I cancelled and it was for the hours I "booked". Thus it was not a set fee for cancellation. Over the phone I requested them to mail my signature agreeing to this cancellation fee. Also I had a credit for $20.80 which they never returned to me from over 1 year ago. How nice.

I will be mailing them an letter tonight regarding my non-payment. I will also be filing a 30 day demand letter for a consumer deceitfulness. I am now also calling my dental insurance to say they "billed me for hours serviced." Can I submit it? Since they did not bill me a fee but rather of hours worked.

Think it would work to get them to back down?

**JanH** · 07-10-2007, 11:49 AM

I had a bill from a doctor for my son's surgery which wasn't something I owed. I couldn't get it straightened out with the office, so my insurance company called for me and got it done in one call. Maybe your insurance company would get involved even though it isn't one on your list.

**disneysteve** · 07-10-2007, 12:11 PM

I'm curious what their cancellation policy is. You called the day before and cancelled your appointment. What more do they want? Our office doesn't charge a no-show fee, but if we did, it would be just that - a charge for patients who fail to show up for their appointments. We would never charge people who had the courtesy to call the day before and cancel.

**DebbieL** · 07-10-2007, 01:09 PM

Please keep us posted. No way would I pay that outrageous bill. Call the news station if you have to as someone else suggested.

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 07-10-2007, 01:27 PM

Well they are a bad place I found out later from our new insurance. They have had problems with telling multiple clients they were in net-work when they are not. They are just being bitchy because I wouldn't walk in without checking insurance, apparently they've done this before.

So frustrating. I think it's because I called the day before, not the 24 hours exactly.

**JanH** · 07-10-2007, 01:32 PM

How do they ethically get away with that? Isn't that some sort of false whatever if they tell people they are in and actually they aren't. Seems the people who oversee dental practitioners should know about them. Definitely the BBB should!

**neatdesign** · 07-10-2007, 05:51 PM

I'm telling you -- GO TO THE PRESS!!! Exposing their horrible business practices will bring them around. I'd be really shocked if it didn't. I mean, really -- $350 for nothing!?!? You'd have to be a total doofus not to see how outrageous that is. And you know how local news reporters just LURRRVE a good story!

ps. I agree as well with filing an official complaint with your state dental board.

~ Jenney

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 07-10-2007, 08:44 PM

They say MA does not require a signature or notice to charge a cancellation fee. Don't know if that's true or not.

**PrincessPerky** · 07-11-2007, 07:09 AM

Don't believe them, try a news station cause they wil pay for the lawyer to find out, if not try google search to see if MA requires a signature.

Cancellation Fee for appt