Neighbourhood Vet overcharging?

[froggy]

Just checking if this is an isolated issue, or systemic... All feedback welcome!

I subscribe the practice's Pet Health plan for my cat, which (amongst other things) gives me a 10% discount on vet consultations, tests, medicines etc. I have visited the Neighbourhood Vet 3 times recently, checked the statements they sent me and realised that the discount was somehow inconsistently applied. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. The same procedure would sometimes be discounted one month, but not the next. And vice-versa.

We're not talking millions obviously, but in 3 months I have missed out on over £30 worth of discounts.

The staff at reception have no idea how this is happening. Has anyone experienced the same issue?

My cat is fine now, thank you, but will need regular visits (so more discount chasing fun!).

[Peckhampam]

I really like the Neighbourhood vets but have also found problems with their charging When I have pointed things out they have always put it right and blamed it on a new computer system. I really don't think they are trying to be underhand but something does seem to be wrong with the system.

[Jenijenjen]

I really like the Neighbourhood vets but have also found problems with their charging When I have pointed things out they have always put it right and blamed it on a new computer system. I really don't think they are trying to be underhand but something does seem to be wrong with the system.

 

I agree. One time I’d been given a quote for some further tests but decided not to go ahead. I later received a statement saying I owed that amount which I queried and the amount cancelled. Again, I don’t think the error was intentional but I always carefully check the receipt which they email to me. BTW the further tests suggested proved unnecessary.

[Callie]

I think they make the prices up as they go, I've had one person charge me one fee then another charge me more (or less) for the exact same thing (!) a week later for my other cat? It's annoying that they are not transparent about costs like a lot of other vets. You never know what you are going to be charged. I've never bothered applying for the pet club because it looked like it would actually work out more expensive \0/. I email them & question everything & try to get an itemized bill otherwise I don't know what's what, they add crazy amounts of vat onto absolutely everything including supplements & food items, so worth checking online to get those cheaper.

[froggy]

Another visit today, charged £30+ for eye drops that are available over the counter for max £7.50. Obviously I didn't know at the time. This level of margin is nothing short of obscene.

And the consultation fee has gone up again to £54.50 I believe. Daylight robbery.

Can anyone recommend an "ethical" and less greedy vet locally? I suspect Medivet is the same, am I wrong?

[Pugwash]

We go to Ms. Robinson vet in Highshore Road. We transferred there many years ago as Lomax Vets (by Grove Tavern) - we felt they not very good. They failed to diagnose cancer in our dog who had his leg amputated a couple of weeks later. We knew a veterinary . nurse who worked in an Orpington surgery whose vet was a breed specialist and who diagnosed the cancel. Too far to keep going to Orpington so was recommended Ms. Robinson.

[NewWave]

Another visit today, charged £30+ for eye drops that are available over the counter for max £7.50. Obviously I didn't know at the time. This level of margin is nothing short of obscene.

And the consultation fee has gone up again to £54.50 I believe. Daylight robbery.

Can anyone recommend an "ethical" and less greedy vet locally? I suspect Medivet is the same, am I wrong?

 

we go to The vets on Lordship lane thats the Medivet one.

Been going 11years and have been happy with the treatment our cat has received.

We never feel 'ripped off' by them as an example our cat had to have tartar removed from his teeth which involved an overnight stay and anaesthetic, They then recommended ways to keep the tartar at bay going forward using an inexpensive product available on Amazon and he hasn't needed the expensive treatment since.

[lbanks]

I’ve always found them good personally but not experienced the same problem with the system - but, for example, went in for a routine check up last week where I mentioned various issues my dog was having and the vet consistently recommended non-practice solutions (eg had the Pets At Home website up for a product and told me I could get it there, recommended home dental treatments before considering a practice dental treatment). Was pretty happy, so can only hope it’s an occasional issue or I guess maybe dependent on the vet you see.

Grateful to know there have been issues though so I’ll check any charges v thoroughly in future!

[froggy]

Thank you all for the feedback and recommendations. As most of you, I do like the vets and (most of) the receptionists, but I have this nagging feeling of being ripped off!

I might give Medivet a try as they are closer than Ms Robson in Peckham, but again thank you all!

[Multitrades]

Hi all

My dog used to have to take loxicom

Every day

So I got the vet to provide a prescription cost of £10

Then set up account at pet drugs online

Vets were charging £55 for a bottle 100ml

On line with delivery I got 2 bottles for the price they was charging

So head up get online if it's regular meds you need

Vets are over charging they are not animal lovers

[Jo31]

Clinically I can’t fault them but they are super expensive- twice my insurer has refused to pay for meds prescribed because of the mark up exceeding 120%.

I now get all my pet’s meds online but they charge £17 per prescription item and won’t prescribe for longer than 2 months (even though it’s a long term condition).

[froggy]

Clinically I can’t fault them but they are super expensive- twice my insurer has refused to pay for meds prescribed because of the mark up exceeding 120%.

I now get all my pet’s meds online but they charge £17 per prescription item and won’t prescribe for longer than 2 months (even though it’s a long term condition).

 

Same here. Except I managed to get a prescription for 3 months - wouldn't prescribe for longer, in case the dosage needs adjusting (obviously this requires blood tests etc. every 3 months). It stills works out MUCH cheaper than getting it direct from them!

[Chick]

this one is good and inexpensive:

A.J.M Robson Vets in Peckham, London Rating 1.5 (1) Address 35 Highshore Road, Peckham, London, SE15 5AF,

[froggy]

Latest update for those who are interested...

After having waited 6 months to get my discounts refunded, I refused to pay for anything until this was resolved.

They threatened to stop treating my cat, saying that "Finance have reviewed your account and there's nothing wrong".

I demanded to have an email from "Finance" explaining why they thought nothing was wrong and where I got wrong.

As by magic, "Finance" finally got their fingers out and made the adjustment to my account!

Glad it's resolved now, but how frustrating!

I feel for (most of) the receptionists who have to relay the messages to the customers....

[KatieJ12]

They encouraged us to buy a post-surgery onesie for £20 for our cat. She hated it. They later told us that Siamese cats tend to react badly to the onesies. It's one of the reasons we switched to Mark Nelson in Thornton Heath. It's further away but it's definitely better value for money.

[sandyman]

We are new to the world of vets and like others here generally find them good but expensive.

This isn't a big issue so I won't name the vet but what do people think of this?

when we had some treatment for our dog we were told the cost would be £250. When we picked him up the bill was £260. No explanation of extra £10 cost, they just expected us to pay it. We questioned it and they said they had to use more expensive medicine because the usual one was not in stock.

Now, apart from the fact that the medicine they gave us was only around £3.50 a bottle online, do people think it's fair that the customer should bear a higher cost if the vet doesn't have the cheaper medicine available?

not a big price hike but it did leave a sour taste (a bit like the medicine).

[froggy]

We are new to the world of vets and like others here generally find them good but expensive.

This isn't a big issue so I won't name the vet but what do people think of this?

when we had some treatment for our dog we were told the cost would be £250. When we picked him up the bill was £260. No explanation of extra £10 cost, they just expected us to pay it. We questioned it and they said they had to use more expensive medicine because the usual one was not in stock.

Now, apart from the fact that the medicine they gave us was only around £3.50 a bottle online, do people think it's fair that the customer should bear a higher cost if the vet doesn't have the cheaper medicine available?

not a big price hike but it did leave a sour taste (a bit like the medicine).

 

I'm with you. It's not the cost itself, it's the assumption that you will pay anyway. Any other business would have contacted you to tell you that the product was not in stock, and offered an alternative for you to consider. Or would have absorbed the extra cost. Or would have at least brought it to your attention when presenting the bill.

We pet owners seem to be a captive market for vets - leading to poor competition and equally poor business practices.

[Kathleen Olander]

We go to Ms. Robinson vet in Highshore Road. We transferred there many years ago as Lomax Vets (by Grove Tavern) - we felt they not very good. They failed to diagnose cancer in our dog who had his leg amputated a couple of weeks later. We knew a veterinary . nurse who worked in an Orpington surgery whose vet was a breed specialist and who diagnosed the cancel. Too far to keep going to Orpington so was recommended Ms. Robinson.

 

It's Ms Robson rather than Robinson, she has been there for many years and is a very good caring vet,

[COYS1961]

We stopped going there after an issue with a refund that took months to resolve. My cat had required very expensive treatment, which was covered by our insurance policy. Neighbourhood Vet told me to pay and then claim the money back. It was almost £1,000. I did so but the insurance company erroneously paid Neighbourhood Vet rather than refunding me as they said that was the way the policy worked and that NV had been wrong to advise me otherwise. I had to contact NV around a dozen times over a period of 3 months to get them to refund the money - they came up with every excuse under the sun for the delays.

We have since been going to Norwood Rd vets in Herne Hill, which we much prefer. The prices are more reasonable and the service is more personal.

[Sue]

We stopped going there after an issue with a refund that took months to resolve. My cat had required very expensive treatment, which was covered by our insurance policy. Neighbourhood Vet told me to pay and then claim the money back. It was almost £1,000. I did so but the insurance company erroneously paid Neighbourhood Vet rather than refunding me as they said that was the way the policy worked and that NV had been wrong to advise me otherwise. I had to contact NV around a dozen times over a period of 3 months to get them to refund the money - they came up with every excuse under the sun for the delays.

 

 

That's appalling.

Do they belong to some professional association you could complain to?

[Mystic Mog]

Just to say Neighbourhood Vet are charging £25 now for a prescription. Whilst the veterinary care is exemplary, the pricing is extortionate. Two of my friends have been grossly overcharged in the last 2 weeks so it seems a regular thing.

[Mikey26]

It totally depends on the vets that are looking after your pets.

Some are very good and take into account your circumstances others just seem to pile on every charge under the sun.

This week has been so tough. We have been with them for years, but you have to pick your vets and refuse appointments with others.

We have a cat who got very unwell very fast, brought him in Tuesday saw one vet, he was good had seen my cat before, started with investigations and had different answers, then he was going to be off and he passed the case to another vet, she although the history was there, went down another road, and was not as nurturing and caring.

So my cat has spent the whole week at the vets every day, spent one night at Medivet in Camberwell (they were great) All the whole getting more stressed, getting worse and worse, and now today we will have to euthanise him.

I'm extremely upset by this because I have now paid over £2000 with totally inconsistent prices and huge difference in the charges from one vet to the other, and all I see that has happened is my cat has been under tremendous stress all week and just got extremely worse. And today I will still have to pay for the euthanasia and who knows how much they will decide to charge.

So like I said some vets are great others terrible

[ClaudeL]

Thank you all for posting. Very helpful.

We used to take our two cats (long "gone") to Lomax and Partners near the South Circular. Now Medivet, I gather.

A friend is leaving the country and we are taking her very healthy 17-year-old old cat to look after. He's been used to top health care. I shall take him there.

Seeing a vet set up in an old bank building was odd and the posts reflect that somewhat.

My neighbour has been taking his 7-year-old cat to Highshore Rd and is very happy.

However, I remember leaving there to to go Lomax (many many years ago) so clearly didn't like something there.

After reading your reviews, will stick with what I know / knew.

Will update once friend's cat has been "onboarded". He has to have a blood test every three months and regular medication, so fingers crossed.

[hpsaucey]

It totally depends on the vets that are looking after your pets.

Some are very good and take into account your circumstances others just seem to pile on every charge under the sun.

This week has been so tough. We have been with them for years, but you have to pick your vets and refuse appointments with others.

We have a cat who got very unwell very fast, brought him in Tuesday saw one vet, he was good had seen my cat before, started with investigations and had different answers, then he was going to be off and he passed the case to another vet, she although the history was there, went down another road, and was not as nurturing and caring.

So my cat has spent the whole week at the vets every day, spent one night at Medivet in Camberwell (they were great) All the whole getting more stressed, getting worse and worse, and now today we will have to euthanise him.

I'm extremely upset by this because I have now paid over £2000 with totally inconsistent prices and huge difference in the charges from one vet to the other, and all I see that has happened is my cat has been under tremendous stress all week and just got extremely worse. And today I will still have to pay for the euthanasia and who knows how much they will decide to charge.

So like I said some vets are great others terrible

 

So sorry about your cat! Sounds as though he's been lucky to live with a very caring owner.

HP

[stonebrownie]

In January my very old cat was ill and my vet in Peckham had taken blood tests, subsequently prescribing tablets to which the cat was not responding to.

A friend recommended 'Neighbourhood Vets' and I rang for a second opinion. They were keen to take the cat in and have a look for which I was grateful but when I explained I no longer had pet insurance and needed to get an idea of the price- they said that wasn't possible. I persisted and the receptionist went to ask a vet who concurred with her. I said surely there was a guideline for blood tests and an x-ray for example? (just as when I go to the dentist they tell me the price of a filling, crown etc). The receptionist went to ask a second vet and I was told - blood tests £200-£300 and x-ray £300-£500.

I did not take my cat to Neighbourhood Vets as my Peckham Vet had charged £80 for extensive blood tests done over a morning. I feel there should be more transparency in pricing.