Am I being unreasonable (a Vent)

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Website · #1 Post by **susieq182** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:04 am

Ok right now in the heat of anger as I was once agian called less then 8 hours before an appointment to be asked to reschedule this is the 9th time! I have been in braces since Dec of 2005 DO the math thats the majority of appointments. I am going to find a new ortho because being an adult I expect good service and I feel that that includes having notice more then 24 hours before they move my appointments. If I dont call in 24 hours before to cancel I get charged $30 so maybe they should be paying me!!!! I have asked them about it and they say none of the other patients seem to mind. My thinking is like Duh they are in High School and if you call while they are in class they dont get the message and so they get to skip class twice. Hmmm I wouldnt mind that, But I'm Not in school so I have to ask for time off work. WHich is fine if i just have to ask once but to have to ask then say oh nevermind i need this day instead makes me look flakey.
All that venting done they moved my appointment from today at 4pm until Feb 3rd at 8 am Thats right birght and early on a saturday!!! I havnt seen the ortho since Nov 20th and My power chain that was pulling my right canine back Fell off 2 weeks ago. I called and asked they said it wasnt a problem it could be fixed today. Thats 5 weeks W/O anything happening to the tooth in my mouth that needs the most work.
SO I am looking for a new Ortho as of today because I am not going to deal with this any longer. I just wanted to run it by you guys and see if I am right to be indignant or if I am Just made and being unreasonable.

#2 Post by **Lisa65** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:21 am

I'd be pretty p*ssed too I think, Susieq.

Perhaps before you impulsively look for a new ortho though, it might be worth contacting your existing one in writing and stating what you've said here.

It's not reasonable for them to charge you for missed appointments when they reschedule yours with hardly any notice, resulting in you having to mess your employers about and/or get up early on a weekend. I do think you have a right to complain about the bad service. Unless people do stick their necks out and actually put in a complaint then nothing changes.

I'd personally recommend that you draft a letter stating your concerns about the cancellations, the inconvenience that it's causing you with regards to work, and the consequent delays in your treatment - stating that you find it unacceptable and that although you understand that occasionally appointments might need to be cancelled, that 9 times in the last year is just too much - and that if things continue this way then you will look elsewhere.

As you say you're an adult, you're paying good money and you have a right to good service.

Website · #3 Post by **susieq182** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:34 am

thanks for the feedback Lisa. All very good advice that I have tried. Which is when I was told I was the only one who seemed to mind the "minor" inconvenience of having an appointment moved. Being that I have already tried these other avenues I have resolved to try to find a different Ortho. THis isnt something I am doing in a fit of anger I have thought about it and I know I may have to pay more to move, but At this point i feel its worth it.
Although re-reading my other post it would seem that was the case.

#4 Post by **charlotte T** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:56 am

Wow, this must so frustrating for you. It's definitely unacceptable and, more to the point, unprofessional! What a lame excuse - to say 'nobody else seems to mind??'

I can see why you would want to move to a different ortho, but I would try one last time to explain how unhappy you are. Maybe you could try and ask for a meeting with the ortho? That's if he doesn't re-schedule (!) And tell him exactly how you feel.
Also, do you a contract of any kind? If you do, check and see if it says anything about their commitments to you etc...
Good luck getting this sorted out.

#5 Post by **Lillers** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:58 am

Hey SusieQ,

Hell no, you're not being unreasonable! I'd be fuming.

Good luck in your search for a new orthodontist â€“ let us know how it goes.

#6 Post by **Tasha0313** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:06 pm

Hey Susie, I'm sorry this has happened to you!! Crappy way to start a weekend huh? But yeah if I was in your situation, I'd be extremely pissed. By that time, actually, I'd probably be in their office cussing someone out and looking for another ortho.

It's very important for a patient to receive the BEST service possibile especially for something that YOU are paying for.

If you have tried all other avenues, I would call another ortho's office & see if they can schedule you for a new patient exam. There may be fees associated with leaving one ortho and going to another, so I would also check that out!

#7 Post by **Nawners** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:26 pm

Oh wow... I'd say you put up with it for far too long! Just like you said, if you cancel for any reason, they want at least a day's notice, so they should certainly pay you the same respect!
Good luck finding a new ortho, I hope you have better experiences with the new one!

Website · #8 Post by **susieq182** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 1:31 pm

Thanks all for making me feel like less of a b**ch.
so heres the low down i pulled my contract out at lunch today and checked it out. It seems I will have to pay atleast $550 to my current ortho for "services rendered and not yet paid" Service my a$$ And looking over my contract it actually says I have to give 48 hours notice or I will be charged $35 if i miss an appointment. So depending on what another ortho might charge I may have no choice but to stay where i am. I have about a grand of wiggle room thanks to my tax return. !SIGH! So I am going to ask around and see if it is even an option. I am only supposed to have 12 months left but at this rate who knows how long I might be in braces. I am going to call around and see I will let you guys know whats up.

#9 Post by **invisagirl** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:37 pm

I definetly think your right to feel P*SSED, I would be too. That's just horrible customer service. A true professional would not do that. Case in point, my last 3 podiatrist apps for a sprained ankle have all needed to be reschueduled because of blizzard conditions (act of nature obviously, no blame to them) and the office has apologized profusely and sent me a card saying how sorry they are about the situation. Its absolutely nothing they can control and their extremely sorry it has happened repeatedly.

Hopefully you'll be able to leave that unprofessional ortho and get your treatment back on track.

#10 Post by **iBorg** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 4:06 pm

Sorry for the problems. I believe you have every right to be unhappy. I know I dumped one dentist for the same type of behavior. I believe the ortho has as much of a legal and moral obligation to meet your appointments as you do. This is even more so when you consider this is a contracted service instead of a pay when service is rendered situation.

To me, this type of action is borderline malpractice and is neglect. I believe that postponing your appointments while still collecting fees is collecting money without consideration (contracted services). If you find another ortho you like that will take you on, suggest that if they wish to collect further, they should be prepared to discuss this matter in small claims court. If you have any way to document cancelled appointments do so at once.

If you receive grief from this practice, I would strongly consider contacting your state's attorney general as well as the dental licensing board.

Mikr

Website · #11 Post by **susieq182** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:28 am

Well I have a consult on Feb 5th to possibly transfer to a new ortho. The fee should only be $25 for my consult and then they will figure my payment plan from there. So that is looking up and the ortho i will be seeing is highly recomemnded. I hope that this will be a better situation. When I spoke to the girl at the new ortho's office she said they have had other adult patients from the same ortho request to transfer in the last 6 months. So the whole line about me being the only one complaining was a load of BS. Which makes me angry because obviously they have no intention of changing the situation that is causing the problems. I just hope I wont be jumping from the frying pan into the fire so to speak.

#12 Post by **ghostmyimag3** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 11:14 am

Personally in my own honest opinion i'd be asking them to knock some money off your treatment costs seeing how this could possibly result in a longer treatment period if stuff is falling off. I am the type of person that will say what i mean and mean what i say, regardless if you "are the only one" that seems to mind they should still keep that in consideration being that word of mouth travels far quicker than they think.

#13 Post by **smile2006** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 3:40 pm

Do you have any knoweldge of other adults there who might be equally aggravated? I like the letter idea and it would be powerful if a single letter came signed from multiple adults!

#14 Post by **iBorg** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 3:44 pm

Other adults...same practice? If you could get a list and they are of the same mind you have a much stronger case. See my other posts. One thing to do is try to keep your emotions out of it and deal with it as business.

Hard to do sometimes, but necessary.

Mike