Debt collectors letter over dentist

[MichaelMarsh]

Hi

 

My self and partner currently receive our prescriptions/dentistry etc free because we recieve housing benefit.

 

My partner missed a dentist appointment a couple of months ago and later receieved a letter of her dentist saying that she owed them £17.50 for missing the appointment.

 

She advised the receptionist at her dentsit that she had her dentistry paid for an apologised for missing her appointment and we heard nothing else until now.

 

We recieved a debt collectors letter today saying that they were acting on behalf of the dentist and my partner owes them £38 (this is for the appointment she missed). Are they allowed to do this even though she has her dentsity paid for?

 

Thanks for any replies in advance

 

M

[citizenB]

Is there any mention of this at the Surgery - that missed appointments have to be paid for. If this has not been brought to your attention previously or you have agreed to any terms and conditions, then I dont think they can.

 

However, I will flag your thread for attention.

[tombhoy]

I doubt if the NHS will pay 'fines' for missed appointments.

[Ros1609]

The NHS will only pay for work carried out by the dentist, not a fine for the missed appointment

[Halibutt]

Most dentists operate this policy nowadays, due to the number of missed appointments in the past.

They usually dispaly a warning concerning this.

 

However, you have not signed any contract specifically concerning this - unless it was clearly stated in any forms you signed when you joined your current surgery.

 

You could write directly to the dentist, asking for proof of signature on a binding contract - a CCA would, I suspect, be of no use in this case.

 

If they are able to provide one, then I'd be inclined to pay the initial fine, not whatever some tin pot DCA has added as charges - put that in writing to the dentist, hand it in, get a copy countersigned by them and a receipt.

Tell the DCA to do one. You owe them nothing.

 

Good luck.

 

H. x

[IdaInFife]

which country are you in?

 

if in england and wales the NHS say that they should not be charging you but if you pay the will treat you if you don't pay then they an refuse to treat you

 

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1789.aspx?CategoryID=74

[citizenB]

taken from the link that idainfife has provided above.

 

 

 

What your NHS dentist should not do

Your dentist should not:

 

•charge you for missed NHS appointments, but if you miss NHS

appointments, your dentist can decide not to offer you treatment in the

future

 

I would suggest you print off a copy of the fact sheet that has been provided above. I would then write to the Debt Collector and highlight the section I have copied for you above. Tell them that the dentist is not permitted to charge for missed appointments therefore you will NOT be making payment to the DCA.

 

That if they continue to pursue you will report them to both the NHS and the OFT.

 

Send a copy to your dentist. Do be aware though, that your Dentist quite likely might not offer you any more appointments.

[Old Cogger]

usually if you miss certain amount of appoitments then you are off their list if I remember correctly?

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

3 Missed payments and off the dentists list, my dentist levies £25.00 per missed appointment.

[Old Cogger]

3 Missed payments and off the dentists list, my dentist levies £25.00 per missed appointment.

 

 

 

You know the drill then Brig! excuse the pun.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

That is a ''boring'' remark Mike:wink:

[citizenB]

3 Missed payments and off the dentists list, my dentist levies £25.00 per missed appointment.

 

If it is an NHS dentist, then we have just seen that they cant do that ?

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Hi CB, I'm not sure on the ''legality'' of these charges there were a number of changes made to the regs regarding ''NHS'' dental care a while back, something about the ''subcontractor'' charges I think.

I did notice that the linked document says what ''what your dentist SHOULD not do''.

[Old Cogger]

That is a ''boring'' remark Mike:wink:

 

 

 

O.K. a " D" next week!