can DCAs add £40 for every letter - re a Vets bill

[maggie60]

Asked if I could pay an old vets bill in three stages only to be emailed by DCA who had added another £70 but offered to take off £30 for an unposted letter. They addes £40 for the first letter.

 

I did not think they could do this. Am I wrong?

Edited July 31, 2015 by Sara55
omission from text

[SabreSheep]

as far as i know, they have no contractual grounds ot add those fees

 

and if they did, they would be an unlawful penalty

 

Name and shame the vet and dca please

[maggie60]

The vets are New Malden Vets in Surrey and the DCA are DSL in Redditch.

[SabreSheep]

Has the debt been sold to them or are they working on behalf of the vets?

[maggie60]

New Malden Vets are refusing to pass on my dogs records until we agree to pay the extra charges. Our dog has severe diarhrea and is losing weight rapidly and needs to see a vet urgently but the other vet needs the records.

 

We have offered to clear the debt with the vet over 3 payments within one month but they simply pass us onto the DCA.

[maggie60]

Today I have received one of the two letters they have charged us for. Not sure what happened to the first or the supposed telephone calls they made. It reads: Our client - New Malden Vets, so they haven't sold the debt on.

[unclebulgaria67]

You need to register an official complaint with senior Vet at New Maldon. They are putting the health of your Dog at risk, because another Vet needs the records. They cannot withold records if it endagers the health of an animal. Otherwise they risk action by the professional body they belong to.

 

The DCA cannot charge you anything. You can pay New Maldon Vets directly, when you can.

[maggie60]

Thanks UncleBulgaria, but is the senior vet/partner, Margo Scott, who has passed on our email offer to the DCA rather than answering us directly.

[unclebulgaria67]

Thanks UncleBulgaria, but is the senior vet/partner, Margo Scott, who has passed on our email offer to the DCA rather than answering us directly.

 

There is a complaints process.

 

 

https://www.rcvs.org.uk/document-library/making-a-complaint-to-the-rcvs-about-a-veterinary-surgeon/2complaint-form-vets-ext.pdf

 

Phone the Vets practice and advise that unless they release the records you will complain to the RCVS that the Vet is willing to endanger health of an animal over late payment of a bill.

[SabreSheep]

And also do not worry about hte DCA

 

They are powerless

They are not Baliffs

They cannot take you to court, only the vets would have that option (Or the legal owner of the debt if they sold it)

[maggie60]

Thank you for that, I have emailed the senior partner as you advised.

[maggie60]

I have given the DCA a full day to explain the validity of the "added debt fees and letter fees". Heard nothing and their client is now their former client dealing directly with me.

 

From what I can see they have attempted to add £66 for one letter I have received and another supposedly sent sometime earlier in July. I believe this action is illegal, and any complaint I make against them is for the benefit of any vunerable people who may be taken in by their methods and panicked into making payments they cannot affortd in order to avoid further charges.

 

Should I complain to their local trading standards office?

[renegadeimp]

You won't hear anything from the dca. They just want money. They can't do anything anyway.

[maggie60]

I know, but if nobody bothers to complain, the industry remains uncontrolled.

[renegadeimp]

They do complain. The dcas ignore everyone and do what they want, and a lot of the time the regulators give them a slapped wrist and nothing more

[Duffers Mum]

surely another vets shouldn't need you dogs records before treating him? What about if you buy a dog from someone or get a rescue dog and get no records? I thought they were in business to help animals. I would try another vet or maybe your local PDSA. I hope your dog gets the treatment he needs x

[ericsbrother]

Usual cobblers from DCA. they try it on because most people think they have some kind of authority, like a hi-viz jacket or peaked cap.

[havinastella]

It's unlawful not illegal!

[maggie60]

Thanks Duffers Mum, I can get around the previous records and after following Uncle B's advice the senior partner at the vets came back in a panic and said she would pass on all records before anything was paid. I was just trying to be fair and say as one small business to another I owe you money and I will pay you within the next 30 days. However, the vets played silly buggers and passed on my email to the DCA to answer.

 

Anyway, seeing new vets at 9.10am tomorrow.

[maggie60]

So does unlawful mean you shouldn't do rather than you can't do it?

[MrHat]

Did you make your offer of payment in writing? And whether or not you did, I'd advise following through on your offered payment scheme.

 

If you didn't put in writing, do so now and explain the payments made and promised.

 

They are wrong to withold records and put your dog at risk.

 

Also, only send correspondence to the vet. Forget the dca.

 

The point here is to have proof in writing (retain copies of letters and proof of posting OR emails) that you are being reasonable.

 

None of this excuses the witholding of records by the way. Others have advised on what to do here.

 

My advice is to make sure that they cannot blame you and strengthen your hand.

 

Just my opinion

[unclebulgaria67]

So does unlawful mean you shouldn't do rather than you can't do it?

 

Unlawful means it us not something technically illegal.

 

Illegal means there is law, saying it is not allowed.

 

Glad you resolved records issue and have a new Vets appointment.

 

If you have problems with any professional, always use threat of reporting them to their professional body. If their integrity is at stake, they won't take a risk. There is usually a code of ethics that applies.

[MrHat]

Did you make your offer of payment in writing? And whether or not you did, I'd advise following through on your offered payment scheme.

 

If you didn't put in writing, do so now and explain the payments made and promised.

 

They are wrong to withold records and put your dog at risk.

 

Also, only send correspondence to the vet. Forget the dca.

 

The point here is to have proof in writing (retain copies of letters and proof of posting OR emails) that you are being reasonable.

 

None of this excuses the witholding of records by the way. Others have advised on what to do here.

 

My advice is to make sure that they cannot blame you and strengthen your hand.

 

Just my opinion

 

I wrote that hours ago and just hit submit

 

Glad you have a new appt. ☺

[SabreSheep]

Illegal is criminal law - eg something the police deal with

Unlawful normally implies Civil Law, something you sue for in the courts.

 

Im glad you are getting the records now and well done for standing your ground.

 

I hope poor doggie gets well soon

[obiter dictum]

One is subject to law, the other is contrary to law.

 

Take trespassing, that is no longer subject to criminal sanction but Civil Law sanction as it has been decriminalised