Lost one working day because of Dental Clinic's appointment

[pugilist]

Good morning everyone!

 

I've just returned home from my dental clinic. I didn't go to work today because i had this appointment. Can u imagine my shock when I came at the clinic by 12:00 sharp, it was the time of the appointment, only to know that the "hygienist is not in today"..

 

They told me that they tried to contact me, but could't. But they are lying to me: there are no missed calls from them, no texts and no emails. Usually they do inform me of anything via text messaging AND email.

 

If I was notified about such an important thing as a change to my appointment or its cancellation, I would have gone to work. But in this case I just simply lost one full working day's wages.

I really am eager to know what can I do to the Dental Clinic? It is a private Dental Clinic(http://www.smileimpressions.com/), where I did use their NHS services couple of times, and where they imposed me paid services of a hygienist - I paid 25 pounds in advance for this appointment. They said they couldn't refund me my money today, and I need to come on Tuesday to have it.

What can I do to make them compensate the day lost because their unprofessionalism and negligence? Should I write them some letter first, or what?

 

Thank you in advance!

[unclebulgaria67]

Did you see the Dentist or was this purely a Hygenist appointment ?

 

I don't think you can claim anything unrelated to attending the Dental Practice. If you were able to do this, you might imagine the possible claims that people might make.

 

If you did not see anyone at all and had no prior notice of the appointment cancellation, i would say that you can only claim your costs of a wasted journey and your appointment fee back. You might say to them that you will now have to take a days annual leave for your next appointment because of their mistake and would ask that they consider waiving appointment fees for the next visit.

[pugilist]

Did you see the Dentist or was this purely a Hygenist appointment ?

 

I saw only the receptionist.

 

I don't think you can claim anything unrelated to attending the Dental Practice. If you were able to do this, you might imagine the possible claims that people might make.

 

Why do you think the day I missed is unrelated to the stuff of the clinic? It was clearly their fault that they failed to make sure that the appointment did actually happen.

I can easily imagine the possibility that people are able to compensate what they lost because of actions of unprofessional workers of the clinics like this.

 

If you did not see anyone at all and had no prior notice of the appointment cancellation, i would say that you can only claim your costs of a wasted journey and your appointment fee back. You might say to them that you will now have to take a days annual leave for your next appointment because of their mistake and would ask that they consider waiving appointment fees for the next visit.

 

Like i said, I saw only a woman at the reception, and I definitely had no notice of the cancellation. Of course I will have my refund from them, but I don't want to have anything to do with them in future. I'm not going to ask them or beg them to waive any fees for the next visit, as I am not going to visit them ever again.

I need to know what can I do to them according to the Law.

[pugilist]

*staff

[unclebulgaria67]

I will ask the site team to move to general legal section of the site, as essentially you are asking about the legal position.

 

Personally, i think you are looking at direct related losses e.g travel costs for wasted journey and the appointment fee. I don't think you can claim for loss of a days work or anything to do with your work. You made a decision to take a day off and part of that was this appointment.

 

I can't see that the Dentist practice can be held legally responsible due to error, for a decision you made about booking a day off work. How you arrange your time is not relevant to them. Many companies allow their staff an hour off every 6 months for Dentist appointments or some companies expect staff to make the time up.

[slick132]

I think the thread can remain here for now.

 

Complain to the practice in writing if you want to be compensated. Tell them you require proof that they contacted you by phone and/or text to cancel, failing which you want to be compensated for the cost of specific time off work (not the whole day), travel costs and of course the treatment fee.

 

[stu007]

This link from the General Dental Council may be helpful: http://www.gdc-uk.org/Membersofpublic/Raisingaconcern/Pages/Dental-Complaints-Service.aspx

[unclebulgaria67]

I think the thread can remain here for now.

 

Complain to the practice in writing if you want to be compensated. Tell them you require proof that they contacted you by phone and/or text to cancel, failing which you want to be compensated for the cost of specific time off work (not the whole day), travel costs and of course the treatment fee.

 

 

This thread relates to a private clinic and nothing to do with NHS.

 

I can't see how they have a legal claim for any work time off.

[slick132]

This thread relates to a private clinic and nothing to do with NHS.

 

I can't see how they have a legal claim for any work time off.

 

As there isn't a forum for private dentistry this is the best forum.

 

I didn't refer to a legal claim for time off work but, as this is a private dentist, what's the harm in seeking some compo.