Short update about the vet bill.

[gottawonder]

I opened up the invoice from the vet clinic from the recent examination of the goats. The one where I was told by whoever was at the desk that I HAD to have a vet come out to do the recheck, even though the first vet said I could just come in and pick up the medication I needed.

I had kind of resigned myself to paying the bill, but looking at it today I just felt that it was unfair.

The cost of the medication was only twenty dollars. It was a drug similar to the oily stuff you apply to the back of dogs or cats for fleas, so super easy to use. There was no reason to have a vet drive out to our place and administer it.

So I spoke to the office today, as well as the vet that came out. I did my very best to be extremely REASONABLE about all of it, even going out of my way to say that the vets were doing a great job, and that I appreciated everything they do for us.

Just that it was not reasonable to ask me to have a vet come out to do such a simple task that I could have done myself, for a cost of over two hundred dollars, when the medication was only twenty.

I said I was willing to pay part of it, but that it would only be fair if they could meet me half way.

They ended up taking $60 off, and I called it good.

So, I feel that I did my best to be reasonable but firm, and not BLAMING or being angry, but presenting my side of the story.

As a person who owns lots of animals, who ends up using the services of veterinarians regularly, I can't really pay a few hundred extra whenever there is a bit of a miscommunication. No one should.

I feel that it was resolved amicably, and this makes me feel like I actually CAN have some affect on my life.

Comments

[ratunderpaper]

Pinky's vet is always accommodating about costs, but the clinic that bought his business is not.

[gottawonder]

I was only trying to bring down a cost that shouldn't have happened.

kind of like if someone told you that you had to bring Pinky in to see the vet and schedule an appointment, only to have the vet administer a bit of ointment that you could have easily done yourself.

Some office person decided that they knew more than the vet did (the one who told me in the first place that I could come pick up medication), and told me I HAD to have a vet come out in person.

[ratunderpaper]

Pinky's vet has reduced the cost of medication that has human equivalent and can be purchased more cheaply than canine.

[gottawonder]

That's nice of your vet to let you know.

[ratunderpaper]

He's been our vet forever - since the arrival of the first PInky.

[spatzenpost]

That’s great that you were able to achieve that. A. Dry reasonable solution. Can you avoid having the vet come out again to administer the stuff?

[gottawonder]

I don't know. Even this last time, it should have been a simple enough thing for me to just come pick it up. The original vet said it was easy enough to do myself.

What likely should have happened, is that whoever it was I was talking to (an office staff person) that insisted a vet come out, should have called the vet that saw the goats to confirm that I could come pick up the medication.

I could have been firmer about that.

Yet, the person I was talking to sounded very authoritative, and for some reason, I wasn't feeling argumentative that day.

I hate to feel like I have to be guarded in the future.

There are still times when I will WANT the vet to come out, but it isn't always necessary, so that is what needs to be clear.