My husband and I have been going to Chestnuthill Dental for almost 3 years
now but were forced to seek treatment elsewhere.
Their payment policy has always been that if you have to have a procedure
done which takes two or three appointments that the full payment was
divided between by the number of appointments. Thus easing the burden on
the customer and being fairly treated by the doctor office.
Recently, I was told by Dr. Chiusano that I needed to have a tooth fixed
and capped. The cost of the procedure was discussed in length with Dr.
Chiusano and the Chestnuthill office personnel. At no time during those
discussions was I or my husband (also present) informed that this was no
longer the policy followed. Instead less than 24 hours before my
appointment I was informed that I had to come up with the full amount which
was almost $400. I was told by a lackluster employee that "people were screwing them over, by not coming back for their permanent caps".
Well #1 that's so professional to say and #2 I asked her am I one of them?
Have I ever not paid my bill? She replied with no, to which I told her
that being the case I fail to see the problem with making two payments.
During no time did the lackluster employee ever offer to discuss my situation with any superiors at her office. The answer from her was flat out NO! To me this is
insulting and what a lack of customer service. I don't think the
Chestnuthill Dental office personnel would know what customer service is
let alone good customer service if it bit them in the tush.
After being given no alternatives or seeing any type of compromise on
the lackluster employee's part, I was forced to cancel the appointment.
I then had questions for Dr. Chiusano regarding his plan of action
regarding the procedure he told me I needed and the lackluster employee flat out refused to let me speak to him. She said, "He doesn't call patients." I find this
extremely hard to believe. Any good doctor is available to their patients,
especially when the plan of action he has set up for them has been
disrupted by "unreasonable office policy".
After all the aggravation caused by conversations with the lackluster employee, I arranged to have my husbands and my records ready for pick up and was told that I must sign a form to do that. At no time was I informed that the form indicated
that "you may be charged" for the records. This was going too far. I
wouldn't be leaving the office if I was not treated badly and in an
unreasonable manner and now they want to charge me for records that I have
technically already paid for... This is infuriating!
I couldn't believe that this type of customer bullying was happening and it
was totally uncalled for. I've paid everything without fail, not to mention
on time and now they're threatening me with more charges for our records.
I called the lackluster employee back informed her that I would not be paying for any records, as I have already paid for them. She replied with, "We only
charge if you have a balance on your account." I laughed and said "what a
joke, you can't even get in to see the doctor without being frisked so how
is it possible to have a balance?" By this time I was absolutely fuming at
the lackluster employee's lack of concern and customer service. At no time did she ever say that she would check into the payment issue for me because this was the
first I had been informed. There was no "I'm sorry but I have no control
over the policy I am expected to follow, or I don't think anything can be
done but let me check on it for you. The attitude on the receiving end was
just appalling and totally unprofessional.
So needless to say I picked up the records and asked the lackluster employee if they were all in the envelope and she said oh yes. I get to my appointment with my new dentist and he looks at the x-rays. They were dated December of 2011. In
my opinion this was absolutely without a doubt done on purpose. Why would
I need x-rays from 2011 when we both just had them taken the month before
on I believe it was February 12, 2013.
Score: Dr. Chiusano triple A+++++ / Office TROLLS BIG FAT ZIP. read more