I had a very disappointing experience with this office after being a patient here for years…read more
I was charged a cancellation fee that I was never clearly informed about beforehand. When I called to discuss the charge, the manager informed me that the fee had accumulated to $250 based on the number of times I had rescheduled appointments. This was surprising, as I was never made aware that simply rescheduling would result in accumulating cancellation fees.
To her credit, she later offered to waive four of the five fees and only charge me a single $50 fee. However, my concern was never just the amount. My concern was that the policy communicated to me stated that a $50 fee would be charged for no-shows and same-day cancellations. The messages I received did not state that patients would be charged $50 simply for rescheduling appointments, nor was I aware of any policy allowing fees to accumulate in this manner. Because of that, I did not feel it was appropriate to pay a fee that I had never knowingly agreed to.
I have copies of the text messages sent by the office, which state that a $50 fee will be charged for no-shows and same-day cancellations. The messages do not state that patients will be charged $50 for rescheduling appointments, nor do they mention fees accumulating with each reschedule. During our conversation, the manager claimed the text referenced a 24-hour cancellation policy, but the message I received does not state that.
When I questioned the charge, the manager was rude, sarcastic, and dismissive of my concerns. At one point, she essentially ended the conversation with, "Call us back if you have the money." She also hung up on me, which I found incredibly unprofessional.
She instructed me to contact the corporate customer service number regarding the issue. However, when I called, I was informed that each office handles its own fees and has discretion over whether to waive them, meaning there was nothing corporate could do. When I called the office back and explained what customer service had told me, the manager responded, "Yeah, I know." This left me feeling as though I had been sent on a pointless runaround, since she already knew corporate could not assist and that the decision rested solely with the office.
What makes this even more disappointing is that I have been a loyal patient for years. I have maintained their membership plan for the last several years, regularly returned for my routine dental cleanings and maintenance, and was planning to schedule additional, more costly dental services with this office in the future. Unfortunately, the way this situation was handled has completely changed my perception of the practice.
Because of this experience, I will be taking my business elsewhere. That's unfortunate, because this issue was never about refusing to take responsibility it was about wanting transparency, fair communication, and respectful customer service. Instead, I was met with misinformation, dismissiveness, and a complete lack of concern for a long-time patient relationship.
I understand that offices have policies in place, and I respect the need to protect appointment times. However, patients also deserve clear communication, transparency regarding fees, and respectful treatment when questions arise. Unfortunately, that was not my experience. It felt like the focus was more on collecting a disputed fee than on providing quality customer service and maintaining trust with a long-time patient.