Does your doctor/dentist have this policy?

[luvmarypoppins]

Yest. I took one of the ds to the dentist for a cleaning. This is a new dentist who bought out the practice of our old dentist last year. We have been going for a year now. I purposely switched our dental ins. so it would cover more and I am now stuck with this dentist till at least Jan. Well the office had a nice notice posted that they will now charge any patient $25.00 who does not cancel an appt. with at least 24 hours notice. I told the receptionist that I thought that was very unfair and the other dentist never did anything like that. She replied they were having alot of patients cancel on them lately and they had to do this etc. I always keep all my appts. as best I can. But I am sure things do come up with people etc. How about your dentist/doctor?

 

[CarolA]

It's actually becoming very common. However, I wish them luck trying to collect. Insurance is NOT paying this and I wouldn't either. I once called my Dentists office and gave them a choice, WAIVE the stupid fee or have me infect the whole office. They gave...

 

[bananiem]

Ours charges the amount of the cleaning or whatever service was to be given. I did manage to get it cancelled because of a severe snow storm once.

 

[Allison]

Our dentist does that. I don't see anything wrong with it if it discourages people from blowing off appointments. If someone doesn't show up, they don't make any money.

 

[pumba]

To cancel because you are sick as a dog on that one day is a given.......I have seen this on the desk as you go in has been for ages. So if I am heaving my belly out and they still want me to come in or charge me they can have their practice to themselves...

 

[CPM]

Our dentist does that. I don't see anything wrong with it if it discourages people from blowing off appointments. If someone doesn't show up, they don't make any money.

It's one thing if people blow off the appointment, but if you wake up sick? What if your car broke down? Plenty of stuff can happen within 24 hours. What are you supposed to do? It's bad business. I wouldn't go back to that dentist or pay it.
I think calling the morning of is fine. They usually book more people than they can handle anyway. I haven't been to a doctor or a dentisit when I have been taken on time.

 

[Disney Ella]

I always give 24 hours if I can, but there have been times when the kids have woken up sick that morning and I have had to cancel an appointment to stay with them. It seems to me that if you want to have repeat customers, you have to show some compassion and understanding for the unexpected situations in life your customers face.

 

[auntpolly]

I think every dentist I have ever had did this -- I thought all dentists did it. That said, once I'd been going for a year or so they never enforced it. Even though all my dentists for the past 30 years or so have done it, I've never actually paid it. (but it's rare that I miss an appointment).

 

[HaleyB]

Our dentist also posts this policy. I have had to cancel at the last minute (same day) once or twice and have never had them ask for this fee. I have a feeling they only use it with really abusive people that cancel like this repeatedly.

 

[Allison]

It's one thing if people blow off the appointment, but if you wake up sick? What if your car broke down? Plenty of stuff can happen within 24 hours. What are you supposed to do? It's bad business. I wouldn't go back to that dentist or pay it.
I think calling the morning of is fine. They usually book more people than they can handle anyway. I haven't been to a doctor or a dentisit when I have been taken on time.

And I think most would be understanding of this if that was the case. It happened to us once and they were fine with it. They didn't charge us anything. But, I think it is helpful to have something like this in place.

 

[DVC-Don]

Both our dentist and primary doctor now have this policy

 

[teacherforhi]

My dentist has this and it isn't a problem. I woke up with severe hayfever or something one morning and couldn't breathe through my nose at all. I knew there was no way I could go to the dentist. I just called and explained the situation.

I think most of them only enforce when the person doesn't call at all.

 

[liznboys]

Most of the Doctors/Dentists I deal with have had this policy for awhile. No biggie IMO.

 

[seven dwarfs]

I understand this. I do not think it is for the one who gets sick the day of one time in a year. It is for the one who always misses apt. This happens in the hairshop all the time. Some people have become very thoughless when it comes to someone elses time. My dr/dentist also have a miss three in a row and you are longer welcome.

 

[vsimeone]

Our dentist does this. DH is in sales and has had to cancel appointments at the last minute frequently because of a customer call. He has to earn a living to pay the dentist bill!

Last time that he cancelled last minute, the receptionist told him she was charging him the $25 fee. He told her that was fine but next time they have to reschedule his appointment, he's charging them $50. She waived the fee!

 

[Disney Doll]

I'd never pay a fee like that if I cancelled for a legitimate reason, such as waking up ill or with car trouble.

 

[Micca]

I think the policy is very common. I also think it is pretty common for them to forego the fee unless a patient routinely cancels at the last minute.

 

[gradtchr]

I know that my docs/dentist/hairstylists time is valuable. I have never canelled with my doc because I'm sick mainly cuz if I have an appointment with them that's what I am going for. I have had to reschedule two dentist appointments in the past two months though because my FIL was having heart problems and we were essentially on call in case we had to leave for him. The second time I just asked if they had an appointment that day so I could get it over with and sure enough they did and it wasn't a problem at all. Now my hairstylist I have called at the last minute and told her that I had to cancel because I got sick and that I wanted a new appointment but I WAS going to pay for that one when I came in because I know that she depends on my to keep my appointments to make her business run, and I have no problems doing so.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

I worked at a doctors office a long time ago who had this policy in effect and it was broken down for me like this.

The doctor has slots available for X amount of patients each day and that number of slots are determined by---Rent for office space,Utilities,Equipment rental or cost,Employees,Insurance and various assorted items

Now depending on the persons type of insurance the doctor may not be able to collect the full amount due but rather accept a contracted amount

If that doctor has 4/5/6 no shows on any given day,he is out that money BUT is still required to make all his payments for running his practice therefor they instituted the cancellation fee to insure that all monetary responsibilities of the practice are maintained without having to cut back in other areas

 

[delilah]

This has been the policy at every office where I have been a patient as long as I can remember. I can remember missing a dentist appointment once when I was in HS, and my dad making me pay the fee.

We have the policy at my office, too. People only have to pay if they fail to cancel before the time of their appointment or don't show up at all. Furthermore, if they do this more than three times, they are released from the practice. I will usually intervene for my patient if I know the reason why they have missed, so it doesn't count toward the three misses. It counts as three misses if mom and two kids no-show. People have been released for this. It pays to be nice to your doctor, because I don't intervene for everybody.