Jun 22, 2008 Banfield Pet Hospital review by Jennywitani |
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Does anybody on this planet read things before you sign??? Everything on that very legal contract very clearly states what the plan is, and isn't. It clearly states it is NOT INSURANCE. The duration of the plan, how to cancel, and how it works. You are basically paying off the services you use over a year instead of in lump sums. So even if your pet dies before the year is up you have to pay off the services you used. That is fair. The plan is for preventive care only. In hopes that taking consistent care of your pets prevents illnesses. You do however get a discount off other things not preventive. The contract doesn't claim to cover illness.When I worked at Banfield I had to force people to read the contract. Most people didn't want to be bothered. I also followed up by mailing them facts on the plan. Still ignorance is bliss I guess. The same people who didn't want to take a second to read where the first to throw a fit when something happened. I also made sure that people were sent reminders 30 days before the contract was set to renew so they could cancel it. No matter what was said to get you interested in the plan you still had the chance to read the contract. There is no excuse good enough as to why you didn't read before you signed. Im not saying Banfield gives the best service ever, but still READ BEFORE YOU SIGN. It would save you a lot of grief. If you didn't then don't blame someone else for your laziness. Oh and PS Veterinary medicine cost money! Most the diagnostics are the same as ran for people. Medicine is not cheap by any means. So please expect to spend some money if your pet is sick.
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1. Written by to littlewing, on 12-08-2008 23:42
How long ago were you a vet tech? Did you have proper schooling? If so you should know the difference about exam and office calls. 
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2. Written by Lori, on 12-08-2008 23:34
Here Here. I so agree people need to read. I am a vet tech in Columbus Ohio with 12 yrs experience. I understand. We get our fair share of complaints from people not asking for estimates before services are rendered. Vet Medical care is expensive. If you can not afford to feed your own family guess what you can not afford to properly take care of a pet reasonably. Owners need to take responsibility too for not asking proper questions etc. Everyone is suffering because of high gas prices and so is the vet field. Products are becoming more expensive and same w/ lab services but do you hear us complaining to the drug companies. No you do not. I am sorry if your pet was misdiagnosed but mistakes happened and so does relaying your pet's history to the vet. Sometimes Owners will miss obvious signs of pets being sick or waiting for 2 weeks before bringing a pet in w/ severe diarrhea and vomiting. If you wait too long what do you think the outcome would be. People grow up and accept fault too. Thank you.
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3. Written by Oh and.., on 05-08-2008 18:42
No one is defending deceit or even saying that Banfield the corp. is perfect. The point is towards the people who don't read the contract before signing. It saves a whole lot of stress, and time. Not only that, but there are over 150 different Banfield locations in the US. Not all 150 locations have been complained about. Yes there are bad seeds, but not all Banfields are horrible. I have worked for both Banfields, and private vets. Guess what? They both have there own major flaws. Most Vets will offer all services under the sun. It's called revenue, and all buisnesses need it to thrive. Most private vets don't have jaded corp. a-holes lording over them though.
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4. Written by sandy, on 01-08-2008 21:24
It's like a person going to their doctor --- you trust the doctor. When I went to Banfield (they're the professional) - I trusted them. What a mistake!!! My neighbor also told me last year that almost killed her little dog. She went to a legit. vet & her dog is fine now. Almost died. Somehow I continued going to Banfield -- until this week --- when everything became clear about how they ripped me off & gave my dog too many vaccinations. Shame on them!
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5. Written by littlewing, on 01-07-2008 10:46
I do read, I do question, and unfortunately, past trips to Banfield regularly include me saying NO to unecessary things they are pushing. I thoroughly understand my responsibility as a paying consumer. But, we are not talking about a new pair of shoes. We are talking about the health and lives of living creatures. Since when did people become so eager to stand behind and defend businesses that run on deceit? That's where I have my problem--knowingly deceiving people and taking advantage of anyone they can. And then getting defensive and self righteous when those like me question or refuse what they are pushing. It happening more and more in the world around us, but it does not make it ok. I hope that you would see that defending these practices is just not right, or perhaps you are just a natural born salesman. I would hope for more--and I will start by never going back to Banfield again. It's hard to put a price on trust and knowing that my dogs are being treated by competent individuals.
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6. Written by To littlewing, on 01-07-2008 10:30
First off....office visits and examinations are two different things. Now an office visit can occur without and examination, but an examination cannot occur with an office visit. Office visit does not equal an examination, thus the charge for an examination and not a visit. You would be a lot more pissed off if they charged you for just showing up and not even looking at your pet....I can guarentee that!
Additionally, you could have gotten the information...took it home to read...and come back to sign up or ask questions. In fact, that is what I did. Anything I did not understand I asked the receptionist to clarify when I returned. You don't even have to leave....just take the info and read through it while you are sitting waiting to be seen....then ask the people when they come in to take a look at your pet. But...you said that the receptionist was rude and incompetent...consistantly....well then maybe you should not have rushed into signing up before making certain that it was a place that was comfortable enough for you and your pet.
As for unnecessary perscriptions and procedures....as a consumer you need to know that YOU must tell any service professional to run everything by you before they do something. I have never had a probem with unnecessary procedures becasue I always ask what their plan of action is BEFORE they begin...that way I can make my judgement as to the necessity of the procedures. Additionally with perscriptions...if you feel that it is not something that your pet needs then speak up...ask questions....and refuse to fill the perscriptions if you really feel that it is unnecessary. YOU ARE IN CONTROL!! No one is forcing you to do anything...but if you are too meek to say anything then that is your fault not theirs.
Just as with your personal physician...unless your condition is clear cut and common place....they may do the same to you...run tests...try different prescriptions.
I don't understand why people complain about unnecessary this or that and did not ask questions before treatment. Then when the treatment doesn't work or the labs come back to be inconclusive then they say that the doctor or vet is a theif and that they did unnecessary stuff. blah!!
If you go to the doctor complaining of pain ....don't you want them to x-ray or take an MRI to see what is wrong? Then when the film comes back and nothing is broken or torn...aren't you relieved...or are you pissed that they did unnecesary tests? It is the SAME thing people. Or is it different because it is your pet...just an animal. I'm sorry...but my pets are not JUST animals...they are companions and I want for them the same that I would want for myself. I know that if something is wrong with me then I want the doctors to run tests....but I have the good sense to ask what they plan to do and how it relates to treating my condition.
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7. Written by littlewing, on 01-07-2008 09:56
I did read the contract. However, it is quite misleading...for instance you don't get charged for an "office visit," but there is an "examination fee." Also, regardless of the small discount on other services that comes with the plan, the prices of these other services are unusually high. The front desk workers I have encountered are both rude and incompetent--consistently. I have never been able to make an appointment and actually be seen by the vet at that time. Even after scheduling, when I arrive they always say I must wait 2 hours to see the vet. Everytime I have gone to pick up my dogs I have had to wait an hour or two (after being called or after closing time). Years ago I worked as a vet tech, and I can say without hesitation that Banfield vets are quite eager to make unecessary prescriptions and perform unecessary procedures. The contract did not indicate that I was signing on for all of these "extras," but I won't ever sign one of those contracts again!
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8. Written by MtotheR, on 25-06-2008 10:23
*Applaudes* I second that!
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