Antonia Owi
map-marker Tampa, Florida

BANFIELD IS A SCAM!

Back in 2007, I paid for their Well Care plan for my dog, Lewis, mainly because I wanted to cover his surgery to have him neutered. The cost of the surgery wasn't COMPLETELY covered, as they TOLD me when I signed up...I actually was going to have to pay approx. $90 extra (in addition to the monthly fee I was already paying) to cover anesthesia & medication. I had to reschedule the appointment because I did not have an extra $90 at the time. They told me it was NO PROBLEM AT ALL. I rescheduled the appointment for a couple months out. Again, I was told NO PROBLEM. The day I dropped him off for his surgery, I made a point to write down on their forms that they were NOT to do ANYTHING to him that would exceed the $90 they had quoted me, and they were to CALL me if something came up that would cost more and get my authorization to do it. I have this in WRITING.

A few hours later, I get a phone call at work saying they can't do the surgery because he's too old now...the Well Care plan only covered the surgery if it was done before he turned a certain age (I think it was either 6 or 12 months, but I can't recall exactly now). When I asked them WHY they insisted it would be NO PROBLEM when I asked about it previously and why it was not mentioned when I MADE the appointment OR dropped him off, they said they didn't know why the person who booked the appointment neglected to tell me, but that's how it was...if I wanted it done, they would still do it but it would cost us SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS since it was no longer covered by our plan. I told them NO, they were NOT to do ANYTHING AT ALL to the dog, and I would be over to pick him up after work, and that I was CANCELLING my Well Care plan.

When I picked him up, they told me they had gone ahead and given him a full checkup, including running a bunch of tests on him (none of which were asked for and all of which were negative and unnecessary) and full course of vaccinations while he was there...and since I now cancelled my plan, they said I would have to pay them $396 for it. I told them *** NO, because we BOTH had it in writing where I specified that they were NOT authorized to do ANYTHING to the dog that would cost MORE than $90, and I also referenced the phone call in which I told them they were not permitted to do ANYTHING to the dog at all. They insisted that I owed them money, and I refused. Then Dr. Montor came out and pretty much insinuated that I didn't care about my pet if I cancelled my plan and that it meant I was willing to let him go without his routine checkups and shots (um, no...it meant I no longer wanted YOU to do them! There are HUNDREDS of other vets out there, ***!). She was VERY condescending and rude in her tone, and absolutely unwilling to accept any responsibility whatsoever, despite the fact that (as I said), I had it IN WRITING that she was in the wrong.

They sent me a bill anyway. I reported them to the Better Business Bureau, and I wrote them back specifying everything I just said and explaining why I would not be paying the bill. In addition to this, I ended up having to take Lewis to a low-cost neuter clinic for his surgery, and while he was there he picked up a nasty skin fungus which ended up costing us a LOT of money to treat, so in my opinion, they owed US. I got another bill and disputed it AGAIN. I never heard back.

Now I find out that they sat on it quietly for a while, and then finally just went ahead and sent it to collections so it shows up on my credit report.

SO, *** BANFIELD. I HOPE YOU GO BANKRUPT AND DR. MONTOR CAN'T FIND ANOTHER JOB. I have NEVER in my life experienced such a horrific LACK of customer service, and I have NEVER in my life been talked down to as rudely as that doctor at Banfield (South Tampa, Dale Mabry - the one beneath the Target, next to the natural food store and the liquor store) did. EVER.

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Loss:
$396
7 comments
Guest

BANFIELD IS AWFUL ...I 17 YEAR OLD CAT IS STILL SICK

I CANCELLED MY CONTRACT AND CALLED BBB THEY

IN TURN TALKED TO THE DIRECTOR OF COLORADO

AND HE SAID I WOULD GET A FULL REFFUND......WELLL

3 WEEKS I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS AND 2 WEEKS

NO REFUND....PLEASE LETS START A CLASS ACTION

LAW SUIT CALL ME I WILL GET THE LAWYER MY CAT MAY

DIE BECAUSE OF ALL OF THIS...I NEED THE MONEY TO GET HIM THE RIGHT KIND OF CARE...CALL ME I DO MEAN THIS THE DIRECTOR WILL NOT EVEN CALL ME BACK ....THESE PEOPLE ARE AWFLUL I REALLY BELIVE THAY HATE THEIR JOBS....720-333-**** I MEAN IT I WANT THEM OUT OF BUSNESS.

Guest

Banfield - I have spoken with your "Client Advocate Team" on more than one occasion already, and look where it got me. I'll try again, at your recommendation...and I will be sure to report my results (or lack thereof, whichever the case may be) accordingly.

Guest

I never said it took me months to gather $90. I merely said I scheduled the appointment for a couple of months out.

The REASON for that was because I had other commitments that were taking up time and I didn't have another free moment to schedule it again for a couple months. Whether or not I could afford the dog is a moot point anyway, as my husband and I decided to re-home him a year ago due to the fact that he and I were both putting in 16 hour work days and didn't have the time to give him the attention he deserved.

Besides, the main point here was that they charged me $396 for services that I SPECIFIED IN WRITING that I did NOT want done to my dog.

I think you'd be fairly hard-pressed to find anyone, regardless of their financial situation, who is OK with handing out $396 for something they didn't order. But thanks for your feedback anyway.

Guest

Thank you for your feedback, we would like the opportunity to speak with you directly so we can gather more information and help address your concerns. We strive to provide our clients and their pets with high quality medicine and exceptional client experiences on every visit or call. Please call our Client Advocate Team at 877-500-****.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-435030

I called this number after this person posted it and they apologized profusely and assured me that it would be removed from collections immediately. They advised me that it may take 6 months for it to disappear from my records.

It has now been WELL OVER A YEAR, and it is STILL THERE.

More lies!!!!!!!!!!! :(

Guest

While I agree that they should have looked more closely into your wellness plan before telling you that you could reschedule, unfortunately that policy was listed on your contract that you signed. ALWAYS REFER TO YOUR CONTRACT, DON'T ASK PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE!!

Yes, they SHOULD know better, but often they don't!

Also, if it took you months to get $90, you probably aren't in a financial situation where you can afford to have a puppy. Always think about ALL the possible financial complications before adopting a pet.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-434113

Banfield...in my world that is known as bait and switch. You are just a *** scam.

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Ashley K Zos
map-marker Waukegan, Illinois

Wellness Plan is a Scam!!

I signed up for the wellness plan a year ago, which was a hug waste of money to begin with. I called when I saw a charge on my account, after the year was up. They told me the would cancel the plan but would not refund me the money. I received no email or even a message on my online account to tell me I was up for renewal. This company cheats people out of money, they are not loyal, and not helpful. Find a local vet, not a huge corporation like this, they don't give a *** about you or your pets.
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1 comment
Banfield P

Hi, Ak81688 –

I’m so sorry that you were not satisfied with your experience with us. I understand your frustration in learning about the plan's renewal via a charge on your account.

Thank you for voicing your concerns. If you're willing, would you please consider calling our Client Advocate Team, toll-free, at 1-877-500-2288? In addition, I have forwarded your comments to our team so we can try to avoid these types of situations in the future.

Sincerely,

Lisa R

Banfield Online Community Manager

Mark B Egm
map-marker Yonkers, New York

Beware: they will force you to get uneeded rabies vaccination

Updated by user Jun 27, 2012

My apologies as I meant to say PetSmart not Petco.

Original review Jun 27, 2012
They made no mention on needing proof of rabies vaccination when I made my appointment for my 9 year old beagle suffering from allergies. Being 45 minutes away from home it was too far to run home to get and the ASPCA that gave him his vaccine was already closed. My only option was to pay for and subject my dog to an unecessary vaccine or reschedule for days later while my dog suffered. The Vet wouldn't even come into the room. The nurse claimed it was a safety issue. I pointed out that the vaccination would do nothing to protect anybody or any animal at this point. She retorted that it was their policy. So why isn't the policy to have proof of vaccination before setting an appointment? Yeah you got it! If they did that they wouldn't be able to make all that money on those rabies vaccines. I was truly disgusted by the experience. I know Petco just houses them in their store. It makes no difference. They represent Petco and I will not likely be visiting either ever again.
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Loss:
$30
16 comments
Guest

*** relax.

Guest

You should have taken any and all of the dogs medical records with you when you went to see a new vet. The dog should also have had a current rabies tag attached on its collar.

If it did the vet may have been able to confirm the dog was in fact current on its vaccination just by looking at the expiration date on the tag.

In either case. Always keep a file of all medical records for your pet and in the event you need to take your pet to see a different or new vet, make and take copies of your pets shot records, medical history, write down any prescription medication your pet may currently be taking and take all this information with you.

Guest

lol would it not make more sense....as an owner (responsible owner that is) to bring what ever paperwork you had on your pet to the visit to provide the staff and DVM in this case with most information on your dog (considering at this point it would appear you were a new client and your current vet practice was closed probably because you decided to wait till the weekend when most if not all other clinics are closed other than banfield, to bring your dog in for the allergies he was suffering from....probably for days if not weeks...?!?!?!) come on people...it common sense? lol really? help us help you provide the best possible outcome for your dog....

Guest

It's just a no brainer, you bring all your pet's vaccine history to a new hospital your first time there. And it's policy at every veterinary hospital. People like you *** me off,

Guest

Considering that the Rabies vaccine is required by law in every state, taking those records with you so that the facility could have access to them should have been a no-brainer on your part. Even a present and current rabies tag is not viable evidence as they can be accessed without actual vaccination.

It's your fault you didn't take your pet's medical history with you to a new veterinary facility (would you go to a new human doctor and not take yours?), not theirs for complying with the law in the absence of this required information. Quit yer ***'!

Guest

*** of an owner. Why would anyone ever think it's ok to go to a brand new vet without proof of a legally required vaccine???

Just dumb. Should they tell you to bring the pet in on a leash as well in case you don't have enough sense to realize that either????

Guest

I'm not sure how I found this as I was searching for something completely unrelated, but this popped up in my Google results and I just...I couldn't resist.

It is not just a Banfield policy.

Any Veterinarian that values their license and the ability to practice medicine is required by law to vaccinate any dog or cat that comes to their hospital without proof of rabies. The ONLY reason they are allowed to pass on this requirement is if the rabies vaccination itself could be detrimental to the pets health (i.e. a deathly allergic reaction, or the pet is so severely sick that vaccinating just isn't an option). Otherwise, they are risking their license by letting you out of their sight without giving that rabies vaccination.

If you were a veterinarian, would you risk losing your ability to practice medicine by believing every single owner that claimed to have had their dog vaccinated?

People lie. Just because you know your dog was vaccinated, doesn't mean the doctor is willing to risk their license to appease you.

Also, why would you leave home without his vaccination history at all? You were visiting a brand new hospital and a doctor you had not seen before.

Logic would dictate bringing medical records so the doctor isn't going in blind on an old dog with a history of allergies.

Had you used just a bit of common sense you would not have made it into that mess.

I use the word "mess" lightly because you are clearly misinformed if you think that being "forced" to get a rabies vaccination nets a hospital any significant amount of money.

Your time spent in that hospital likely racked up a higher electric bill than what you spent for your "unnecessary" vaccine. Sincerely, Anyone who has had to deal with people like you in any kind of customer service position.

Guest

For anyone bringing your pet into a new Vet: If your bring your pet to any new hospital for any reason you need to be a responsible pet owner and bring your pets records with you. The staff can't go off of your word, they need your pets complete or most recent history.

Guest

if you had to make the appointment for a few days later why would you not just bring the rabies vaccination paperwork then? part of your story is not making any sense.

Nobody FORCED you to get the rabies vaccine. you could have said no and left the facility. Also in most states the rabies vaccination is required by LAW. If your dog were to *** someone or another animal and you couldn't produce the rabies paperwork instantly, they would take your dog away and quarantine him/her and the end result could be sad for your pet because of YOUR IRRESPONSIBILITY.

before you get a pet you should really know the laws of your state and know what you are talking about. because it sounds like you're a very ignorant pet owner.

Guest

They aren't in Petco, Durr... petsmart.

And their vaccines are only 20$ bring your records next time and think ahead for your pets sake.

I wouldn't want some random dog who is sick possibly biting me either and giving me rabies. If it bit any of them they would have the right to kill your pet and send its head off to the lab for testing at any given time.

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Anonymous
map-marker Flowery Branch, Georgia

"Treat you like family"? RUN LIKE ***!

I don't have personal experience with Banfield Pet Hospitals. Is this a chain? There's a common thread in all the stories and it is incompetence at best and wrongful death of a pet at worst. There should be a unified effort to close these places down. Attorneys who deal in vet law will take these cases. There is a law in Ga. for example, that states the vet is responsible for proper care and the animal has to be returned to the owner in a healthy state. Look up the vet laws in your state. Don't let your pets suffer or die in vain!
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1 comment
Guest

I would like to address something in response to this.

There are over 700 Banfield locations. There are 850 complaints here spanning over the course of several years. But for argument's sake, let's shrink it down to one year.

That is close to one complaint per hospital, per year.

I'd say that's pretty good.

The problem with throwing a blanket of "Banfield is Bad" over the company is that it varies from hospital to hospital. One doctor Georgia might be straight out of vet school with no clue and another vet in Arizona could be the best doctor in the state.

It really comes down to getting review on individual doctors, NOT on the company as a whole.

Anonymous
map-marker Topeka, Kansas

Not happy with Banfield upselling to make more money.

I would like to express my anger about the Banfield Pet Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. Seems that everytime I take my Yorkie in for her wellness check it seems to become a time to SELL SELL SELL. Ears, teeth, etc. I recently took her in for the Spay surgery and was hit with several question about her ears being cleaned, teeth being cleaned.......... I was later callled about her babby teeth not being lose enough on the bottom and the permenant teeth coming in under them. I was told this could effect her ***. I agreed to have the baby teeth removed and was called an hour later and was told a fecal exam was done and the dog required treatment for tapeworm and fleas. I have this dog on my lap every night and have never seen nor had the dog scratch like she has flea. I was told by the Banfield employee "I have a flea comb and can prove it."

First, i understand that the care of the dog is first, but I also think that the hosptial looks for thing to charge you to make more profits.

Second, I always wait at least an hour after my appointment was schedule before being seen by the Vet. I'm really tired of the banfield videos in the room while I wait.

Third, I pay for a preventitive plan and the extra money for fleas and heartworms. Why hasn't this worked to prevent the tapeworms.

I think I'm done with the preventitive program just as soon as I can get out of it. I will seek a independant vet and not a corporate vet.

Tim

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Anonymous
map-marker Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Banfield Is not a cheaper or safer way for your pet

Banfield vet said I needed an ear cleaner for my puppy. I bought it, they told me how to use it I did as instructed. 2 days later my puppy had an ear infection! Later I needed $70 worth of medicine, and a vet examination. Funny bc the vet tech said my puppy had the cleanest ears, but the dr who spent 2 seconds with my puppy said other wise. My puppy eats the best food, grooms every 3 weeks. This only allows me to say100 words, bc I have much more to say how awful my bandfield expierence was.
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2 comments
Banfield P

Hi Anonymous - Thank you for letting us know about this issue. This does not meet our standards of excellence. I understand your frustration and am sorry you and your puppy went through such a stressful situation.

After reading your feedback, we would like to speak with you directly to gather more information. We strive to provide exceptional customer service to our customers. We truly appreciate your honest opinion about your experience with us. Could you please call our Client Advocate Team, toll-free, at 877-500-2288 so we can help right this?

Your satisfaction and the health of your puppy are of the utmost importance to us. Thank you again for letting us know, we look forward to hearing from you at your convenience.

Most sincerely,

Lisa

Banfield Online Community Manager

Guest

Did your puppy's ears look unclean to you to begin with? Your experiences seem to be classic Banfield method of operation.

I can only hope, since you didn't have room to explain, that you've since moved on to a clinic or private vet who will provide true health care for the life of your sweet puppy rather than treat him as a cash cow like they do all of their patients. I'll throw this out there just for a suggestion since you mentioned ears. Dilute apple cider vinegar with a little water. Moisten a cotton ball with it.

Wipe out the dog's ears with it, turning as it becomes dirty and only the parts you can see.

Dry with a clean cotton ball. It won't cost $70, your dog won't become infected and, hey, clean ears.

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Danielle F Yfo
map-marker Washington, District Of Columbia

Banfield in Largo MD- wants the Dollar over Dog

I wish I read these reviews earlier. I will tell EVERYONE who has a pet this- and I am forwarding a description of my experience to EVERY pet owner I know. I moved to Maryland from another state and was looking for a vet for my 2 doxies. Banfield was quick to offer me the Wellness program and charge my credit card, but when my male dog had a paw infection a week later they were TOO BUSY to see him. I called for days for an apointment and finally drove to Virginia when the poor dog started limping. Shame on you Banfield!! They wouldn't even let me speak to a vet!! My girl dog is there now for a teeth cleaning and every time they call me back they are adding another charge to her teeth cleaning bill! $45 for a different anesthesia, $200 to get a biopsy of a lump. I thought this pet insurance was for the care of my pet!!! I can't wait to cancel next year!! STAY AWAY from Banfield. Just pay for services that your dog needs and find a vet that's more concerned about the welfare of your pet than making a dollar!!!
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4 comments
Guest

I personally work for a Banfield in Florida. But let me tell you this they may have had booked appointments but we always accept walk-ins no matter what you probably just did not want to wait to be seen.

And dont get mad because the Doctor was to busy to speak with you on the phone we do serve other animals and clients its not just all about you we usually will take a message and when the doctor is not running in and out of appointments or performing surgery he or she will call you back sure it may not be five minutes later but our doctors always will call you back to anwser any questions or concerns. And yes other things do come up while your pet is with us that the doctor recommends you do have the choice to say NO. The reason to add another "Anesthesia" is actually a medication called glyco its just in case during her dental cleaning her heart rate starts to drop we can administer this medication to even it out its not always needed but we put it on the treatment plan just in case. And as far as the lump goes the vet can send it out to the lab to see exactly what it is and weither its cancerous or not again you have the option to say NO!

The wellness plan does not cover everything for your pet it is PREVENTIVE CARE it covers things such as vaccines, heartworm test, blood work and etc. We are not there to take all of your money we are there to give your pet the best care we can the doctor doesnt just randomly pick things out to charge they recommend different things but its for a reason so when your pets lump starts growing and growing and turns into cancer you can say wow that doctor was right two years ago to get it checked out!!!

Banfield P

Xena777xena, based on the details in your post, we believe that you are already in contact with our Client Advocate Team, and we will work on getting a response to you as soon as possible.

mistersunshine

See, this is what I'm talking about. Obviously, this pet owner does not understand that the wellness plan is a way to FINANCE PREVENTATIVE CARE.

It is not insurance, nor does it guarantee the right to an immediate appointment. So many people think the plan is insurance, but it only covers basic preventative care. Everything else is on the customer. Yes, you should read an understand a contract before you sign it, but shouldn't the company (Banfield) do a better job explaining the contract to the client?

Why is it that so many people erroneously think that the wellness plan is insurance?

People seem to have a hard time getting an appointment. What they have to understand is that some veterinary hospitals are a bit like human hospitals in the way that you cannot always make an immediate appointment. I can't call my doctor and demand to be seen in the next week - it takes WEEKS to get an appointment. It's the same way with Banfield.

They are ok for basic preventative care, but a lot of the locations are really inflexible about squeezing in urgent cases (which there are logical reasons for, but also negative consequences). Also, I think a lot of clients are too demanding. We used to get clients who would yell at us that their dog was sick, but they could only come in after 5:30. Well, seeing as we close at 7, that doesn't give us a lot of time to see your pet.

Those evening appointments are often the most booked in advance. People need to be more flexible. If your pet is sick, it's your responsibility to find the time to take him/her to the vet (not saying that this is not what Xena did, I just happen to see this a lot). We can't cancel other people's appointments just because you only have a one hour window that you can come in.

If your pet is throwing up blood and we only have a 2pm appointment available - TAKE IT (or go to the emergency room). Don't wait days to treat the problem because you refuse to alter your schedule.

I know, it's hard to *** work, but that's not Banfield's fault.

Wow...I got off topic on a rant. Sorry!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of mistersunshine

Thus the best examples of Banfield employees.... The two asswipes who answered this complaint.

No compassion, no concern, it is all about them, and they do nothing wrong! Souless, money grubbing *** is what the lot of you are!

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Anonymous
map-marker Knoxville, Tennessee

Banfield Killed Jerry

I took my 14 year old cat to see the vets at Banfield in July of 2010 because he had been losing weight. As a lay person, I expect a veterinarian to be transparent and forthcoming about all of my options; not with negativity either but what should be done. I expressed also that I work two part time jobs and could not afford to pay high vet bills. One of the vets suspected that Jerry had hyperthyroidism even though he was in the normal range. On December 6th, I spent $69.90 for a T4 thyroid test and a fecal exam. He was noted as having 6% dehydration which I was not told of but was on the paperwork. I declined the free T4 because he was still in the normal range. On February 28, I returned with Jerry due to vomiting and diarrhea. He had a T4 exam and a blood test. On February 29, I learned from a customer standing beside me that there was a Wellness Program that I could pay annually for that would cover the costs of almost every test Jerry needed including free office visits. I enrolled in the Optimal Plan of $383.00. The technician had to leave to ask the vet if I could enroll in this service. This service is not advertised anywhere in the clinic. My bill for February 29 was $527.35 but I only had to pay $134.66 with the plan. At this point, all the tests the vet had suggested previously were now affordable and they were completed. On March 6, I returned with Jerry and he had another exam and everything was within normal limits. I took Jerry back on March 7 and they put in an IV catheter since he was dehydrated. The vet gave a does of Cerenia so he would not vomit. I spent $255.74 on this visit because IV fluids and hospitalization were not covered under the plan. On Friday, March 9th, I took Jerry back to Banfield and requested a sonogram because I was very worried. She offered prednisone but made it sound VERY dangerous to his liver plus I was not told of the expense for this type of therapy (I learned after the fact that my brother's cat is on prednisone at a cost of .05 a pill and she is doing very well, even gaining weight. I paid $79.73 today for hospitalization and another cerenia injection. On Friday I was sent to the Critical Care Clinic for an ultrasound. I took the results to Banfield and was basically told he was not going to make it. The ultrasound showed an intestinal obstruction. The vet at Banfield said she could not give more Cerenia to stop vomiting but could give dog pills which were okay but she didn't recommend it. To help Jerry live, I was not offered any type of payment plan or option for grants to save my "baby". Since I could not afford several thousand dollars for surgery, I was forced to pay over $300 for euthanasia so he would not suffer. I learned tonight that the American Animal Hospital Association offers grant applications for people who cannot afford to pay vet bills. I earn $22,000 a year as a single head of household and have a daughter in college. It will already be difficult to pay the almost $1300 I have charged. I am filing this complaint because I do not want other people to lose their pets because they do not have access to options that are available to help with finances. I have cried every day since his passing and it has been almost unbearable. I believe that this would not have happened if I had been offered the Wellness Plan back in July when I took him the first time and the doctors had been transparent about all facets of his treatment as well as options for payment with large surgery bills. As of the past few days I have learned there were many resources available to me. As a lay person, I depend and trust doctors to provide the best options. Now I have lost a member of my family and I will never take another pet to Banfield. AVOID THESE PEOPLE AT ALL COSTS!!! FIND A REAL VETERINARIAN!!!
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5 comments
Guest

I too was sucked in to the "wellness plan"

Banfield is a joke and a scam dont waste your money. find a local vet much better service and attention.

Guest

I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your family member. I have paid alot out for my cats too.

They are part of my family and I would spent the same for a son or daughter. I've heard they are only out to make money and don't care about the pets. As for "nikalseyn" you should have never posted the comments you have.

That is extremely hurtful and just plain mean to say that. It was totally unnecessary, keep comments like that to yourself!

Guest

THE DOMB LADY THAT MADE THAT LAST COMMENT ABOUT A CAT ....I HOPE WHEN YOU ARE SICK AND ON YOUR DEATH BED ....NONE OF YOUR FAMILY HELPS YOU AFTER ALL YOU ARE JUST A OLD B...AND WHY SPENT THE MONEY ON SOMONE LIKE YOU THAT IS CRAZY...

BECAUSE IT IS A CAT DO NOT SAVE IT....YOU NEED TO

BURN IN ***...YOU SHOULD NEVER OWN A PET OR HAVE KIDS....HOPE YOU ARE FIXED THE WORLD WOULD BE BETTER WITH OUT PEOPLE LIKE YOU OR YOUR BLOOD LINE.

Banfield P

First of all we want to say how sorry we are for the loss of your cat. We apologize that your visit to one of our hospitals did not meet your expectations. To discuss this further please give our Client Advocate Team a call at 877-500-2288 so we can gather more information and address your concerns.

John N Mzy

Lady, anyone who would spend that much money on a cat is not rational. If you are so poor, you would not have run up all those bills at the Vets.

Now, you want to blame the vet for all of this.

Pay your bills and get over it. Stop playing the victim.

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Hunner Ywz
map-marker Marysville, Washington

Banfield horrible place to take your pet and bad place to work

Do not take your pets to Banfield. They try to get you in by offering free exams, but the truth is that when one of the doctors hear that your there for a free exam of your pet the doctors roll their eyes and will be very short with you unless you agree to spend hundreds of dollars on diagnostics or at least flea prevention.

Banfield likes to perform treatment that is not necessary and overcharge for it. The lead doctor spends most of her time, actually all of her time, on Facebook rather than with patients. Employees are overworked and expectations are unrealistic.

How can a hospital see 40+ patients in one day and provide the care that your pet deserves and needs. This company is all about money and not patient care.

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10 comments
Guest

I go to The Banfield Pet Hospital and the people are nice and the Vet is excellent with my puppy. The Wellness Plan Does help me out alot without it I wouldnt be able to afford to go to a private Vet that charges an arm and a leg.

I really like my Pet Hospital. You can't blame the hospital cause they hired bad people etc. Get new people hired.

I have never had a problem yet. What really sucks is I was told my hospital will be closing in January 2017, now what am I going to do pay out the *** for a private vet?

S.Wilder

Guest

I've worked at a Banfield practice before, and it...was....horrible! The veterinarian had an attitude to the point that he would choke the clients pets simply because they were refusing to be restrained.

It really hurt me to see the animal getting pinned down and nearly choked into unconsciousness. Then, the vet techs there do nothing but text and play games when they should be working.

On the day I got fired, they told me I was fired because a customer walked out on me when I was trying to explain to him the increased risk of vaccine reactions to small dogs since he had a dachshud. I don't see why anyone would want to work there if the staff have no compassion for animals at all!

Guest

Here's a great example of how horrible Banfield vets are. I have a dog which had a corneal ulver.

The vet gave me a gel based medicine and sent me on my way. 2 days later his eye expanded to twice the size, I took him to the emergency vet and they gave him plasma and a cone, and recommended I take him to the vet when they opened on Monday. When I brought him back, they wanted to take his eye out. I got a second opinion from an opthamologist.

She said they should not have given me the gel based medicine for a corneal ulcer and there would have been no reason to take the eye, other than to cut corners and overcharge me.

Now, fast forward 4 years. I have a friend who took his dog to another banfield. They gave him some meds, his eye got worse. He brought him back and they wanted to take his eye out as well (his eye was not near as bad as my dogs was).

My friend called us because he remembered something similar happening with our dog. I gave him the number to our opthamologist and he went in.

Now his dog has the correct meds and his eye is doing great! Don't ever take your dog to Banfield, they worry more about overcharging and overtesting more than they do about the correct procedures and diagnosis.

lisa s Ucu

Are you a former employee? Have you ever seen a vet or vet tech use a dirty flea comb to purposely infect a pet with fleas or flea eggs?

anniem

If this is the same Banfield that is nationwide and operates under different names (leading you to believe you are dealing with a local pet hospital)...than I agree. They are nothing more than preditors...preying on unsuspecting people with sick animals.

They charge exhorbitant amounts for unnecessary testing and procedures. I have yet to meet anyone who, once they've been there, will ever go back.

Guest

As a former employee as a CSC at the Mckinney Banfield,TX off of 75N #0624 I could give examples where contacting Associate Relations will not help.

The CSC that was supposed to be training me spent most of her time telling me about how her husband was younger than she was, showing me pictures of him and others on her cell phone (a violation of Banfield regulations) dicussing how her mother-in-law and "younger" husband gave her their prescription drugs, once she even discussed how hung-over she was in front of the office manager--so this was acceptable behavior at this location discussing with the over-worked incompetent office manager was useless. Lack of proper employee safety training and standards ,such as lack MSDS sheets and multiple unlabeled products.

Even trying to take a 30 minute "lunch break" was discouraged by management.

Most of the employees at this store anyway seemed very unhappy and as posted by lots of other employees and former employees this seems the norm for Banfield

Needless to say I was not given proper training--no wonder so many of you customers think the people at the front desk (CSC) are rude they are untrained.. All BANFIELD wants is your money --never use Banfield pet hospitals and never work there, you and your pets will be better off..Trust me other private vets HATE this place because they give honest vets a bad name

Guest

As a former employee as a CSC at the Mckinney Banfield,TX off of 75N #0624 I could give examples where contacting Associate Relations will not help.

The CSC that was supposed to be training me spent most of her time telling me about how her husband was younger than she was, showing me pictures of him and others on her cell phone (a violation of Banfield regulations) dicussing how her mother-in-law and "younger" husband gave her their perscription drugs, once she even discussed how hung-over she was in front of the office manager--so this was acceptable behavior at this location discussing with the over-worked incompetent office manager was useless. Lack of proper employee safety training and standards ,such as lack MSDS sheets and multiple unlabeled products.

Needless to say I was not given proper training--no wonder so many of you customers think the people at the front desk (CSC) are rude they are untrained.. All BANFIELD wants is your money --never use Banfield pet hospitals and never work there, you and your pets will be better off..Trust me other private vets HATE this place because they give honest vets a bad name

Guest

I have applied for and hope to get a position with Banfield soon as a client care coordinator. Have been reading complaints and don't want to minimize your concerns but there is always another side to any story.

Having worked with animals most of my life I can assure you that for most part animal care workers do what they do out of love for animals. A deep sense of satisfaction that they can be kind to and make a pets Vet visit less traumatic. Don't judge an entire network of hospitals and dedicated employees by one bad experience. If you are not making a personal connection with staff at one Banfield perhaps you should try another location.

In my job search I've noticed Banfield locations are reasonably close to each other. Good luck!

Guest

I am sorry you are unhappy with certain aspects of your job at Banfield, and we encourage you to also address your concerns directly through the Associate Relations line. While we appreciate your feedback, we are limited in what we can do to address these concerns when submitted anonymously.

Banfield is a great practice with an exceptional support system for our hospital associates, and in order to provide the necessary support, we need feedback in a format that can be escalated appropriately. Again, we encourage you to call the Associate Relations line at 503-922-****.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-393781

Very interesting...just got hired as a CSC and have to say the training has been horrid at best. Would like to quit, but I need money.

Hopefully they will let me go so I can go back on unemployment, and do a better job of researching an organization before I apply. My bad :cry

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queensilly
map-marker Houston, Texas

Not all Banfields are bad

I live in the Houston area. Our Banfield is great.

The doctors on staff are very informative and the techs are wonderful. The front staff know me and my pets. They are so friendly. They even call the next day to check on my dogs.

It is the nicest thing to have that follow-up call. It lets me know they care.

I understand that people may have bad experiences at one place, but that does not make the whole coporation bad. Also, if you are a pet owner, you need to take responsibility for your animal and be mindful and aware.

In some cases, you have to realize they have lived a good life but sadly they have little time left. Is it really important to put them under for surgeries. It's like an 80 year old having surgery.

Sometimes doctors just won't do it because the risks are greater than the quality of life that will result. You have to think about your pet in that respect as well.

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6 comments
Guest

The Banfield vets here in Georgetown, Texas, are wonderful to our three doggies. Two males are much older and always are treated with great care and good judgement.

Our younger female is also treated well. We love Drs.

O'Hair and Williams! :)

Guest

I go to the Banfield in Macanicsburg PA and they are wonderful with my 3 year old Corgi and my 14 week old Collie puppy. And always get the best treatment there.

I love the vet and my animals love her to. I just wanted to say thank you.

Guest

I must say that most of the complaints I have read are totally ridiculous and unwarranted! My experiences with Banfield have been extremely pleasant and not in the least have I experienced any "price gouging".

My Rottie puppy loves her vet, Dr Sanders,and all of the techs she comes into contact with. All of them know her name and take time to rub the belly she so delightedly offers to them.

Keep up with the awesome job!! :zzz

Guest

I wanted to thank both of you for this comment. I work for Banfield as a technician and I work with some of the most amazing people.

As the tagline of the original post says, Not all Banfields are bad. Truly, I don't feel that they are bad in general. Everyone has a different experience. And, if you have a bad experience, please contact that hospital or someone to do with the location.

Anyone who works for Banfield wants to help resolve your concerns.

We truly do care about every pet that walks in our doors, we feel they are just like family. :)

Banfield P

Hi, Queensilly –

Thank you for the thoughtful feedback you provided about our facility in Houston. It’s great to know you were happy with your experience there, and I will be sure to pass along your comments to our team. We look forward to seeing you and your dogs again soon!

Sincerely,

Lisa

Banfield Online Community Manager

Guest

The Banfield at Eldridge in Houston treated my 15 yr old cat after hrs and her regular vet

saw her on Monday after and said that the treatment was good and she lived a long and happy life. My foster dog also became sick suddenly and I took her there and the treatment was good and she recovered well.

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Yunmi C
map-marker Oakland Charter Township, Michigan

TO BANFIELD, THE WORST

@Banfield Pet Hospital Thanks for the generic message I've seen a multitude of times over this site. I called the aforementioned phone number and I was confronted by a Dr. Richmond who was very technical and terse in her "apology." She told me that they wouldn't pay for the extended hospital fees (at a 24/7 hospital, better one too) because Banfield's staff is full of lazy fat-arses that won't work overtime to save the life of what they are advertising to protect- animals. You guys don't even deserve the title of "Pet Hospital," all you do is take in money doing nothing and when the time comes to save the lives of our pets, you sit back and tell us that our pets supposedly had a disease or defect that we didn't know about! I hope your staff will eventually suffer our suffering and be laid off as the lawsuit developing against your concentration camps comes to court.
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Loss:
$5000
8 comments
Guest

they numb your pet organs shut down, ask you if you want to revive, drug impairs lungs and pet needs oxygen, they twist your arm to euthanize when pet is still under anesthesia.

Guest

Just an FYI - Banfield is not & never has been advertised as a 24/7 facility.

They ONLY are open during the day and just the same as many other Veterinarians have to refer all cases that require overnight or critical care monitoring to Emergency hospitals.

I fail to see how 24hr care for YOUR pet should be their financial responsibility. Nothing to do with the staff being 'lazy' as you so eloquently put it! They are in a pet shop that closes at night so no-one can get into the hospital after PetSmart closes making it unsafe to keep any pets after hours becuase they can't be monitored/receive medications.

It would be very unsafe for you pet and a huge liability to have them stay overnight with on-one to watch them. That's just common sense.

Guest

I went into Banfield to pick up my dogs flea medicine. The receptionist looked it up in the computer and told me I used First Shield.

I came home and put it on my 10 yr old jack russell. She immediatly started acting wierd. She lost her appetite, and was lethargic. She now has diarhea.

I also started having a reaction to the flea medication. I felt like I was was crawling out of my skin. I was throwing up. I had a headache.

I decided to look up the medicine to see how long I had to wait to give my dog a bath thats when I realized what the problem was.

Why did Banfield sell me something they knew was making dogs and cats sick and killing them. they should be shut down.

It makes you ask the question are they making the animals sick so you will spend more money to make them better? I certainly hope not.

Guest

I know they keep calling us and calling us, wanting our dog to go there to get shots he has already had. also they are VERY overpriced.

Guest

Dlee96- We are unable to identify your account based on this information. Please email your posts to our Client Advocate Team along with your full name associated with your account so we can appropriately append your concerns to the right Team and look into this for you. The email address is internet.inquiries@***.net.

Guest

laura, I am so sorry to hear about you losing you baby, we lost our Feb 6, due to Banfield so I can relate to your pain. Did you know they are ownded by MARS, THE CANDY COMPANY?

Everyone who has lost there furbaby to this company needs to shout it from the roof top to prevent others from having to suffer like our babies did.. :sigh

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-430266

I wish to God I would have checked reviews before taking my dog there. My ittle baby is gone I have her sister and we are miserable.

Guest

They shouldn't be called a Hospital when they are not equipped to take emergencies. My animal went last saturday and the lady at the front desk wouldn't even break away from her computer long enough to get a doctor or even look at my pet child.

She told us to go to another Banfield, so we did and they did the same to us no doctor would take time out their so called busy schedule when there was no one in there. Make an appointment by then he was in dire need even though we thought he was just sick and he ended passing away this past Wednesday.

They didn't catch his leaking heart valve or the thickening of the valve. This will happen to there animal one day and then see how it feels.

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Anonymous
map-marker Columbia, South Carolina

Banfield Cape Coral

Yesterday we took our dog in for her regularly scheduled appointment, and we also confirmed what we thought wich cost extra fees, thats not the problem, the problem is the attitudes they the vet and the assistant, this the first time in on a Staturday and the staff was different than all the times before. simply put next time I come in and I do not feel like you appreciate our business we will give to someone who does. Dr.Koos seemed to be bothered with all of my questions and was nowhere near the same quailty of Dr. Calloway.
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1 comment
Banfield P

Hi, Anonymous –

Thank you for providing information about your visit to this facility, and I am sorry that you were not satisfied with your experience. We are constantly looking for ways to improve our overall service. So if you would like to give us further information, could you please call our Client Advocate Team, toll-free, at 877-500-2288? We look forward to hearing from you at your convenience.

Sincerely,

Lisa

Banfield Online Community Manager

Anonymous
map-marker Long Island City, New York

First Shield

Apparently was supposed to be better than K9 Advantix, We set ourselves up for auto mailings of them once a monht to keep my dog protected, last week I noticed she was having irritations, I couldnt find any fleas but there was a lot of red and she was losing hair in the spots she was biting at. I thought it was sensitive skin, Send her to the vet, not only do I now have to pay banfield for the visit, but its a visit about a flea med not working that they said was proven more effective than the previous stuff I used, Now they want me to switch back to K9 Advantix but may not refund me for the 2 extra doses of First Shield I have. This is ridiculous. SHes never had fleas before now....
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Loss:
$80
3 comments
Guest

:(

We took our 8 week puppy to Banfield on Sunday July 15, 2012 for help on finding a flea medication. The over the counter shampoos or applications were for puppies 12 weeks and older.

We were advised to buy First Shield for our puppy. Our first reaction was that it was a lot of medicine for a 3.6 pound puppy. We waited a day and went to our Vet for further advice. So glad we did.

Our vet never heard of it and had NOTHING good to say about Banfield. She gave us K9 Advantix II and the fleas were gone in matter of 12 hours. We tried to return the UNOPEN/UNUSED flea medicine to Banfield and WOULD NOT give us a refund. They claim it could have been tampered with.

Either way, we are sorry that Petsmart chose to include Banfield in their store. Please do not waste your time.

Guest

When something works, don't fix it. You went to Banfield, mistake #1.

Banfield vet (*cough*) insists you use something other than what you pet is accustomed to, there's a clue. You took your cat back to "them" for further treatment of an adverse reaction rather than to a competent doctor, mistake #2. Dear heavens I pray you didn't get suckered into that joke of a wellness plan. I've never let a doctor yet sway me into something other than what I've been using that works to take care of my dogs and cats, from lipiderm to flea meds.

If it works, it works, and I am in charge of my pets care, bottom line. Goes the same for my own physician. Take charge of your medical care whether it's you or your pets. Something smells rotten, get out of there fast.

I don't know where Banfield gets their staff, but ask around and find someone with a good reputation. Get out of there, show your cat your love.

Banfield P

Hi, Anonymous –

Thanks for letting us know about your recent experience with our facility.

If you are willing, would you please consider calling our Customer Advocate Team, toll-free, at 877-500-2288 or emailing them at internet.inquiries(at)Banfield(dot)net? Your satisfaction and your cat’s health are of the utmost importance to us. We look forward to hearing from you at your convenience.

Most sincerely,

Lisa

Banfield Online Community Manager

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Anonymous Emj
map-marker Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Banfield - BEWARE!

You can compare Banfield to a manufacturing plant/factory. Pets come in and out like clockwork. There will never be a personal connection with your pet and a loving vet. The vet turnover is high as well, so that relationship you crave for between your pet and a reputable vet is non-existant. Along with this, your are just a number. Your relationship with the company doesn't matter, they don't care if they lose you and will never attempt to share a high level of customer service with you.

They will reel you in with "wellness plans". If only the value was truly there! It seems like an excellent idea at first because WOW all shots are covered, a dental cleaning, and unlimited office visits. You are spending $300-$500 a year on this just to feel that safety net that you have those services for free. When the time comes to count on them though, the additional charges will start appearing. "This" is not covered, "that" is not covered. We will give you a discount on the overpriced medicines. Need complicated procedures? You'll have to go to a specialist not associated with Banfield -- so add on those costs on top of the wellness plan.

What is more entertaining is their antiquated system for keeping your pets records. God forbid that you take this pet from someone else that has them on their current wellness plan and you move. You will NOT be able to start them in your name unless you renew the plan and move them to your own record (if the previous owner has other pets they kept on the same account) unless you start completely fresh. Their system and their employees refuse to move over their records to your name. They will only put a note in the system. Many times, these notes are not even read by the employees taking care of your pet. So if there's an important medical note on the previous account where the old records lie and they didn't read it, your pet's health is at stake.

If you call corporate offices, they will tell you that they do not have supervisors or managers you can speak with. When asked who they report to, they will tell you they report to no one and call an automated system if they are running late or need any HR related assistance. So there's no accountability, there's no one you can speak to if the regular reps you speak to on the phone are not assisting you. There's no one to escalate a call to if the rep on the phone is mocking you, laughing at your requests, and being outright rude. We have experienced this type of behavior more than a handful of times. And if you show any kind of attitude, they will cancel your wellness plan without telling you just because they feel you gave them a hard time with a reasonable request for help/support.

On top of all of this, Banfield will overvaccinate your pets. When they tell you your pet needs ALL the vaccinations, that is FALSE. Read up on core vaccines and the dangers of all the "extra" vaccines that Banfield will push onto your pet.

If you are looking for a lasting, loving vet to create a connection and history with your pet -- Banfield is NOT the way to go. They are a factory. They have no customer service. They treat you like utter *** and are the most unprofessional medical facility you will ever encounter. My stories are not the only horror stories out there, you can find plenty doing a google search. Don't be suckered in with their wellness plan. Find a vet that will truly care about you and your pet. Find a vet you can tell someone "I've been with Dr. XXXXXXX for the past 10 years, they are great". You won't find that at Banfield, I promise you.

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2 comments
Anonymous Emj

Hi Banfield,

I've unfortunately already had the displeasure of calling that number 3 times with the same end result - unprofessionalism and lack of accountability. I have yet to be directed to a manager because they don't exist according to all the reps spoken with. Each call lasting about 1 hour each and each one explaining the WHOLE situation from the very beginning over and over. The last call was the last straw because we were literally laughed at by the rep. They all say they don't report to anyone and that we cannot speak to any kind of management, they all report to an automated system.

We even spoke with our local vet's office. They just directed us to the corporate number multiple times as well.

Unless I am given information on how to reach an actual manager and not lied to about that, I don't think there's anyone at the number provided that I would like to discuss the whole situation with once again.

I feel mistreated, insulted, and not valued as a customer... worse than I have with any other company. And being in the medical field, Banfield should have better bedside manner.

Guest

Thank you for your feedback, we would like the opportunity to speak with you directly so we can gather more information. We apologize if one of our hospitals or someone you spoke to on the phone has left you feeling this way.

We strive to provide our clients and their pets with high quality medicine and exceptional client experiences on every visit or call. To address your specific concerns please call 877-500-****, thank you.

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pet a Ysp
map-marker Boston, Massachusetts

Concerned about all these complaints of banfield vet services

i have been using banfield veterinary services for several years with two dogs although the non vets never seem to know anything about my dogs even though they have computers the vets seem to be knowledge able. It concerns me that so many complaints are being written there must be some level of truth to the complaints the company should take immediate steps to address and begin pr repair i will continue to watch the complaints and spread the word to be on the lookout. It is important to advocate for high quality services in this day when competition is high for every dollar no need to give my money for poor services
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6 comments
Guest

One thing that you should take into consideration is that not all Banfields are corporate. Some of them are privately owned.

I worked for one of these for many years and the staff was amazing. The owners truly cared and there were many times we would stay until 9 or 10 at night to attend to an emergency that popped up during the day.

We never turned anyone away and most of the doctors offered a consersative treatment before going all out unless the owner wanted to just do everything. I understand that some of the corporate hospitals are greedy and heartless, but there are others that are not.

Guest

I have tried to cancel for 3 months. I cancelled in June, but charged. Thus I took him to the doctor to get my money's worth.

I cancelled in July, but charged. Thus I took him to the doctor to get my money's worth.

I tried to cancel again today and the man hung up. I told him how unsatisfied I was and how my dog came home from a visit with a pulled hind hip and put on MEDS that he did not need.

I went to get a second opinion and I was told that he was being treated for something he did not have which is the cause he had been feeling so bad. (Vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, etc.)

They gave a thyroid test which is a two day process. He fought them on the first day. One of the men told me and then the next day when I took him, the other man said no---he was well-behaved.

He took him back to get the second part of his blood test with a fight. He took him and had him 5 minutes and brought him out saying he was done. There is no way my dog would allow blood to be drawn within 5 minutes especially with someone he doesn't like.

I paid an additional $100 plus for the test and more for the MEDS. He said I owed another $450 to pay for those two visits when I tried to cancel. I told him I was not going to pay for services that almost killed my dog nor did I believe two visits cost $450.

He said he would not cancel and ended the conversation while I was talking. Thus, I had to close my card because the company would not cancel the plan.

My renewal date was June. The time when I began the process of trying to close my account. Appointments were made that I did not schedule. I want to cancel but cannot because they refuse to let me out of the program that I have had for a year. I have paid triple amounts of money for tests that were not needed.

Guest

"Please note that we take complaints very seriously...." What a bunch of BS!! :( And don't bother calling the Client Advocate Team either! They don't care about what you have to say, you talk to several different people, (who never call you back when they say they will), get several different responses (none the same), they do their little internal investigation, then tell you they have found no fault on their part, and have nothing else to say to you.

Guest

You should find a new vet. I'll never return to another Banfield. Don.t be fooled that they take complaints seriously either.

Banfield P

Pet Advocate – We appreciate your concerns and contributing your thoughts to this site. Please note that we take complaints very seriously and respond to them as they appear and try to resolve each of them offline.

Since these complaints generally concern confidential information, we can’t discuss any resolutions or discussions we have had privately with the client. If you would like to learn more about the process, please contact our Client Advocate Team at 877-500-2288 or internet.inquiries@banfield.net.

Guest

Banfield is all about getting as much cash from you as possible. Their "wellness" scam is nothing but a way to drain your bank account while still charging hundreds of dollars when you need a visit.

Banfield couldn't care less about your pet. You should find another vet.

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