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I took my dog to get her shots and was offered a wellness plan. This was explained to me, my fiancee, and elderly father as a one time fee around seventy dollars that would give us a lower price on annual shots, spay, and other routine care.

It could be renewed annually. My father paid with a credit card for me. Several months later we realized he was being charged about eighty dollars a month. He'd never agreed to the automatic debit and it was not his dog.

I'd signed the plan, not him. And the fine print I signed was explained to me because my eighty lb dog was pulling so hard I had the staff read it to me. I never got a copy. Just my reciept.When I called to complain, the vet handeled the complaint and said all three of us made up the story to avoid paying our bill!

She caled us all liars. You can't cancel the plan either. You are expected to pay some 1000 dollars a year for several hundred in potential services. We disputed the charge and had it reversed by father's credit card company.

Banfield refuses to send us a bill for the cost of shots and exam that we'd owe if we never had the plan discount. We are taking them to court.

Don't use Banfield if you value honest business. These guys are running a big scam and getting rich on it.

Location: Reno, Nevada

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Guest

Sorry this is so lengthy, please read. I put our Gus on the senior wellness plan at Banfield in Canton, Ohio.

Major mistake. Whole banfield system is worthless,unqualified and the optimum wellness plan is a scam too. My standard size daschund 14yrs old, diabetic and insulin dependent, and for those you who don't know vets will insist on a "Blood Glucose Curve", where the pet is kept all day and their blood sugar is checked every 2hours $125. Been there, done this w/ other vet.

Banfield insisted on 2 curves totaling $250 added to his wellness plan. I checked his readings for 2yrs poking his upper lip. Had this down to a routine and recorded his numbers. When I refused the manager/vet informed me they wouldn't treat him anymore.

Told them to "Kiss Off", Gus is 14yrs old and very sick and blind not putting him through trauma. His readings were out of control yes, curve doesn't fix this. Very difficult to control his glucose readings. My experience with vets it's not about controlling his blood sugar levels, its more about charging me for curves.

These vets thought I was ***. Pets with diabetes requiring insulin is a racket at most vets offices including Banfield. because it's about chging u for the curves and not teaching someone how to control levels. They don't care about normal readings.

Is this what graduates from these prestigious vet schools now? I found an older vet who understood my needs and taught me how to control gus's glucose readings to normal without the curves. Comparing my readings to his and thy were in sync. These levels have to be checked at home daily not just 2days at vets office $250 later.

This older vet helped me keep Gus more comfortable in his final days than any vet in 2yrs he had since diagnosed w/ diabetes. CONCLUSION: BANFIED'S WELLNESS PLAN IS A SCAM. STAY AWAY IF PET IS DIABETIC OR MAJOR ILLNESS. You may leave from visit not paying anything upfront, but you'll rack up more chgs for unnecessary procedures not needed.

If living in Canton, OH go to Dr. Hickman, Mellett Animal Hospital.

He will even draw u a diagram if needed. STAY AWAY FROM BANFIELD!!!

Guest

I love when idiots say "we are taking them to court" . No you're not. Court is waaaaay to expensive for your cheap *** LOL!!

Guest

I have had the wellness plan for both my dogs for years. It CLEARLY states on ALL the pamphlets that there is a monthly fee- about $25 in my case (rounded up).

The first visit with it I would have paid $450 out of pocket for the services and only paid the sign up fee of about $75 (I think-one was on the puppy plan and one was on the dog plan).

It DOES save a lot of money and you can easily cancel at any time. You are obviously exaggerating.

Guest

It is rediculous, I went through the same thing with the "Wellness Plan". My Lab had chronic ear infections and they INSISTED on the same exact test at least 10 times with the identical outcome. Me-"Hi, my pooch has an ear infection again, the same as before."

Vet- "Let's run some tests..."

Needless to say I asked a LOT to look at the records from a month ago for the same reason I was there. EVERY time It was the same mediation and diagnosis. OH, and the "Wellness Plan" covered nothing. I finally got a second opinion and they told me to let them know anytime it came up, no problem, I was out the door way cheaper than at Banfield. I have been with that Vet for 6 VERY happy years now and when that pup got an ear infection, it was SIMPLE. I feel bad for the people who bring their pets to Banfield when I am at PetSmart. I thought my new vet would be more expensive, not the case. CHEAPER!!

I called the day I lost that dog and made sure they stopped the "Wellness Plan" and I had 4-5 months left and they said I can pay it off in full or bring in my new pet. I called and tried to get around it, They were not helpful and just said, "sorry".

Great business ethic. "Where pets come first" ,Right.

Guest

You quoted, "I could not believe there was no option but to pay for services in advance that would never be delivered to a dead dog."

This is simply NOT TRUE!! When you need to cancel a plan, due to death or just wanting to cancel, you are only responsible for payment of the retail value of the services you have ALREADY used, you NEVER have to pay for services "in advance." If you have used up most of the services on the plan, sometimes it is cheaper for you to pay off the remainder of the plan.

Either option - whatever is cheaper for YOU! Since the plan bundles everything and offers them at a discount, you can't just stop payment. For example, lets say you use $200 (retail value) of services the first week of your plan. You've only paid the first month's payment (lets say you are on the Basic Plus plan, so $39.95).

Why should you be allowed to use up all those services and only pay $40?? If you need to cancel, you are only responsible for what your dog as already received.

Guest

I had the Banfield Wellness plan for years on my dogs. I was never told it could not be cancelled.

My dog died only 4 months after the last renewal. When I asked the my local Florida Banfield office about cancelling, I was told that they were not allowed to discuss that at the branch and gave an 800 number to call. When I called, and asked the guy was very rude and said that was not allowed. I could not believe there was no option but to pay for services in advance that would never be delivered to a dead dog.

He would not even allow me to was ask a question, was very rude and just hatefully said that they would just send me to a collection and force me to pay.

I have scince priced services elsewhere, and now know tht the "discounted prices" under the plan are actually greater than most local vets charge. A total scam and I now understand their low rating with the BBB.

Guest

I had the Banfield Wellness plan for years on my dogs. I was never told it could not be cancelled.

My dog died only 4 months after the last renewal. When I asked the my local Florida Banfield office about cancelling, I was told that they were not allowed to discuss that at the branch and gave an 800 number to call. When I called, and asked the guy was very rude and said that was not allowed. I could not believe there was no option but to pay for services in advance that would never be delivered to a dead dog.

He would not even allow me to was ask a question, was very rude and just hatefully said that they would just send me to a collection and force me to pay.

I have scince priced services elsewhere, and now know tht the "discounted prices" under the plan are actually greater than most local vets charge. A total scam and I now understand their low rating with the BBB.

Guest

I'm trying to not have my plan renewed...I called the store, it took them all day to get back to me to say that they can't help me in the store and gave me the number to call. I've called twice so far, was on hold for 20minutes before I finally hung up!!!

Guest

You obviously don't know what you are talking about. There is not a wellness plan that costs $1000.

The dog wellness plans have a one time sign up fee of $100 (rounded up) and the highest monthly payment for the optimum plan is nowhere near $80. Get your facts straight and stop exaggerating.

Guest

After my Pissed Consumer complaint this was the only forum that Banfield responded to. I called the number and got my refund.

They're excuse was that the representative that handled my complaint was no longer with the company. This did not excuse why there was also no response to my previous emails. I say be persistant! Call all the numbers and website relations contacts.

This Pissed Consumer site apparently gets their attention. Shame on you Banfield Wellness for your difficult and frustrating customer service.

Guest

We’re sorry that there was a misunderstanding about your pet’s wellness plan. Unlike insurance, where you pay for coverage you may never use, Optimum Wellness Plans® always provide the care your veterinarian recommends to keep your pet healthy at a deep discount.

They are affordably priced healthcare plans that spread the cost conveniently over 12 months, which include unlimited free office visits, comprehensive exams, vaccinations and early screening for illnesses.

We would like to discuss the details of your plan and your cancellation options as well as your experience in the hospital. Please contact our Wellness Plan Relations Team at 888-649-**** or WellnessPlanRelations@***.net.

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