Only concerned with making money. Doesn't care about the financial situation of owner.
My mother brought my dog to the Woods Ave Clinic as a new client to have the dog's annual health exam. The dog is an older dog;for this reason the veterinarian told her that he should run a blood test as part of the exam. She agreed, unknowing of the cost of the test and under the impression that it was included in the exam. When my mother went to pay the bill (with my credit card) she was informed that the total amount was $422. She used my credit card to pay because she she assumed that the cost was due to all the vaccines the dog had received, which are services that were performed and could not be undone. Upon receiving the receipt she noticed that the blood test had cost $122,she then called me and inquired about this. I am a former employee of a vet and am familiar with aspects of the veterinary business. I told her that the blood test wasn't necessary and could be done at a later date when we had the money to do so. I then told her that she should tell the receptionist that she decided the blood test wasn't necessary at the moment and ask for a refund of the $122. When my mother arrived home she informed me that she was told that ""once the blood has been drawn the client must be charged the full amount."" I then called the business to inquire why I was being charged for a blood test that was not yet performed. I know for a fact that the blood work is not done in house and that it is sent to laboratory which processes the blood. I confirmed with the receptionist that: 1.They use Antech Diagnostic as their out of house laboratory 2.My dogs blood had not yet been sent to Antech. When I asked why my money could not be refunded despite the fact that the test had not yet been performed I was told that it was ""their policy"".I asked where this policy was written so I could review it, the receptionist got very nervous and repeatedly stated ""its our policy"" I got no explanation other than that,since the blood was prepared to be tested the full amount must be charged. Preparing blood for testing involves putting the blood in a tube and spinning it in a centrifuge,this does not cost $122 and is not qualified as a blood test. I specifically asked that the blood not be sent out because I did not want the test done and would wait for the vet (Dr. Gower) to call me back and explain his policy. I waited three days and called the animal clinic back to ask if the vet had considered refunding my money. At this time I found out that the blood had been sent to the diagnostic lab against my wishes. I was again continually told that this was ""their policy"". I was then also told that on the wall of the waiting room a list of common procedures often performed in an exam is posted, I was told that this poster did not list prices, I was also told that the blood test my dog received was ""INCLUDED"" in the standard senior dog exam. An exam costs one price the blood test costs another, to the best of my knowledge this does not constitute ""included"". In summary my mother was not aware of the cost at the time the blood was taken and assumed it was ""included"" in the exam, after discovering the price of the test we decided it was not necessary to have done at the moment and requested that it be canceled and the money for the test be refunded. She was refused a refund for a service that had not yet been performed based on the arbitrary claim that it was ""their policy"".
Cons: Practice based on making money not caring for animals
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