Scammers

ducks4you

Garden Master
Joined
Sep 4, 2009
Messages
11,887
Reaction score
15,848
Points
417
Location
East Central IL, Was Zone 6, Now...maybe Zone 5
I got a call from supposedly IL Medicare/Medicaid about choosing a plan or they would choose it For me.
I asked what the deadline was--we all know the deadline is December 7th.
Caller said she would tell me That if I gave her my Medicare# or my SS#.
I told her, the she called me...I would let her know.
The site was real enough...
You cannot sleep through these calls if you are caught off guard and answer them!
Fortunately for ME, one of my care nurses gave me a local referral who will be out next week to advise me.
I have emailed/contacted them and got a response.
They will get a $kickback, but they know more about this than I do!
I signed up in February, so I missed this opportunity in 2023.
 

Marie2020

Garden Addicted
Joined
May 21, 2020
Messages
3,260
Reaction score
6,798
Points
245
A lady i was walking my old dog with had an insurance on her dog.
The company raised the fee from £27 a month to £50... She doesn't use that service very often, just for shoots the odd cut and a couple of times for antibiotics.

She received notice this week that it's now £100 a month, in less than a year.
So she inquired with either Martin Lewis or "Go Compare" ? after receiving that huge rise in the monthly payments and found what she needed for £27 pounds instead

This is a healthy dog with no issues
 

SPedigrees

Garden Addicted
Joined
Jun 9, 2018
Messages
871
Reaction score
2,765
Points
237
Location
Vermont, USA (zone 4)
A lady i was walking my old dog with had an insurance on her dog.
The company raised the fee from £27 a month to £50... She doesn't use that service very often, just for shoots the odd cut and a couple of times for antibiotics.

She received notice this week that it's now £100 a month, in less than a year.
So she inquired with either Martin Lewis or "Go Compare" ? after receiving that huge rise in the monthly payments and found what she needed for £27 pounds instead

This is a healthy dog with no issues
I've never been big on pet health insurance. Even when we were living dollar-to-dollar I simply kept $1,000. on hand. That would've covered most vet emergency surgeries or other expenses, and we could have come up with the rest if treatment exceeded that one grand.
 

Marie2020

Garden Addicted
Joined
May 21, 2020
Messages
3,260
Reaction score
6,798
Points
245
I've never been big on pet health insurance. Even when we were living dollar-to-dollar I simply kept $1,000. on hand. That would've covered most vet emergency surgeries or other expenses, and we could have come up with the rest if treatment exceeded that one grand.
That would barely touch the surface here

I thought of getting my cat a scan for his tummy, it estimated just under £400 but the charity route it was well over a Thousand so lord knows what a vets would be

It was hundred to walk through their door yesterday with only a chip being done. They told me if I wanted the blood test I requested I had to book another appointment with them then pay £65 pounds to talk to the so called vet who didn't know anything

The last vets would at least take their temperature. They did nothing and offered no advice.
 

SPedigrees

Garden Addicted
Joined
Jun 9, 2018
Messages
871
Reaction score
2,765
Points
237
Location
Vermont, USA (zone 4)
That would barely touch the surface here

I thought of getting my cat a scan for his tummy, it estimated just under £400 but the charity route it was well over a Thousand so lord knows what a vets would be

It was hundred to walk through their door yesterday with only a chip being done. They told me if I wanted the blood test I requested I had to book another appointment with them then pay £65 pounds to talk to the so called vet who didn't know anything

The last vets would at least take their temperature. They did nothing and offered no advice.
Well our old emergency fund was some years ago, and everything was less expensive back then. Still I think a savings account for the purpose is a better bet than insurance.

Do you have a different vet you could take your kitty to? This one sounds like a corporate over-priced waste of your time. It is nonsense that they couldn't perform a simple blood drawing and do a basic exam while you were there, without insisting that you make a separate appointment for these.
 

flowerbug

Garden Master
Joined
Oct 15, 2017
Messages
16,990
Reaction score
26,685
Points
427
Location
mid-Michigan, USoA
...
Do you have a different vet you could take your kitty to? This one sounds like a corporate over-priced waste of your time. It is nonsense that they couldn't perform a simple blood drawing and do a basic exam while you were there, without insisting that you make a separate appointment for these.

yep, just soaking people, they don't deserve any recommendations or follow up business if you can find someone else who will do better.
 

Marie2020

Garden Addicted
Joined
May 21, 2020
Messages
3,260
Reaction score
6,798
Points
245
Well our old emergency fund was some years ago, and everything was less expensive back then. Still I think a savings account for the purpose is a better bet than insurance.

Do you have a different vet you could take your kitty to? This one sounds like a corporate over-priced waste of your time. It is nonsense that they couldn't perform a simple blood drawing and do a basic exam while you were there, without insisting that you make a separate appointment for these.
No sadly they all have a bad reputation here. There is no guidance to be found for a reputable veterinary clinic

Stupid me, in a blind panic too get him checked I didn't look into trust pilot first.

Grasping for advice I turned too a lady I used too walk my dog with, I called her vets and rushed him there by taxi.

I think this vet has hurt him. She wouldn't believe he was my cat, because he was rescued. I paid for his neutering but failed too mention which vet. She doubted everything i told her. And examined his back area which was completely unnecessary and a painful examination

She didn't take his temperature or do the blood test that I'd requested. I didn't get a chance to ask about a tummy scan. She led me out of the door saying I'd have to book in another appointment for anything else.

She went to talk to her superiors, then on coming back said, she didn't want too chip him either, because kept repeating that she didn't believe this was my cat. I got him mixed up so he must be someone else's. :mad:

I checked everywhere before he was neutered. I found one guy that lived on our street by calling his number that his old neighbour had given me, because they thought it was his cat.
He described this cat and said he now lived in Australia and didn't want him, so I went ahead.

In the beginning there were two kittens I'm not sure if that guy had two.

But another awful man ( who was a professional burglar) had kicked this cat and he limped on his back leg.
I spent months gaining his trust and thankfully he took too my dog, eventually moving in on his own accord.

The rspca advised me too get all of the cats chipped, even the strays, so I started with my own, that to I requested on my call.

I was almost in tears and away from my home. Unsure if I could get back having no transport with taxes messing around with return journeys

Back to this vet, eventually smiing and said she would chip him. (Doing me a huge favour for £100.50)
I felt she really enjoyed upsetting me because i am so worried about him and she also felt she reveled on my cats fear of her. Basically I had no trust or confidence in her at all!

They used to chip in front of the owner but she took him off to another room with people i had not been introduced. That's not right. And I hope that's all that was done 😞

It's been incredibly hard to get him to eat ever since.
He ate a little before that visit but since coming back from there it's been almost impossible. Plus I am aware that he's still missing our dog. They ate together, it was an exciting time of their day for them.
I got him to eat plain chicken from my hand but he's no longer interested in anything else.

I'm thinking of writing to the management at this vets to file a complaint.
The manageress hasn't given an email address, so it will have to be hand written.

Not that I think this will do anything to help my cat. But hopefully they will think how they are treating other clients and their pets
 
Last edited:

Shades-of-Oregon

Deeply Rooted
Joined
Jul 22, 2024
Messages
937
Reaction score
2,768
Points
145
Most vets are now corporate owned. They have strict regulations and guidelines to follow. Some good some bad. From what I understand it’s all to make money not generated to client / patient satisfaction.

Independent vets and owners are driven by their desire to help animals as it’s why they became vets in the first place. Corporate vets and the multinational companies that own them are usually operating in the sector due to the potential profitability.

Additionally, due to the size of a corporation, they often have to implement treatment guidelines and decision-making policies, which isn’t the case in an independent practice. This means that at an independent vet can tailor your pet’s treatment to their specific needs rather than being restricted by guidelines for certain conditions by corporate vets.
 

Marie2020

Garden Addicted
Joined
May 21, 2020
Messages
3,260
Reaction score
6,798
Points
245
Most vets are now corporate owned. They have strict regulations and guidelines to follow. Some good some bad. From what I understand it’s all to make money not generated to client / patient satisfaction.

Independent vets and owners are driven by their desire to help animals as it’s why they became vets in the first place. Corporate vets and the multinational companies that own them are usually operating in the sector due to the potential profitability.

Additionally, due to the size of a corporation, they often have to implement treatment guidelines and decision-making policies, which isn’t the case in an independent practice. This means that at an independent vet can tailor your pet’s treatment to their specific needs rather than being restricted by guidelines for certain conditions by corporate vets.
Then I'll have to do a little researching.

Thanks so much for your support. It really means a lot 😉
 

Marie2020

Garden Addicted
Joined
May 21, 2020
Messages
3,260
Reaction score
6,798
Points
245
@SPedigrees and @Shades-of-Oregon

I couldn't find an independent vets but tracked back too a vets I originally used.

They only have locums. But apparently the locums all loves animals especially the guy we are booked to see next Tuesday. I spoke to a nurse that I had met before, who spent over 37 minutes of their time explaining everything to me

I have taken out a wellness cover which actually save me £37 because I don't have to pay for the consultation.

This nurse told me that my cat had problems with his teeth back in may 2020 and it was too be expected that they would eventually come a way.
Remember this is a cat rescue, so he was left to his own devices for approximately a year too 18 months and had been attacked by a vile man that we know of.

His temperature will be taken and his tummy will be checked for free, because of this wellness cover. Then I requested a thorough blood test checking out his organs including thyroid. Basically that is all I am paying for at the moment.

To be honest I accidentally rang my previous vet by mistake and I am so pleased I did. It was a huge relief speaking too that lovely nurse again ☺️

I'll sleep tonight. Huge sigh of relief
Catching a little sun in my window
1000003263.jpg


He enjoyed his meal this morning
1000003261.jpg
 
Last edited:
Top