Cat owner charged almost £40 for a two-minute phone conversation with vet
A cat owner was charged nearly £40 for a two-minute phone consultation
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A pet owner was charged nearly £40 for a two-minute phone consultation about his constipated cat.
Keith Dancey had already been quoted £188.96 for an over the counter medicinal powder when he took his cat to the vets about the problem.
Speaking to the consumer group Which?, he claimed he had later found he could have bought the powder online from the US, without a prescription, for £41.94 including delivery charges.
Mr Dancey’s cat was in the middle of a long course of treatment, and the vet asked if he could bring the cat back the following day for a review of his progress.
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The vet suggested a phone consultation as the cat didn't like travelling
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However, as travelling upsets his cat, the vet suggested he instead call and update the vet on how the cat was responding to treatment.
He made a call to the vet, which lasted for around two minutes, during which he confirmed the cat seemed fine.
It was only when he was later billed for the cat’s treatment that he found out he’d been charged a full consultation fee for the call, costing £36.89.
Just a quarter of pet owners compared prices when choosing their vet practice, according to a survey of 2,000 pet owners by Which?.
Among those who did compare prices, three in ten said they found it difficult to compare prices.
Vet prices are often not displayed on the individual practice or chain website, according to analysis of large-chain veterinary practices by the consumer champion.
When they are displayed, it's often for basics such as consultation fees, despite most of the cost coming from treatment and medication, Which? said.
More than a third of pet owners said they are usually only told about the price following the appointment at the reception desk.
Britain's £2million veterinary industry is being scrutinised by the competition watchdog amid concerns pet owners aren't getting value for money and the cost of care has surged faster than inflation.
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The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced it was launching a review of the sector in September thsi year.
The CMA said it was worried pet owners aren't being given easy access to information about pricing and treatment options when choosing which vet to use and which services to purchase.
Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the CMA, said: “Caring for an ill pet can create real financial pressure, particularly alongside other cost-of-living concerns.
“It’s really important that people get clear information and pricing to help them make the right choices.
“There has been a lot of consolidation in the vet industry in recent years, so now is the right time to take a look at how the market is working.”
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