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Banfield Pet Hospital

Ting of Union City, CA October 5, 2007

Ting of Union City CA (10/05/07)
I've had nothing but bad experiences: 1) They try to slap you with additional cost so that the final bill is very high. They have a column that says what you'll pay if you did not have banfield insurance and another column that says what you need to pay since you have banfield insurance. And it makes you feel you saved a lot of money. Truth is, even after having the insurance, what you pay at Banfield is WAY more than what other animal hospital charges.

My dog has a ear infection, not only did they tried to charge us 150+, the ointment they gave did not work! I had to bring my dog to another vet that only charged 60 and it cured my dog. I've had quite a few of these incidents.

2) When I try to cancel the insurance after being it in for 1.5 years, they did not let me. They said every May, it automatically renews itself for 1 year! They said, even if your dog is dead, you have to pay for that year!

3) Whenever you bring your pet there, they will recommand this treatment, that treatment so you end up paying for all these treatments that are not really unnecessary.

All I can say is, signing up for banfield wellness program is the worst mistake i made.

Michael of Cincinnati, OH October 3, 2007

We bought a puppy at the end of January, Roman. From the onset, he had respiratory problems and we took him to Banfield. They sold us on their Health Care Plan the first day we took Roman in to be checked under the premise that we had saved money the FIRST day and more than paid for the plan for the year. Also, we were told that we would receive discounts on meds and other services for the coming year if we signed up for the plan so we did. Our puppy died within the month in his sleep!

They called to confirm his next appointment the following week and we told them he had died. About a month after, we got a bill in the mail for the balance of the health care plan. I called and talked to the office manager and she acted as if they did not know Roman had died and said the girl I spoke to did not convey the information. So, I relayed the entire story to her. She said she would take care of it. Now, I have a call today from a collection agency asking for over 200.00 to settle this issue.

Michael of Cincinnati, OH October 3, 2007

Michael of Cincinnati OH (10/03/07)
We bought a puppy at the end of January, Roman. From the onset, he had respiratory problems and we took him to Banfield. They sold us on their Health Care Plan the first day we took Roman in to be checked under the premise that we had saved money the FIRST day and more than paid for the plan for the year. Also, we were told that we would receive discounts on meds and other services for the coming year if we signed up for the plan so we did. Our puppy died within the month in his sleep!

We did not try to come back on Banfield for any negligence. They called to confirm his next appointment the following week and we told them he had died. About a month after, we got a bill in the mail for the balance of the health care plan.

I called and talked to the office manager and she acted as if they did not know Roman had died and said the girl I spoke to did not convey the information. So, I relayed the entire story to her. She said she would take care of it. Now, I have a call today from a collection agency asking for over 200.00 to settle this issue. We have already paid Banfield a large amount of money for Roman's health care and were told that if he died the plan could be cancelled. They have been completely uncooperative and mis-leading. Our dog passed (possibly due to questionable vet care) and we did not pursue it at all. Now they are trying to pursue us for a policy that was sold to us under wrong pretense and we did cancel the policy yet they are still trying to pursue us. The collection agency today told me that I had not cancelled this and it auto-renewed for another year. This is ridiculous. Our dog passed in the first month, they did not cancel this, acted like they did not receive the phone call from me, repeatedly. Please help us clear up this issue with a very disreputable company that is supposed to be offering health care for your beloved pet. We are also going to contact the Ohio Vet Board regarding this issue. Thank you!!!

They have contacted a collection agency and reported us for monies we do not owe.

Annette of Chicago, IL September 25, 2007

I brought my cat to Banfield on January 4, 2007, because he was ill and in distress. He was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and sent home with antibiotics. His condition continued to worsen and I brought him back to Banfield on January 9th. He was again sent home and I was told to continue antibiotics. After his condition worsened even further, in desperation I took him to another animal hospital on January 13th and he was immediately diagnosed with a completely different (neurological) problem, for which he received proper treatment and is now well.

All of the information that the second hospital used to make this diagnosis was available to Banfield in their initial test results. I attempted to contact Banfield in person and via telephone, fax and e-mail on 13 occasions regarding a refund and never received a response. I also filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, which they ignored as well. After trying to rectify the situation with Banfield for so long, I finally contact my credit card company to dispute the charge and was told that they couldn't do anything because too much time had passed.

Jennifer of Union, NJ September 22, 2007

Jennifer of Union NJ (09/22/07)
To make a long story short, I have two dogs, both are on the wellness plan that Banfield had offered. The first dog was on it as a recommendation from my husbands cousin who worked there. When we then had acquired our 2nd dog, we naturally had put him on it as well. We had set up an automatic payment/deduction from our checking account. Every month for the last 4 years the deductions have been like clockwork.

Every month on my statement I see two deductions for Banfield. Of course I was surprised to see that we had a received a collection notice in the mail. GO FIGURE!!! I would not recommend Banfield or their wellness plan. My two dogs haven't needed it, thank goodness, since their rabies shot. I kept it for the just in case moments, but I wouldn't recommend to anyone.

Now my husband is in a collection agency for 30.45! They have reported him to the national credit bureau for this small amount. We would pay the amount but it is the principle that they took money out of our account every month for the two dogs and now I feel that they are trying to make us pay for something that has been already paid!!!

Mary of Middletown, NY September 5, 2007
I have so many horrible experiences with that doctor at my banfield! First, he gave my one dog the wrong dosage for medicine which made him sick, so i had to pay again for medicine for a different dosage. Every time i go there he tries to prescribe some new meds and of course they aren't covered by my wellness plans. He tried scheduling my puppy to be spayed without my permission and then got really nasty when i refused. I'm always made to feel as though I'm a horrible person if i refuse some unneccessary treatment that costs extra and find it absolutely ridiculous that i have to spend 30 each visit for benedryl for my one dog just in case.

Elizabeth of Jackson, TN September 4, 2007
When I took my two Rat Terriers for their first visit I was pressured into signing up for the wellness program. I was under the impression that the purpose was to provide medical care for no additional cost, however every time I took the dogs in there was ALWAYS an additional cost.

I think the Wellness Program is a RACKET!

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