
Banfield Pet Hospital Reviews
- We require contact information to ensure our reviewers are real.
- Our moderators read all reviews to verify quality and helpfulness.
- We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews.
About Banfield Pet Hospital
This profile has not been claimed by the company. See reviews below to learn more or submit your own review.
Banfield Pet Hospital delivers veterinary services and personalized pet health care across the United States. Established in 1955, it offers preventive care, surgery, diagnostics and wellness plans for pets.
- Quality veterinary care provided
- Affordable wellness plans available
- High costs for services
- Poor communication from staff
Banfield Pet Hospital Reviews
Filter by Rating
- (76)
- (16)
- (12)
- (89)
- (1,852)
Popular Mentions
- 4,880,395 reviews on ConsumerAffairs are verified.
- We require contact information to ensure our reviewers are real.
- We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews.
- Our moderators read all reviews to verify quality and helpfulness.
Recent
- Recent
- Oldest
- Most helpful
A link has directed you to this review. Its location on this page may change next time you visit.
- 4,880,395 reviews on ConsumerAffairs are verified.
- We require contact information to ensure our reviewers are real.
- We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews.
- Our moderators read all reviews to verify quality and helpfulness.
Reviewed Feb. 23, 2017
I had heard mixed reviews from many people about this place but I wanted some help with my dog Ariel. She was 7 years old and hadn't been keeping down anything, or very little, and we wanted to help her. We went there to see if they could help her and we got her checked out... But they refused to do ANYTHING but just a physical... ALL BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY AND WE COULDN'T GET CREDIT!!! My dog died a week later when she probably could have been saved if they had just helped her. I will NEVER EVER go back to that place. They killed my dog because we didn't have money to pay for the visit... And they wouldn't let us pay in a couple days... DO NOT GO TO THIS EXCUSE OF AN ANIMAL HOSPITAL. THEY WON'T HELP YOUR ANIMAL IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS!!!
Reviewed Feb. 21, 2017
I made an appointment for spay of my cocker spaniel two months in advance. My pet had regular check ups, but not with this facility, and was healthy with documentation to prove it. I arranged my work schedule to be home with her post op. Arrived for the appointment at the scheduled time and was told surgery was cancelled since Banfield had not seen her. This was discussed at the appointment setting, that my pet had been to regular office visits elsewhere and since moving, we wanted Banfield to do her surgery. During the phone call I was told this was ok, that the Dr. would check her out prior to surgery.
I received no notification of any kind in the two months that the appointment was cancelled. The girl at the counter said she called but the call did not go through. I received no phone calls from this office and no notification whatsoever that the surgery would not be performed as scheduled. This is exceptionally poor customer service resulting in lost time from work, inconvenience, lack of sincerity when reporting the cancellation, misrepresentation of professional services, discomfort to my pet with being NPO since midnight, and complete disregard for what appears to be their error in not putting her surgery on the schedule. I would never leave my pet in the care of this hospital.
Reviewed Feb. 20, 2017
BE AWARE. Banfield's Wellness Plan is ONE-YEAR plan -- REGARDLESS IF YOUR PET DIES. We helped someone who had fallen on hard times, pay for her dog's care through the Banfield Wellness Plan because it was cheaper than regular vet visits. My name however was not on the wellness plan paperwork but I supplied my credit card information to pay the bills. At the beginning of the last month of the one-year plan, I called Banfield to cancel the plan because the woman we helped was long gone and her dog died. Banfield refused to cancel the plan because my name was not on the plan. I therefore reported my credit card lost and received a new card with a new account number. Lo and behold, Banfield put through the first month of the second year on my new credit card account number without my permission.
I found out I could cancel via the automated phone system and even though the DOG IS DEAD, Banfield says I still owe them 10 months of wellness payments because as I write this, I just saw a second month's wellness charge pending on my credit card. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THE DOG IS DEAD. I HATE BANFIELD and would NEVER RECOMMEND them for anyone's pet care if this is how they conduct business. I am going to report them to the Better Business Bureau as well for unacceptable business practices.
Reviewed Feb. 6, 2017
Just be careful. A renal cat needs its blood pressure checked. This was not done despite my cat having her wellness check. So she went blind. Meds were given. She spent another 8 hours in the clinic for a re-check and I was told, "The med was not working so just go to a specialist." NOT checking the blood pressure was in my opinion neglectful. My lab has a neuropathy that it is my understanding is fairly common. The vet did not know what it was. So he got a chest xray he probably didn't need. The 2nd vet, literally, knew what the problem was in 10 seconds. Some Banfield vets are great and they are all nice, but I will never go back.
Reviewed Feb. 2, 2017
When I signed up for the "Wellness" Plan, I thought it was pet insurance and was not informed otherwise. The contract was very vague and confusing in many areas, but I trusted such a large well known organization. Maybe they were reputable in the past but now I would strongly advise everyone to stay away! After less than year, I moved to another town where the Banfield was just too far away. When I tried to cancel I was told that I could not since it had not been a year. I did not use any services from them during the last 6 months of the contract but paid the monthly amount. When the year was actually up, I called again to cancel. I was talked into "trying out the plan for a short time" to see if I liked the Banfield in my new town even though it was over a 20 mile round trip.
I tried them out and then had many of the bad experiences listed by other reviewers, and again tried to cancel. They ignored me and continued billing my credit card. After several more calls that were ignored I finally had to put a stop payment on my card to get rid of the unwanted charges. After this I began to be harassed constantly by them threatening me that I "owed money for services" which I had actually paid for. I asked several times for an itemized statement but never received one. I am now being threatened with collection for who knows what. If they were smart they would not treat people like this, because I am sure that upon reading these many bad reviews, they are losing more customers than they make by bullying and harassing people. What good company does this to people?
Reviewed Feb. 1, 2017
SO! BANFIELD OVERDOSED MY DOG!!!! My dog goes to Banfield Hospital on S. Kipling St in Littleton Co to be neutered on Jan 30th. They tell us how to care for him etc and gave us ** 75mg to give him starting today (the 31st). We look at bottle and it states "1/2 pill every 2 hours." I thought this is weird... So I look at the discharge papers and see nothing about dosage just warnings and what it's for. So we give it to our dog as it stated... Day of surgery he was great, eating, playing calmly and just being him... Then the pills began today! As the day progressed he had a hard time standing up, he was walking as if he was drunk, he was lying down and not really moving much, he was looking at the other two dogs all confused and didn't interact as he usually does, then looks at me and starts growling and won't come near me. He's staring at me as if he didn't know me and backing away.
So I google this drug and Banfield MISLABELED the dose! The pills were to be given every 12 hours NOT every 2!!! So I call Banfield and talk to lady and they put me on hold to get a doctor and this horrid "Tech" gets on and tells me she's "sorry you misread the label" and I said "no, you misprinted the label, I did as the label stated." She said "clearly you didn't because I'm staring at the label right here and it CLEARLY states every 12 hours." I said "that's funny bc I have the bottle in my hand it clearly states every 2 hours." She said "I'm looking at my computer right here. It's a 12." I said "OMG the bottle is in my hand, it's a 2, I can read it just fine." She said "well clearly you can't." I said "excuse me?!!!" She said "well you have 3 options, take him to an ER or call one of the two poison controls." I said "he obviously needs to be seen bc he's not himself." She said "then take him to Deer Creek."
I said "ok, and do I bring you the bill or how is that part handled?" She said "oh we're not paying for your error." I said "well yes you are paying bc it's your error not mine." She said "I reprinted the label and clearly see it's your mistake and we're not paying for your error." I said "you will pay for this bc it is YOUR mistake and I'll sue for it if I have to." So she chuckles. I said "ohhhhhkay honey... I'm going to tell you right now, we're not going to be friends, I suggest you put someone on that can make decisions bc I'm done with how you're speaking to me." She said "it won't matter who you speak to. We're not paying for your error, it's not our fault you can't read it properly."
I said "WHO do I speak with?" She said all cocky and smart assy. "You can speak to Will, I have this printed and tell you right now he won't help you nor will be paying". I said "oh yes you will dear, and I'm done speaking with you about my dog." She began talking again and I said "clearly you're not understanding English," and hung up!
Now my dog is at Deer Creek and he threw up right before we left! LOOK AT THIS LABEL!! Does anyone see a 12??? It CLEARLY states every 2 hours until gone! This employee is beyond rude and to instantly attack a patient family when clearly she can't see my bottle is NOT ok!!! Banfield WILL pay for this hospital stay and anything else that occurs bc of it! And that horrid "tech" NEEDS TO BE FIRED! This is NOT ok! We have been with them 10 years and 4 dogs!!!
Reviewed Jan. 28, 2017
Banfield sent me a text of an appt they set up for the dog's exam. I re-arranged my schedule, brought the dog in that day, and was told to leave her and the vet would see her later and I could pick the dog up in a few hours. What? That's an appt, where I get to ask the vet questions and get instructions, etc? I refused to leave the dog, and the girl insisted they had called me 3x (but there were no voicemails or calls on my phone) and pressured me to leave the dog. Or I could make an appt for another day that would be a real appointment where I got to be there while the dog was examined. Very deceptive, substandard care, and disrespectful of my time and schedule. Unacceptable. I've filed complaint with Banfield and am considering cancelling the dog's plan. This was at Lake Park, FL office.
Reviewed Jan. 23, 2017
I cancelled my membership for the Wellness plan and continued to get charged. They are now trying to get me via collection agency. I had one visit for our cat. I was very dissatisfied for the charge to evidently just bandage my cat's paw. I cancelled and never visited this place again. They never saw my cat again and they were paid for all services rendered. This plan was never used after the first experience due to the fact that they were some discrepancy on the service that was provided.
Reviewed Jan. 23, 2017
I have had a pet plan for a few years and was happy at first as only normal care for my pets. However once you have anything wrong with your pet you begin to notice that this plan does not cover anything and what it does cover is so grossly overpriced/valued that you can get it for much less at another vet and save money paying for the service as you go. I tried to cancel my plan - which I did not realize auto renewed which is a scam - and was told I had already used several hundred dollars of services. HOW? I took my dogs in for one of the two comprehensive exams offered and had to drop them off at 7am - they were to be done by 2pm. I went in to pick them up and was told that they had not been seen. I live a fair distance from the vet so I did not want to drive home and back. I told them I needed to have my dogs done and would do some errands and come back.
Not 30 minutes later I was called to say they were ready. So in 30 minutes they had done everything the exam called for. I picked them up and took them home. One day later my dog was shaking his head and looked in his ears - dirty as heck. Not cleaned or looked at the day before as we had been given a clean bill of health. These plans are a SCAM. Do not sign up for them. As stated above they do not cover anything major. You only get a small percentage of a discount and calling around to other vets the procedures are triple the price as anywhere else. Also they recommend items that are not necessary only to get the $$. Money greedy corporation that is not at all concerned with your pets well being.
Reviewed Jan. 23, 2017
I'm sorry that I had to give them a 1, I wish you could give negative stars. I have had nothing but trouble since I took my animals to Banfield. My 2 dogs and 2 cats both went to Banfield and were on wellness plans, before I discovered that they were horrible, then once locked in for a year, I didn't have a choice but to deal with their inept service.
The experience with my first cat, I brought her into the office, because she was breathing heavily, she was diagnosed with asthma. The doctor, prescribed us a steroid to help and recommended ** and an apparatus to help give her the inhaler. Ok - fine. I ordered everything, and started her on the steroid and every time I would ween her off the steroid like directed, her breathing became heavy and labored, I would call, talk to the doctor, and she would up her steroids again. The last time I spoke with the doctor, she said I was just overreacting that her breathing wasn't getting more labored. My cat died that night from an asthma attack. I felt like the mistreatment of not wanting to see my cat in the office to see if her breathing was labored etc was malpractice on the doctors part.
My other cat was also in a wellness plan, and she is older and was not eating, and losing weight. They gave me food that would help stimulate her appetite and some medicine that would also help. She still would not eat, went almost a week without eating, and me calling the vet every day, to see what we could do, before the vet tech suggested force feeding her food, which I did for a week and eventually she started eating again. But still was not gaining weight. I took her back to the doctor, and they tested her for diabetes and checked her thyroid. I should state that I wasn't seen at my appointment time, because I came 10 minutes before my appointment and checked in, or so I thought.
At 4:50pm, I was asked which animal I was waiting for. No one checked me in, or noticed that the doctor didn't see their patient that was scheduled? Once I got into the exam room, we had the testing done, I left, before the results because I had a dinner date with my in-laws. The vet tech called me back and told me that my cats thyroid was off the charts and that they would start her on medications - **. OK - I could call tomorrow and get the script etc.
When I got home from dinner - I looked her my cats medical records online to see the spelling of the medication etc so I can could start looking where to get the pill - because I had learned if you buy from Banfield they at least triple the cost. The medication in my cats chart, sounded nothing like the vet tech said so I googled it and it was a deworming medication. When I called back the next day, and explained, no one apologized. Nothing. If I had not noticed they were prescribing her the incorrect medicine, what would have happened?
Also, in general they have a slow and lazy staff. Half of the time, the doctor doesn't even put her hands on the animals, how does one give an exam from across the room? Or they take the animal TO the doctor, so when they are 'examining" the animal the owner isn't in the room. That varies from doctor to doctor. My current vet, examines my animals, examines their teeth, their coat, everything. Heaven forbid, you want to buy medications from someone other than them, they make the process exhausting.
I prefer to order my medications from Dr. Fosters and Smith, as, even with shipping there is a great difference in the cost. I have to constantly call Banfield and remind them that Dr. Foster has sent 2-3 faxes and they need to verify the medication so that it can be ordered. It takes a couple times of me being nice, and then not so nice to get it done. It is ridiculous! It is unprofessional and I am so glad that everyone's wellness plan is up and I can move onto my new vet who is AWESOME!
Reviewed Jan. 23, 2017
I took my dog to the hospital for regular shots. Somehow the girl talk me into a so called wonderful plan that I could cancel if something happened to my pet. The next week before I even used anything on the plan my dog passed away. I told them but they told me that was too bad. They are now taking money from me and my dog is gone. So to add pain to everything else I am paying for service for a deceased pet. I could go on but it only gets worse concerning them. Save yourself some heartache and go somewhere else. Trust me. It's not worth it.
Reviewed Jan. 20, 2017
Banfield Hospital is just out to get as much money from you as possible. When he was a puppy the wellness visits was fine. I had my first bad experience with Banfield when my dog was not himself, they did a blood test and said such and such was elevated, blah, blah. The Veterinarian was telling me I should go to a place that specializes in cancer until his Anal glands burst right on her. Of course after the burst he was fine. A second time Banfield recommended I should have a little growth removed from his head to test for cancer - of course it came back no cancer. After that he was fine. He passed away 1/18/2017 due to Leptospirosis.
The Veterinarian at Banfield thought he had pancreatitis and did a test for that and said that he indeed have the disease and his levels were high and it was not chronic but treatable. He was already in the early stages of Renal disease and his blood work was stable. We had brought him to have IV fluids from the morning till we picked him up at night. For 3 days he was also put on antibiotics. We paid about $1100 out of pocket thinking we would save our dog. We called them back to tell Banfield he was not improving so we brought him back. The Veterinarian tells us he is in pain and doesn't look good. So she give him a shot for pain the one thing I was grateful for.
We were told to bring him to a hospital that does ultrasound. Banfield calls me to tell me that the hospital we are going to does not have a ultrasound technician that day and I should go elsewhere. Pretty funny since my husband was at the hospital and they did have an ultrasound technician there at the same time she called. All my pet needed was a blood test to confirm that he had Leptospirosis and be treated with antibiotic if it was caught early. His blood work showed he was in complete kidney failure and did not have to have an ultra sound.
In December Banfield said his blood work had not changed that much. I think that Banfield did not do the necessary testing they needed to do to confirm what he did have. We spent $1100 for the wrong treatment. At the other Veterinarians Hospital office they could not believe that Banfield did not test his blood work the way that it should have been tested and how much they charged us. I do not recommend Banfield, The staff up front was nice but you don't really know what is happening behind closed doors.
Reviewed Jan. 18, 2017
We showed up first thing in the morning with our cat in a carrier asking to be seen because our cat had developed 4 bleeding sores on her face overnight (we had been going to Banfield for 2 years at this point). And we were told that the veterinarians didn't even come in for another hour and that there was no way she could be seen today. So we called another pet hospital, one we never visited before, and they could get us in within 20 minutes. That was the final straw for us never going back. But we also were irritated when a vet assistant argued with me on the phone about dropping my cat off for a standard check up instead of making an appointment and being with her. When I told him we weren't interested in leaving her for hours at the vet, his reply was "Why do you feel that way?" and attempted to convince me. It was weird. Plus for their "plan" you can set it up at the vet's office but conveniently you can't cancel it at their office...
Reviewed Jan. 17, 2017
I have been going to Banfield for 7 years since I brought my dog home. Beginning in late 2015 they started having you just drop your pet off instead of being in the room with them, but I trusted them. They ALWAYS said she was in great health. In August 2015 I moved too far from my Banfield so had requested my Optimum Wellness be canceled on my dog and cats. They ignored the request. Now mind you, they started seeing my dog when he was 12 weeks old. I signed up with a local vet where I have moved. When they examined her, they found she still had embedded baby teeth and her gums were so inflamed that she had to have major surgery to pull the baby teeth out and 6 other adult teeth. Banfield NEVER mentioned this. It's cost me well over a thousand dollars. Stay far, far away from this place.
Reviewed Jan. 13, 2017
I purchased a wellness plan November 2014, for 1 year. In Oct 2015 I called the Main office to cancel. January 2017 going through my checking account saw another charge from them so after checking, November and December had charges also I called corporate to get my refund for the 3 months they had charged after cancelling. I was told they couldn't find a record of my cancelling so they would NOT refund my monies. I have NOT used nor did I use their services these months. I strongly suggest you find another vet to work with as I wish I had as after reading several other post here that Banfield makes their money stealing from customers.
Reviewed Jan. 9, 2017
Be aware. This is not "Banfield Pet Hospital". It is Banfield pet clinic. They are in no way a hospital which is very misleading. Make sure you know when looking at your plan if there is not a number next to the service you get only 1. If you come in too late for them they will send you to an emergency clinic. Sometimes they won't even answer the phone. My "wellness plan" just cost me $2400.00 at the emergency clinic. Not even a medication discount. I am not renewing any of my animals’ plans. I will take them to a qualified veterinarian and get pet insurance that actually works. At my clinic there is only 1 vet that is compassionate and qualified to help an animal in my opinion. Too bad she is there. I would never recommend them to anyone and have been there for 7 years. Quit once before and was suckered into going back. I gave them 1 star because there is nothing lower. I can pay for shots and a check-up for the same amount it costs for their plan.
Reviewed Jan. 9, 2017
This plan is really a complete joke. As a pets get older this provides absolutely no value. I had to put my beloved pet to sleep in early December - not only did the wellness service continue to charge me but when I called to cancel they said I had a balance. I paid about 8k out of pocket for end of life care for my pet none of which was covered in the wellness plan. When I called to talk to them after being on hold for 30 min - they wanted me to wait more time too to talk with customer service to see if I could get a discount on the remaining balance. Although the vets at Woodbridge were wonderful to my pet as he got progressively more ill they were unable to care for him and I sought specialized vet care in NYC. Please avoid the optimum wellness plan unless your pet is young and healthy - and their customer service stinks and is unreachable on the weekends.
Reviewed Jan. 8, 2017
This is the worst place you could take your animals. The veterinarians do not care about your pets, just about how much money they can get from you. We took our puppy there when we first got her because of the free office visit and we regretted it the first time. They tried to charge us for probiotics "to get her used to taking medicine" as well as several other unnecessary medications. Against our better judgment we once again took our puppy back today because she started breathing heavily and her gums were pale and we just needed something to hold her over until we could take her to Academy Animal Hospital in the morning, and Banfield was the only veterinary clinic open today (Sunday).
Upon arrival they took her straight back without informing me of anything or even asking if they could take her. The veterinarian came out and told us that she needed X-rays ($500) and that she needed mild sedation ($45) because she didn't want the oxygen mask on (what puppy wants an oxygen mask on their face). We therefore told her we just needed a bronchodilator to help her through the night until we could take her to Academy in the morning, to which she stated that they had no bronchodilators at all! We told her all of the medications that Academy had given our puppy and the veterinarian stated that she would not give our puppy anything without an X-ray.
When my husband asked her how her lungs sounded she said they sounded fine but she is breathing hard. When she came back out and talked to me she said it seemed like she had a collapsed lung, and that's only one of the many contradictions between what she told me and what she told my husband. She said all they could do is give her oxygen until 6 o'clock and then we would have to take her to the emergency clinic and she may die if her oxygen levels fall to low but they won't do anything without X-rays. Long story short they would rather have a puppy die before they treat her with medications we already know help all because we won't pay $500 for an X-ray.
Reviewed Jan. 8, 2017
It is almost impossible to cancel your membership. It automatically renews every year for a whole year. When you try to cancel so you don't forget they tell you it has to be within 30 days of your original joining date. I warn everyone that it's a trap. Additionally my daughter's dog almost died there and they couldn't draw blood from my cat stating he was vicious. Everyone that knows my cat he's the most gentle, loves everybody, super mellow cat. I don't know what they were doing. I am now stuck with another year and refused to take my cat to be tortured there.
Reviewed Jan. 6, 2017
My husband and I began using Banfield 9 years ago. We had three precious pups signed up for the Wellness Plans. Our first location was in Annapolis, MD, we received good service. The staff were caring and response to our pets needs. We really had no concerns and the cost was about the same as using another vet. Our second location was Brandon, Fl, this was a 45 minute drive for us. We made the trip because again we received good service and they were responsive to our pups' needs. Our current location is Summerville, SC - I must say it has been a disappointing experience. Getting appointments for urgent care has been a complete failure - we have been told on multiple occasions we need an appointment and there are no appointments available (for days and weeks). We have been forced to use ER services.
ER services for a bee sting, a chronic cervical spine condition (he needed eval and medication due to a flare up), etc. At one point I complained, requested a call from corporate. I am still waiting. On Christmas Eve, we had to euthanize our boxer. The ER services we used in Charleston, SC were FANTASTIC! As we were leaving, they informed us they would notify Banfield of his death. Our expectation was we would receive a condolence call. Our expectations are too high. We are still waiting on that call. Today, my husband called to cancel our boxer's Wellness Plan. Banfield refused to cancel the agreement stating it was a 12 month agreement. My husband was informed our boxer's contract was due February. For this one pup the total is only about 50.00 for Jan and Feb (they are prorating Feb). Now 50.00 is not going to break the bank. However, it clearly demonstrates the greed of Banfield Animal Hospital.
I must say over the course of 9 years, we have witnessed a decline in services. Customer Service is terrible, Care and Compassion at times is non-existent. I want to say there are many caring and compassionate staff; staff who are loving and wonderful to our dogs. Unfortunately, the corporation is motivated by greed. Resulting in a decline in customer service, care and compassion. I will no longer be using Banfield and am transferring my pups to another vet.
Reviewed Jan. 4, 2017
I have no beef with Banfield and their services. The problem I am having seems to be the same problem I see in many of the reviews regarding Banfield. The auto-renewal and automatic payment plan. We recently purchased a new home and moved away from the area where we were receiving the services from Banfield. We now live a long way away from any Banfield hospital. We haven't used any of their services in months and no longer will be using them for our pet care. Of course they take advantage of the auto-renewal and re-up us for another year. No call, no email, no contact to re authorize debits to our account.
So, like so many other customers of Banfield, we have come upon an uncaring customer service person who is "Sorry, but there is nothing we can do." and states that we are responsible for the balance of payments. Seems like a good plan for them as they continue to receive payments from untold numbers of customers and do not have to provide any services. As many complaints as they seem to have had with the recurring theme of no cancellation and forcing payment seems almost illegal to me. Just add my review to the many others and hopefully we can deter anyone considering using these crooks to look elsewhere.
Reviewed Jan. 3, 2017
My gorgeous sheltie has suffered unnecessarily due to the incompetence of these people. In short multiple visits through multiple vets (they don't have an in-house vet at the location by me) all with different responses. My dog was treated for something she never had, suffered in pain when she didn't have to, took x-rays of the wrong freaking body part and sent us home because it was time by the time they finally got around to her for them to close (she Sat in a kennel all day). I took her to the AMAZING PEOPLE at Arizona Humane Society thinking that these folks could probably figure it out. They did in under 30 mins! The "wellness plan" they sold us... doesn't cover anything they advertise! They markup their services so it conflates the coverage.
Just stay the hell away from these "hospitals" if you care about your animal. I am going to the AZ and Federal AG for the marketing scam regarding the wellness plan and licensing for the problems with their "vets" who there is no way these people are vets! I think they are assistants or students judging by their incompetence. My dog's condition is much worse because of their delay in her care and negligent "diagnosis"!!! They treated her for valley fever when she in fact has torn ligaments in her front leg!!!

Reviewed Jan. 3, 2017
I would not recommend this company or their vets to anyone. The vets at Banfield consistently misdiagnose problems and prescribe unnecessary treatments and meds. If you think your pet may have a real health concern, you would be better off going to a qualified independent veterinary clinic. If your only concern is general health/vaccines, state or county run facilities are cheaper. Please don't be foolish enough to sign up for their Wellness Plan because as others have mentioned, if you get a "Wellness Plan" it will automatically renew without notification and they will tell you that it can't be canceled. So you're stuck paying for a service that you no longer want or need for at least another year. Total Ripoff!
Reviewed Dec. 29, 2016
My cat was at the PetSmart groomer and was to be walked over to Banfield that is also in the PetSmart store. I had signed all the forms with the vet and they knew my cat would be dropped off. He was dropped off at the vet at 8:30 am and I called to check on him at noon. The vet said they didn't have my cat! I asked the receptionist to walk the 20 feet to the groomer and see if he was still there. The receptionist told me he couldn't leave his desk and offered NO help. I called the groomer and they confirmed that my cat was walked over in his carrier at 8:30. Back to the vet they searched the cages again. Someone had placed my cat in his carrier in a corner. He was left with no litter box or water!
The doctor got on the phone and said that they don't even check the dropped off pets until after noon. She was very dismissive and obviously wasn't concerned that I was upset that my pet was neglected for over 3 hours with no water or way to relieve himself. I will never take another pet there again. I wonder how long he would have gone unnoticed. I am so glad I called at noon.
Reviewed Dec. 29, 2016
I am sorrowfully shocked at some of these reviews I have read, and my experience is nothing compared to some of you pet parents. I had Banfield when I first found my Daisy Mae under a car (my cat). Took her to Banfield. This was 6 yrs ago. They examined her right there, and I thought, ok this is nice. Then I got Rocco and then Gabby - took them all to Banfield. Then with Rocco they kept him all day for a teeth cleaning, they never got to, I came and got him at 1400. Said, "You're not going to keep him all day and then give him a quick clean up job, and send him home all doped up." Then I dropped off the girls for their cleaning, Gabby had blood all over her neck, and Daisy was so traumatized that when I reached out to pet her, she bit into the palm of my hand, that I had to go to urgent care and lost a week of work, and 2 weeks ago they tried charging me another $150 for a new anesthesia that was suppose to be great for cats.
As I said my problems and issues were small compared to most of these heartbreaking stories. The reason I am here is to say this. I found I had got complacent with the convenience of Banfield being close by and I truly liked the Vet and the front office staff. But, I do not let anyone use my Love for my babies as a tool against me. So I contacted Banfield to cancel my plan, when they hem and hawed I threatened them with a class action lawsuit, which I brought to their attention the thousands of complaints I have seen and read. Furthermore, all of you need to contact your Attorneys Generals office in your State as well as one in Oregon since this is where Banfield is located. Dish played with me once, I did this and got a letter of apology and they (forgave) the balance due. And go to your coworkers and friends and research and find a real Vet's office.
Banfield at one time might have been good. But it is a conveyor belt for our fur babies, without proper care, and has anybody noticed that the glass going into the back room is covered and you cannot look where they take your babies??? I successfully broke my contract with them, and I will still be filing a complaint with the Attorney General's office because I don't like their techniques or policies. So all my fellow pet parents out there, push back and push back hard. I found a real vet's office where they have a waiting room for the cats and dogs separate, and I save $327 a year, as I was paying $75 a month for everyone for 3 dental cleanings it came to $543, and the Vet is in the room with me, there is no rushing.
My prayers for all of you that have been unnecessary traumatized, but our fur kids can't talk to us like our 2 legged kids can, so you have to interpret them, my Daisy Mae that bit in to me so hard, I think this is Gandhi come back in cat form, in other words she wouldn't harm a fly. She is the sweetest most gentle being along with Rocco I have ever seen, so whatever happened to her that day traumatized her so bad, she attacked me. And I will never forgive them for that or myself for going back. I hope this helps someone. Prayers to everyone.
Reviewed Dec. 28, 2016
I have been trying since August to Cancel our Banfield Pet Insurance when I discovered that there was not Banfield hospital near us. We moved to an area that was over 200 miles from the nearest Banfield Pet Hospital in April. We were not given an alternative and I could not see traveling that far to visit a vet when there were vets in our area just not Banfield.
When I called them to cancel, they would not do so as the policy was in my husband's name rather than mine although it was my credit card that they had on file, and my email address they were sending all correspondence regarding my dog's care and billings. Banfield had no problem authorizing me to bring the dog into them for care and no problem billing my credit card and no problem sending me emails, but they would not allow me to cancel the policy. We tried for months to get it cancelled as they continued to rack up the charges. Finally they agreed to do so in December only if I paid an arbitrary amount they said we now owed them. We paid, but are waiting for them to remove the credit mark that they say is for slow pay even though it was in dispute during that time.
Reviewed Dec. 26, 2016
The only reason I'm even rating this one is because I have to. We took my pug in on 12/17 to have her yearly check up blood work and all. I get a call everything is fine. On 12/19 we had to put her to sleep at another vet because she had an enlarged heart fluid around her lungs and a collapsed trachea. That is not something that happened in 2 days so how did they miss all this??? Nobody there paid enough attention to notice the cough she had or she couldn't breathe? I will never step foot in that place again and will be placing this same rating anywhere I can.
Reviewed Dec. 23, 2016
I too am highly dissatisfied with the quality of service I received through Banfield. My dog had been throwing up all food and water for three days and I tried to make an appointment with the Banfield where I have a Wellness plan. They told me "We are too busy to see him." I explained to them in depth that my dog had only kept down an ice cube or two a day and that he very much needed to see a vet. I asked if there was anything they could do (knowing full well that some of those appointments were for updating shots and general health check-ups) and they still said they couldn't see him for at least another two days.
Because they were unwilling to move around a few check-ups I ended up with an $1800 vet bill from the emergency animal clinic after they ran a bunch of tests and gave him IV fluids. I do not recommend this vet to anyone if they think they might ever have a real health concern for their dog. If your only goal is general health/vaccines I suppose they and the plans are great, but besides that they are terrible. Also, as others have mentioned, if you get a Wellness Plan you can only cancel it after a year. So I will have paid 8 months on a service I no longer use at all.
Reviewed Dec. 21, 2016
DO NOT SIGN UP FOR BANFIELD PET INSURANCE. We have had our 3 cats and 2 dogs on the Banfield insurance policy for a few years. Every time we use a "covered" service to receive routine care for them, we end up having to purchase additional medicines, vitamins, or other items to address the "problems" they found. We pretty much accepted this as part of their money-making plan but it was peace of mind to know our pets were getting regular care.
However, in the last month, we have taken each of our dogs in on separate occasions for their yearly dental cleaning (dropped off and left for the day as per their policy) and each one developed a nasty cough the day following their procedure. With the first dog, we originally thought it was kennel cough. So we took him in again and the doc was unsure whether it was kennel cough or if it was the result of the intubation. "Possibly the tube went in crooked and had scraped his esophagus," she said as if it was a common thing. So we went home with medicine to treat the possible kennel cough PLUS an antibiotic for the possible botched intubation. This had not happened after his prior dental cleanings, so we chalked it up to a one time thing.
Yesterday, we dropped off our second dog for the same procedure. Lo and behold, he is coughing up a storm today. I am betting the farm that we'll be told the same thing and sent home with two more medicines that we shouldn't have needed. If, in fact, Banfield is training their folks to do intubations differently in hopes of upselling more meds to their customers then there is a special place in hell for these people. Regardless of whether it is a not so carefully designed business plan or just incompetence, we are no longer going to offer up our pets as pawns in their game. I know that we will not be let out of our contracts early but we are certainly submitting our intent to cancel immediately. I hope our story will help someone avoid subjecting their furry family member to this.
Reviewed Dec. 20, 2016
I called Banfield and told them to stop using my credit card for auto bill and that it was done without my permission. No service had been used. I cancelled my credit card and they are still charging my new credit card. Apparently Master Card allows auto bill to forward to a new credit card without your permission. I cannot get this company to stop billing my credit card.
Reviewed Dec. 20, 2016
I contacted customer service with questions about a charge only to find out I signed up on a plan that auto renewed. I many times told the man who answered that I was promised this would end after one year and he never once acknowledged or simply empathized with me. Instead said there was nothing he can do. Finally after having enough of him I called again and got a very kind lady named Leanne. I have to say even when I was extremely unkind to her she showed me kindness and explained what this was about. It changed how I thought of this company. Maybe if there were more employees like her reviews might be more positive.
Reviewed Dec. 19, 2016
Took my dog Elvis in for a well visit on 12/31/2015. He was dead by 2/10/2016. I had originally taken Elvis in due to him not eating and loosing weight. At the time the doc stated he was 100% healthy just needed a dental cleaning and his nails cut. They sold me the wellness plan for covering his dental and we went home happy there wasn't anything else wrong. Long story short, Elvis had a huge tumor on his spleen that they missed and his abdomen was riddled with cancer. It was everywhere.
We got the, "Oops sorry, we missed this gigantic tumor and cancer" speech and we're advised to put him down on 2/1/2016, but it wasn't covered by the wellness plan because, well it was death and not about making the pet better (another sentiment reiterated today with their customer service department). Also, I would have to continue paying the wellness plan every month for this year because I had signed a contract. Yes, I signed a contract during that first visit after I was told he was just old and in great health, what BS.
I went to my original vet for a second opinion. He was shocked that ANY vet or tech had missed the symptoms. The tumor was huge. We decided to do surgery on 2/10/16 to remove the tumor, but when my vet opened him up, the cancer was in every organ. We put Elvis down then we did not wake him up. Elvis had lived weeks in extreme pain, slowly bleeding in to his abdomen because of the ineptitude of the vet at Banfield. His end was more traumatic and painful than it ever needed to be. Either they missed the cancer or they lied to sell a wellness plan. Either way they have now turned me over to collections and are shuffling my complaint around. No I will not pay the $275, until I am reimbursed the $1500 I paid to the other vet after a bad diagnosis. Or we could just agree to walk away from each other free and clear. I don't want to argue. I just want to heal from loosing a family member.
Reviewed Dec. 19, 2016
I have tried to cancel my wellness plan at least five times with no such luck. When I call to stop the wellness plan from renewing (option 1), it says my phone number is invalid (even though it's never changed). Therefore, I have to press 3 and after a 35 minute wait, the lady gives me the same number I just called and I was told to press the number 1 which again won't work. Halfway through explaining this to the lady, she proceeds to hang up on me. When I try to log in on the website to update my phone number online, it's block me saying I have attempted to log in too many times. I only tried to log in once! It has done this to me for weeks. When I try to call the website help number, they are closed on a Monday. This is absolutely ridiculous. There is nothing I can do because every help option doesn't work.
Reviewed Dec. 14, 2016
I began using Banfield about six years ago in Charlotte. They were great. When I brought my dog in, both of us were in an examination room with either the vet, the vet tech, or both. We moved to Chicago. When it was time for my dog Macadoo's semiannual checkup, I was told to bring him in at 9:30. I had to drop him off since that's their new deal. He still was not ready at noon, or 2:30. Finally, around 5:30 he still was not ready when some girl called to tell me he needed this and that, it cost this much and that much--after 65 yrs. of owning and raising dogs, I knew he didn't. It was like, cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching. When I picked him up about 6:30, the kennel guy told me he had to put Macadoo in the shower twice because he had diarrhea. Terrible. I called to cancel my Wellness plan and was told they would keep charging me until it expired in May. I told them to go ahead. In the meantime, I would let every social media available how awful they are.
Reviewed Dec. 13, 2016
When I tried to cancel because I had to put my Great Dane down, they wanted me to pay for services previously rendered. The first time I took the dog in for an exam it was over $500, they wanted to charge me 500 minus what I paid into the plan so far that year. They wanted me to pay $350. She was also due for another visit. So I would have had to pay more? I will not use their service anymore.
Reviewed Dec. 11, 2016
PLEASE READ THIS: I never come to social media to ask for help, but this is an exemption. I need you guys to share this post as must as you can because what Banfield Pet Hospital did to my dog and my family is unbelievable and incredibly disrespectful. Short story, I took my dog Chanel to Banfield after she started acting weird; she had a lot sneezing and coughing, vomiting white mucus and she was acting oddly. So, I called my primary care vet, and he asked me to put Chanel on the speaker. Dr. ** was able to identify a respiratory issue in Chanel thru the "SPEAKER" of my phone and instructed me to go to the closest emergency pet hospital which happens to be Banfield.
When I got there, Dr. ** was the one who saw Chanel and determined that it was a GI infection even though I explicitly told him that my dog was not breathing ok and that she was sneezing and coughing. Dr. ** said to me and I quote: "Chanel seemed to have an infection, but he couldn't tell me where it was so he was going to give us general antibiotics and some medicine for the gas and the GI issue." So, I was sent home with treatment for a possible GI infection. 12 hours later, I was in the emergency room again with Chanel because she could barely breathe. I went to Banfield two days after she was admitted to the hospital to let them know what they cause and how much has cost us their mistake. Banfield told me they were going to get someone to call me.
A day after I get a phone call from Dr. Seth **, Chief of Staff at Banfield Pet Hospital and according to him they "DID" drop the ball when they sent Chanel home with a prognosis of GI infection and he was going to talk to someone to find a way to help me out with the bills. The funny part is that I told this gentleman that I didn't want any money and the only thing I was looking for was for them to fix their issue and pay the expenses they cost me which as of now $6,600 approx. This guy calls me today and tells me that they can refund me with the $400 that I paid them went I took Chanel to Banfield on 12/6/2016.
So, not only you guys almost killed my dog, which by the way, to me, she is not a dog, she is my daughter; she is family, but you try to buy your way out of this with $400 when the first thing that I said to you was that I didn't want to file a lawsuit against Banfield and that all I wanted it to do was for you guys to fix your wrongdoing? This has been one of the worst experiences that I have ever had in my entire life. Now, I'm forced to take a different approach because you guys made me to. Please share this, so nobody else goes thru the same situation that I went thru..... By the way, Chanel has been hospitalized since 12/7/2016 in intensive care. PLEASE SHARE!!!!! Banfield Pet Hospital Banfield Pet Hospital.
Reviewed Dec. 10, 2016
I recently adopted a dog from another family. The family had purchased a wellness policy through Banfield Hospital. The dog had received most of his shots and care for the year. I asked to pay for the remaining balance on the plan since I now own the dog. This was not allowed. I asked if I could take over the contract for the dog. This is also not allowed. (You are getting your money, so why not?)
Advice for Banfield: If a person is willing to pay the plan off in advance, why would you not allow this? With similar reviews, if an animal passes away, why can't owners pay the services off that have already been rendered and then cancel. This could save them some money and be fair. You are not dealing with dishwashers or blenders, these animals are part of families and for many, their only family.
This being my first experience with your ''company'' (obviously not a veterinary clinic), why wouldn't you try to gain me as a new customer? Doesn't new client money and a transfer make sense? The two employees at the veterinarian hospital were very polite answering my questions. It is sad that your corporate policies do not allow them to do the right thing. Finally, I will never go to PetSmart again because they allow Banfield in their store. PetSmart may want to consider what a company like this is doing to their reputation.
Reviewed Dec. 7, 2016
Stay away! They do not look out for the well being of pets! We had been using them for 11 years. After the vet we saw left the practice last October (NEVER NOTIFIED) the quality of care was on a steep decline. They did not have vets staffed for months after that could perform surgeries, including dental cleanings. It is very odd how they function- you aren't there for the care of your pet. It's a drop off basis. As of recently, we took our 3 dogs in mid-November for comprehensive exams. One of them, is no longer with us. We said she was not herself, described her symptoms and we're told she was healthy (despite rapid weight loss, told she was ideal weight) besides an elevated enzyme- take this medicine and follow up in 30 days. Well, she only had 2 more weeks to live. Our other dog, I knew he had some ear infection of some sort, but after a comprehensive exam he checked out ok? Something is wrong with that picture.
Had they listened to our concerns, our pet would have been diagnosed sooner and not overlooked. We called to get our pet in and were told to go to ER Vet and they had no way to see her that night (They were still open 3 more hours when I called) nor the next day. Stay away. If you love your pet, do them some justice and avoid Banfield. Don't let your pet be another number for them. After calling their corporate 12/5 my plans are still NOT cancelled as I was told they would be. This is malpractice! If this happened with a person, the Dr. would lose their license!
Reviewed Dec. 6, 2016
I had a little dog, who was my emotional service animal. She got sick late at night last March. Tuesday, she showed signs of feeling better. However, Wednesday morning she looked very bad. I bought her dog food at PetSmart and remembered they had a vet office, so I rushed her there. The workers are very loving and kind people. I am disabled from an accident in 2011, so money is tight. After being there for 2 hours, they showed me how I could save some money. They told me, that she was going to make it, but she was going to need ongoing care. Hearing that, I felt I had no other option. I was relieved to hear she was going to be ok. I could give up my cell phone, and find other things to cut back on, so I could afford the $42.00 a month. She was my best friend and only companion.
I picked her up at 4;30 as instructed, I was suppose to take her back when they opened the following morning. She did not make it, she died in my arms at 9:05 that night. Sitting here typing, I have to take breaks to stop thinking about it and crying. I paid over $400.00 for the care that was not covered. They called me wanting their payment money, and I told them she did not live 12 hours after buying the wellness. The young man that called me, was informed of it, he said let me send this to our customer advocacy office because they should dismiss this claim. A couple weeks later, they called me, and said it is an ironclad contract, and I better pay.
By this time, I adopted another little wonderful companion, named Roxie, so I ask, since the dog I purchased it for, lived for less than 12 hour, can you transfer it to my new support dog? YOU GUESSED IT, NO!!! They want me to pay for nothing, because I paid a great deal of money when I picked her up. The plan includes shot updates, free check-up, plus some other things. They will not let me use any of it, by refusing to transfer the coverage to Roxie.
Reviewed Dec. 6, 2016
I've been with this hospital over 2 years. When I take my puppies there for check up no problem. They said everything was done. He is fine. Pass years one of my puppy been having seizure more often. First my puppy had seizure they charged for IV catheter and other exams. Then said "we can't take care of him here. Take him to the ER." I took my puppy to the ER. When I got there they came with a statement double of Banfield for the same thing Banfield had just done and they told me the ER wouldn't charge me. End it up that what BANFIELD done on my puppy was wrong and they had to do all over again. My puppy was hospitalized and thank you God got better.
DEC 4, 2016 my other puppy which had been to their facility not even a month for a check up because his penis was bleeding and they found nothing wrong. Well Dec 4 my puppy get sick out nowhere. My runs with to BANFIELD. He was shaking and stomach was hard as ROCK, he hardly could move. She arrives there, they came to her with the same thing - "it's going to be this amount," when the dog is dying and we pay wellness plan... Anyway they do an Ultrasound and x-ray. They found the dog has a big TUMOR and tell her pay us and take him to the ER. My baby can't breathe at this moment anymore. They don't give pain med... nothing - just her the farthest ER ever... and the puppy was losing his life.
After almost 1 hour in traffic she finally arrived to the ER. Immediately they took him and did another Ultrasound, X-ray and found out he had to go under operation ASAP. The TUMOR was made of blood was bigger as an orange. They removed and they said "it's funny how you take your puppy for check-up," if they had done blood test they would know something was wrong in his blood, and I told the doctor "you right" and also a TUMOR it doesn't form from one night to the day... NEGLIGENCE FROM THIS FACILITY STAFF. And guess what the manager of the facility told me when my puppy was having seizures and he was almost telling me "pay or you don't leave..." I didn't pay because they never did anything. He told me at the end "you don't have to come to this hospital anymore..." when I am a member of the wellness for my puppy and my puppy needs ER...
They never call one moment to see how my dog was. All about money. Never care for the animals. They should been working on animal clinics. I enforce authorities to take a look at those clinics and make sure they are really doing what they say on your pets... I never take my two puppies there again. Just let you know when do get a vet that cares for the animals. They don't last one week!!!
Reviewed Dec. 2, 2016
My wife and I have been customers for at least 3 years, and paying monthly on a medical maintenance plan for our dog. In July of 2016, our bank card expired and they issued another. I did not think to call Banfield, and they never called us or sent a letter, stating that the automatic payment was not going through. Instead they simply closed our health insurance account and sent the amount of $263 to a collection agency. We received the first notice of this by mail in November.
We called and paid the amount and told them they just hurt our chance to buy a house by sending this to a collection agency and damaging our credit. They of course could not care less, and confirmed that they did not try to call us or send a letter stating our card had expired. God forbid if our dog had a serious illness during this time, we would have had no coverage. I would NEVER Recommend this organization based on this POOR Customer Service and archaic business practice guidelines.
Reviewed Dec. 1, 2016
I took my 6 year old Russell Terrier in with an upset stomach. He had gotten into the trash can over the weekend. I dropped him off at 7:30am and picked him up at approximately 4pm. He walked in just fine, but when I came to pick him up he could barely use his back legs to walk. The Banfield Dr. said when she did her exam that he had no back pain but that he did have some stomach pain and she gave him some anti-nausea medicine and fluids because of the vomiting. When they went to get him when I arrived he couldn't walk. The doctor suggested I take him to a animal hospital with a neurologist because of his symptoms. Once there, they could get him in for immediate surgery but, I couldn't afford the $6500 surgery.
I had to put him to sleep a few days later because he was in so much pain and I just could keep him drugged all the time. Banfield ruined his life. DO NOT use Banfield Pet Hospital. They did something to him while in their care and won't admit it. I'm considering filing a lawsuit and taking this up with a local TV station. People need to be aware of the horrid care this place is capable of.
Reviewed Nov. 24, 2016
6 days ago my dog has surgery on one of his paws to remove a lump. After been given him special care by not leaving his side at any second of the day, so he didn't hurt his stitches or band-aids a vet tech on Banfield decided to leave him unattended while, changing the band-aids so he ripped the stitches off. I am talking about I stayed down on the floor next to his bed for 17 hours at the time for 6 days, so this would never happen, but it did because a careless person decided that it was ok.
Now, I am suffering more because now it will take longer to recovered from his surgery. So I may lose my job because I can't leave his side. I am looking for legal advice to hold them accountable to this mistreatment to my dog or any other animal. I have been with Banfield for 11 years and this is not acceptable. Not only that they lie to you on products and medication that you need to get, when you don't but they don't take the blame for what it happened after they extremely had instructions of not to leave him alone while having his band-aids changed.
Reviewed Nov. 22, 2016
To say that I feel like I have been violated and misinformed is an understatement. I have been a consumer utilizing the Banfield Wellness Plan for several years. I have a service animal, CoCo Chanel, and my desire is to keep her well and healthy. Thus, I enrolled in the Banfield Wellness Plan. I am a senior citizen living on a fixed income. I had to alleviate some of my necessities to pay the monthly premium. I was residing in the Pacific Northwest where Banfield was accessible. I moved to Wisconsin in September and there is no Banfield Hospital. Therefore, I must take CoCo to a veterinarian in my area.
As a part of the wellness plan CoCo should receive an annual dental cleaning. I took her for her annual check up in August and the veterinarian did not do a dental cleaning. Needless to say, I called Banfield to cancel my plan. I was informed that I still owe them over $300.00. I was told that services are provided first and paid for monthly. I was not informed about this at my briefing of the wellness plan. Banfield refused to credit my account for not cleaning CoCo's teeth. In my opinion, this is consumer fraud, false misrepresentation and dishonesty. I strongly recommend that if anyone is considering a pet wellness plan that you do not select Banfield.
Reviewed Nov. 21, 2016
The Wellness Plan I was on save me a lot of money when I ran into health problems with my dog. If I didn't have the plan I would have paid double the price. A pet you care about with health problems is very expensive. After my puppy passed the Banfield customer service team worked with me and provided options to resolve my contract. I know there are many reviews that are negative on here. People are very emotional about their pets, as I was when mine died. Banfield was very consoling and helpful. I guess I had a different positive experience than everyone else.
Reviewed Nov. 16, 2016
I have been with Banfield for approximately 10 years and have seen them decline so much over the years. This past year with them has been horrible. They seem to have lost any type of customer service or compassion for their clients. I was also a member of their wellness program for both of my puppy dogs, and while it appeared to be a good service at first, gradually they seemed to add more and more costs that were not covered by the plan that I was paying good money for each month. My heart breaks just to say this, but this month I lost one of my precious boys and when I called the Banfield Wellness program to let them know, they showed no compassion and told me I was still liable to continuing paying my monthly fees for my poor baby until the end of his contract. I was obviously upset, not only with this news but the fact that they didn't even seem to care that I had lost a member of my family.
I then told them to cancel the plan for my other puppy and they said "May I ask why?" I'm not sure what type of people they hire, but they certainly are not animal lovers. It has been almost two weeks since I lost one of my best buddies, and have gotten a sympathy response from the emergency clinic I took him to since it was a Sunday evening, and Banfield was not open - and have heard nothing from Banfield who I patronized for over 10 years with my family. Even when I called them to let them know that my baby had passed at the emergency center, all they had to say was "Yeah, they called and let us know." In my most inner soul, I cannot understand how anyone, especially in the business they are in, could be so cold and cruel. If you consider your pets a part of your family, please really consider this information before deciding to use this company. I would not like to see anyone go through anything like this again. It just hurts too bad.
Reviewed Nov. 13, 2016
This place is an absolute joke. I had an EMERGENCY with my dog today and I was told that I cannot bring him in. They were way too busy giving shots and they would NOT take care of my dog. How disgusting is that? What kind of vet conducts business like that? I thought that's what I pay insurance for but I guess not. I called them at 12:10 pm today. They close at 4:00 pm. I will definitely be calling first thing in the morning and cancelling your ** insurance that only takes care of my dog when it's convenient for you... YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES AND YOUR LACK OF ETHICS... And by the way he has 2 slipped discs...
Reviewed Nov. 11, 2016
My kitten passed away because PetSmart clinic didn't give her the proper medical treatment. Do not waste your money at PetSmart clinic. They have medical malpractice and the director and vets here will blame it on other things but the reality is that they don't want to lose their license including the director, Director Brook **, Dr **, Dr. **. They did not seem sincere about my kitten passing. They are a business that only want your money and could care less about your pet. I wish I would've read reviews prior to taking my kitten to be treated. She was misdiagnosed and not treated right. She died because of their stupidity.
Reviewed Nov. 10, 2016
I brought my kitten to Banfield in Mechanicsburg, PA and signed up for their wellness plan. At the first visit they verified that my kitten was female and provided the required shots. At that time I requested that we set up for my kitten to be spayed. I was told that we would have to wait until after the kitten received the second set of shots. I expressed that I wanted to have this completed before the kitten was 6 months of age... The sooner the better. I went back 3 weeks later for the additional shots. Again they examined my kitten. At this time they set up the appointment for the spay. The time frame was 1 month later.
In the meantime I acquired another kitten. My first kitten became sick and refused to eat. I took the kitten to be examined and they wanted to run all kinds of test and x-rays. I told them I didn't have that kind of money so they did a different exam and told me that it was a large hairball. They gave me medicine and charged me $300. I then set up for my other kitten to be seen. A week later I took him there and had him examined and shots. I put him on the wellness plan too. Both times I was told that the spay/neuter fee was included. They set up for my 1st kitten to be spayed and my 2nd kitten to receive the second set of shots.
The day before the appointment I get a call to cancel the spay because the vets PA license had not come in. And the next appointment was yet another month away. I told the girl on the phone that I had wanted this done a month ago and I was delayed and now I have to wait yet another month!!! I asked what happens if my kitty goes into heat and then impregnated? The young woman said that they would do an abortion sterilization. I told her "well let's just hope that doesn't happen." After about 30 minutes I get a call back that they have an opening in 2 days. So I take the appointment. Because of the surgery neither kitten could eat after 10 pm. So I packed food for kitten 2 so that they could feed him since was only getting shots.
We go in and they are going over the paperwork with me. They tell me that because my kitten is over 5 months they need to use a different anesthesia which is $118. I tell them no... I wanted this done months ago and that they caused the delay. They get the charge waived but then they tell me that because my kitten had gone into heat they would need to use a different anesthesia which would cost cost $118. I told them no... My kitten was not now nor has been in heat. So I think we have that cleared up but at this point I am angry because they are attempting to over charge me.
I get to work and about 30 minutes later I get a call that they need to use a different anesthesia because my kitten has a kidney infection. At this point I blast the woman on the phone and let them know that they have now attempted to charge me an extra fee and I was not going to pay it. She then says that they can go ahead and neuter kitten 2. I tell her no I want done what the appointment was for. The woman on the phone then says they will call back when I am more reasonable.
An hour later I hear a call from a guy who again asks about the extra anesthesia or having kitten 2 neutered. I told him in a very strained tone that kitten 2 was there for shots only. He informed me that no shots had been given. I lost it... I told the guy... Kitten 2 gets his shots now! Both kittens are to be ready as I will be there in 15 minutes. After they give me all my paperwork, food and kittens I inform them I better not see another charge for any of their services on my card and I will not be coming back.
So yesterday I brought both kittens to a different vet for the spay and neuter. I called mid day... Was informed both were doing fine and that both were male kittens. So Banfield examined kitten 1 4x and not once identified that he was not a girl but in fact a boy!!! They have no idea what they are doing. They need to be shut down before they do any more damage to pets, owners and the veterinary practice altogether.
Reviewed Nov. 7, 2016
Adopted our 2nd dog through Petsmart and got coupons from the shelter for Banfield. Took my dog in for 1st flu shot and got a free exam. Was told to return in about 3-4 weeks for the 2nd booster. Along comes a large size postcard where it stated in big bold letters "Bailey's vaccinations are OVERDUE!" As to do more harm, the postcard was misdelivered to our busy-body neighbor. She was very quick to deliver it to me along with a lecture about caring for our dog, and she expects to see the dog on leash at all times. "Can't have rabid animals running around, don't 'ya know" I was told.
I called Banfield and asked them if they would like their medical history displayed on a postcard. They have a HIPA law for people. You would think passionate pet parents as ourselves would do more complaining. Banfield sucks. They only make appointments and don't take walk-ins. Losing lots of business that way. I wouldn't recommend Banfield to anyone (except Bill & Hillary).
Reviewed Nov. 6, 2016
Let me start by saying that I love PetSmart as a store. Because of that, I decided to take my puppy in to the Banfield vet located inside of PetSmart. I had adopted her from the local humane society, so she came with extensive medical records as well as behavioral history. However, I wanted to be sure that I got her all of her proper medical history, so I booked a wellness exam with a vet at Banfield. When I went in to the appointment, I brought her entire folder with all of her medical history because I wasn't sure what all she needed in terms of vaccinations. The vet then went through the information and proceeded to come up with an extensive list of vaccinations and procedures that my puppy should get.
However, as she was naming out all of the things she wanted to put on the list, she kept saying "your dog doesn't really need this, but I want to give it to her anyways". The list came out to several hundreds of dollars, which is way more than we intended to spend that day, especially when she already had so many medical procedures done. When we asked her what she actually needs (since she kept throwing on unnecessary extras), she refused to tell us what vaccinations were necessary or to explain what each one guarded against. She then proceeded to spend 15 minutes trying to sell us on their "wellness plan", even after we politely refused it saying that regular pet insurance through our insurance company would cover more.
To make a long story short, we ended up leaving with no vaccinations and the vet was visibly upset about this. We recently took her to a different vet with better reviews. After reviewing our puppy's records, this vet told us that our puppy actually doesn't even need any other vaccinations until March. Banfield tried to scam us out of so much money for unnecessary things, many of which our puppy already had! I will never go there again!
Reviewed Nov. 4, 2016
On Oct. 30th 2016 I was looking for a vet to get my cat checked out and I found on Banfield's website a coupon for a free exam. Being on SSDI and short of money this sounded perfect for me. I called Banfield and told them about my cat, my financial situation and that I had a coupon. I was told that the coupon was for well pets and they couldn't help me. I was so offended and did not like it one bit that this place treated me like my cat wasn't important because it sounds like I can't afford their services. This place sucks.
Reviewed Nov. 4, 2016
I've been a Banfield customer for 7+ years and they have never changed. I come in on time for my appointments and I have to wait 20-40 minutes before being seen, always. I come in late on purpose in hopes that they will see me soon but I still have to wait the same amount of time, 20-40 minutes and that is just outside the waiting area. Once you get in the room you have at least another 10 minute wait to be seen. So today I decided to come in early, 25 minutes early, in hope that I will be seen on time, and I was told I could not check in early because it will look like I've been waiting a long time! So I have to wait to check in!! So here I am writing this! And that is just the tip of the iceberg. I haven't even gotten to the revolving vets and assistants that works and quits. And the fact that one of my pet has had heart problems and one of the new vet just barely found out and my dog has been going there for 7 years. Too many complaints to write!
Reviewed Nov. 2, 2016
Going to keep it simple but one of my worst experiences. They are nothing but scam artists, which they do not care about animals period!!! I live in Fort Lauderdale. They had my dog for two days and wanted more money and playing a guessing game with my dog's health. Please anybody thinking of using them please don't for the sake of your pet.
Reviewed Nov. 1, 2016
Took my dog in for teeth cleaning. Got a call while he's under anesthesia saying he needed three teeth extracted and would be nearly $400 -- after accounting for the additional anesthesia, sutures, and everything else they could think of. Of course, people are in pure panic mode when they hear this so are apt to say yes. What's the point of the expensive monthly insurance I'm paying? Ten out of 12 months, nothing is happening except getting charged. Then when I need something like this, they spring it on you. I'm cancelling the service right now. I would highly advise for pet owners to look elsewhere. Banfield is evidently a corporate culture eager to upsell and put pet owners under duress to get maximum dollars. That's why they earn nearly one billion per year in revenues.
Reviewed Oct. 30, 2016
Called them many times. No response... From my experience they don't care... Beware of Revolution for dogs. My dog got seizures from this medication prescribed by Banfield hospital in Stamford CT.
Reviewed Oct. 28, 2016
My dog had been grabbed around the waist by a larger dog. He was sore and due to small puncture wounds, his body had been swelling up with air. I suspected he may have damaged a rib as well. When I realized the possibility of internal wounding, I called the vets at Banfield. Never having tried them before, I had decided to use the free initial consult and appointment coupon I received in the mail. I was prepared to pay for extras, within limits. EVERYONE WAS EXCEEDINGLY NICE. IT WAS A PLEASURE DEALING WITH THEM. I would like to think it was all sincere but I will never know for sure because the money is definitely the driving force of this business.
The vet did not think there was internal bleeding or damage, agreed the rib might be broken...suggested an x-ray. I inquired as to the charge because I pay $50 for my personal x-rays. I believe it was $125 and then there was the x-ray consult fee. Another -$45. Yes, $45 to look at an x-ray. Which combined with all the other stuff, would have come to over $400 for treatment, when there would not have been treatment. There is no treatment for a broken rib, but rest and quiet...so I opted to not have x-ray. Either with or without the x-ray the rx plan is the same.
She wanted to provide ** but I had some at home so I declined. I think that was another $60 and then ** for pain I use **, I get 200 tablets a month for $20. She wanted to charge me $60 I think, for a few. I declined stating I will use mine...and then of course, the antibiotic. That was a whopping $79. When I inquired why I was told that the injections cost that much, well why not tell me what the pills cost and very hesitantly I was told $8 and "not everyone likes to give a pill twice a day." I told her perhaps if she mentioned it to her clients as a viable option, they probably would go for the pills because it saved $70. All in all, my dog is going to be fine on the meds I have at home and the antibiotic, and I walked out of there with an $8 bill, but if I had not fought back, it would have been over $400 for zero treatment and zero results that would not come about on their own. I will not be going back to Banfield.
Reviewed Oct. 26, 2016
Was told Banfield doesn't care about what my dog is experiencing by the senior vet Beth ** in Cranberry, Pa Banfield Pet Hospital. Among other things, it was by far the worst vet experience I've ever had. AND THEY CANCELLED MY CONTRACT!!! Two weeks before scheduled surgery. Why? Well, I guess Beth ** knew she is a lousy vet and if anything happened to my baby, I would have come after her for her license and money. She was a quitter instead of someone who cared and did her best. They then tried to persuade consumer advocate that they had done me a favor by not collecting the remainder of the contract fee!!! Such buffoons at Banfield!!
Reviewed Oct. 21, 2016
Ever since I first signed my contract I have regretted it. They only care about money - still charge you every visit for things the plan doesn't cover. I pay $70 a month plus another $50-60 every month I went. My female puppy Java started at 7 months and yesterday at just 1 and a half years old my baby is gone. I bought my dog in describing vomiting and foam coming from her mouth and she developed a twitch. My exact words to the doc "on the car ride over she foamed up and twitched violently". Doc asked if she got into anything she shouldn't have I said no. He felt nothing in her stomach and gave her a shot for nausea and sent me home with 4 pills to give her for the next two days. All for nausea. I suppose I was hopeful and wanted to believe this was all it was. This costed me $80.
We went back home and java began to get worse within 2 hours. My boyfriend and I had called them back and asked what the deal was. He spoke to the doc and the doctor claimed I said nothing about foaming at the mouth. Meanwhile my dog was sitting right in front of him FOAMING AT THE MOUTH. They turned their phones off at 630 pm when they are supposed to be open until 7 pm. I was no longneck. We able to get in touch so I could corporate. They couldn't reach that hospital either.
Nobody at corporate could give us answers or help us in anyway or forward us to someone higher up. They said "we cannot answer your questions at this time. Go to an emergency clinic" Unbelievably unprofessional. We did take Java to the emergency clinic and found that she had a neurological disorder that was progressing very rapidly. Her brain had gotten so swollen. My poor baby was non-responsive within 4 hours. We put her down.
I'm extremely disappointed that banfield who pay so much money to help my dog dismissed her in ten minutes with a stomach ache. Now I'm here without my baby. They won't cancel my plan unless I pay the full retail price which is about $800 because she was spayed with them. If you love your pet, do not use banfield. It is not worth saving the very little money you save. Take your baby to a professional. I wish I did. They are extremely inexperienced and unprofessional. Please choose wisely. I wouldn't want anyone else to go through what I've gone through in the last 48 hours.
Reviewed Oct. 13, 2016
I told my Mom to take her dog to you and 13 hours after she did the little pup was died. What was up with that? Will never tell my friends or family to take their animals to you again. I am done with BANFIELD...
Reviewed Oct. 12, 2016
Banfield Pet Hospital is a joke and scam. They strongarm you into signing up for their "Wellness Plans" saying they will save you money over the regular services alone. What they don't tell you is that even at their discounted Wellness Plan rate their services are about twice as much as you'd pay somewhere else. Additionally, if you realize you're being scammed and try to cancel the plan, not only are you not going to get any money back, but they can turn around and claim you owe them money! The staff at the clinic I went to didn't appear to be very well-trained. The Banfield vet missed some basic health issues that my local vet caught. I wish I had read the reviews on this site before I ever brought my pet here.
Reviewed Oct. 12, 2016
I brought my 15 yrs old cat as I knew there was something wrong. They tested her & she has a thyroid problem. Gave me some medicine & convinced me I needed the health insurance plan. So I got it thinking, ok I pay every month & just pay less / a deductible when I take her there. The medicine did not work. The only other treatment was a $2000 procedure that may or may not work because the cat was old. I couldn't afford it. I did not want to an old cat through all that so I had to have her put to sleep. This all happened within a month. So then even though the cat was dead I had to pay the insurance for a year. Did you ever have any insurance that still had to be paid after there is no more patient? Wtf. A ripoff.
Reviewed Oct. 10, 2016
I took my 12 year old cat Maxwell to the Banfield location in Las Vegas 89148 for a check up and anal gland evacuation. The receptionist was a delight, I was so glad as we have recently relocated and needed a nearby Vet. It ended there, once we were in the exam room, Dr. ** spent about 3 minutes on his exam, told me he should have his teeth cleaned and the next 5 minutes selling me on the Wellness Plans. She asked no questions about his diet (he is a big one), or his bowel habits, which I thought was odd as she was going to evacuate his fecal glands. Just the options of the Wellness Plans. She then took him in the back for the evacuation. I had never heard him scream like that, he has had this done before. I had to go out front and could still hear him over all the other animals in the back room, it was awful.
When they brought him back to me he was hyperventilating and panting, the Vet Assistant even pointed it out to the Vet, who shrugged it off. I stayed in the room with him for 10 minutes waiting for his breathing to return to normal, no one ever came back in to check on us. There are sedation options come to find out. She had other things to do and just left and never gave us a second thought. Had I read the reviews prior I would have never ever gone there. Don't put you or your pet through it.
Reviewed Oct. 10, 2016
When my dog had a problem with something stuck in his throat I took him to Banfield Hospital and they said take him to an emergency clinic! Also, the lady was very rude! Why would I pay $42 a month for insurance that I can't use. If you buy this insurance you will be sorry, there are a lot of better companies out there.
Reviewed Oct. 8, 2016
I made an appointment to have my beloved Jasper's teeth cleaned at the prompting of a customer service call from Banfield Pet Hospital located in the Petsmart of Snowden Square Columbia, MD. He was a stunningly beautiful Maine Coon "Tom" all black fur with the disposition of an angel. He was my best friend. I'm disabled from work and got him when I was waiting for my disability to be approved & to help me with the depression from my recent separation.
He was my joy. There were days when the only reason I got out of bed was to care for my Jasper. He will never be replaced. There was only one Jasper, now there's none! I didn't feed him or give him any water from midnight as I was told. Brought him in at the scheduled time. I filled out the paperwork, they took him before I could really say goodbye properly but I figured "oh it's ok. I'll be back in a few hours to get him." It was a routine teeth cleaning. Preventative care. I wanted to take good care of him so he would live many long happy years with me!!! That's all I wanted was for my cat to live and be healthy so he could enjoy every second of his life.
Two hours later he was dead. The report I got says that he was slightly dehydrated! Everyone knows you can not do surgery on a dehydrated animal. With not enough fluids they are depleted of electrolytes. Minerals. They are micro traces of metals: zinc, magnesium, copper, potassium in order for your heart to conduct a beat there must be an electrical current. For electrical current to take place you must have what?? Metal. No metal. No electricity. My cat should never have been in this situation. He was not "Wnl" within normal limits on his electrolyte levels. When a test falls outside of "Wnl" you don't do the surgery. They couldn't get an iv into him because he was dehydrated and they couldn't find a vein.
I was a paramedic for 8 years. Nothing to do with cats but I know a little bit about resuscitation of a heart that fails. I know more than a little bit about the frailty of life. When in doubt, stop. The procedure should've been stopped immediately since it was an unnecessary surgery. It was for maintenance, not life threatening. Why didn't they call me and say he was too dehydrated. What's the big deal?? I told them I didn't work and I was available at any time don't rush... take your time. I couldn't have been more compliant or cordial. Now my precious baby boy is, dead!!! A ROUTINE DENTAL CLEANING AND MY CAT IS DEAD... but wait it gets better.
One of the vets there told me that they would have his ashes returned to me as a Courtesy!!? A courtesy? Is this the part where I say, "Thank you so much for paying for my cat's cremation"?? Because you will be waiting for hell to freeze over lady. Are you people kidding me?? As a courtesy you'll pay for his cremation? Go ** yourselves! HOW DID YOU SLEEP LAST NIGHT?
I stayed up and cried holding my cat's favorite toys... You've not heard the last of me. You will remember my Jasper for the rest of your days because I am retaining legal counsel & will do everything in my power to make sure no one ever suffers through this again!!! No person should ever have to live through this nightmare. Jasper will never meow again... I just wanted to keep him healthy. Banfield was responsible for keeping him healthy. They failed miserably! You've been warned!! Don't do it!! If you love your pet, don't leave them with a Banfield vet!
Reviewed Oct. 4, 2016
In Nellis Blvd in Las Vegas the service in there is horrible. All of the hood rats that work there are unprofessional and they lied to me about the membership. They never gave me a brochure about the services and they told me to sign my payment and what I was really signing for was a new membership. Don't answer any questions to the doctors, they will call animal control for any reason. The doctor called animal control on me for not giving my dog a haircut. Oh and it's a nightmare to get a hold of any manager, they will say that they are never there and that they can't help anybody to fix any problem. I called corporate and they don't want to deal with it.
Reviewed Sept. 27, 2016
I took my dog for spay surgery to Banfield Pet Hospital in Clive Iowa. The surgery was done with all possible prior health investigations and my dog was in perfect healthy condition. Her condition deteriorated after the surgery as she developed hernia near surgery site. I was able to see the lump near surgery site and called several times but receptionist Nancy never allowed us to discuss with doctor and was very rude most of the time. I dropped in one day walking to hospital and Dr. Terri decided to have hernia surgery immediately as it was the complication arised out of recent spay surgery, another receptionist Angie was very helpful, my dog have now started bleeding from the hernia surgery very second day my dog was uneasy whole night and blood dripping.
Called Banfield again Nancy says doctors are on vacation and other doctors are too busy in surgeries to give you call back. If I could discuss problem with her!!! Moreover she said there are no notes found in their system that any such hernia surgery took place... Horrible!!! I am now forced to move to another vet to save my dog's life. The entire experience is horrifying unless you want your dog's health to deteriorate... Please don't you ever take your beloved pet to this place. This is my humble request. I am feeling so bad for ruining my sweet dog's life by taking to Banfield Pet Hospital.
Reviewed Sept. 27, 2016
Had to cancel service because I moved to a place Banfield does not service. Cancelling the contract early was a nightmare and they tried to send my account to collections even though I was sending them payments monthly. Would not do business with them again; especially given the unprofessional behavior of the agents over the phone.
Reviewed Sept. 27, 2016
My peek-a-poo became ill back in October of 2015 took her to Banfield and they diagnosed her with liver infection at the time. Put her on antibiotics for two weeks, cost me about $380.00. About a month later I had to take her back because there was blood in her pee. Now they said that she had a UTI - more money, more medication. Several months later yet another infection, this time they took x-rays and found a kidney stone. Put her on a special diet of some very expensive food, that did her no good.
They said she may need surgery to remove the stone if the diet did not help. The surgery they told me was going to cost about a $1000. I have been taking her back and forth for all of 2015, with each time it costing me in about $100 dollar or more for each visit. And did I mention that I had a wellness plan, what a waste. Finally I just got tired of dealing with them and my dog's health and took her somewhere else (a real vet) for a second opinion and found out that the infection that she had was not treated appropriately. So consequential she ended up having a kidney stone the size of a chicken egg. I ended up having the surgery to remove the stone for under $300. Banfield do not care anything about your pet. All they care about is your money and they also play on the fact that they know how much you love your pet, but I'm done they will never see another dollar of mine. I'm done.
Reviewed Sept. 26, 2016
We had a terrible experience back in July with an employee at Banfield, she was rude and beyond disrespectful to me regarding our bill when trying to make an appointment. Ms. Adrienne ** was contacted by the client advocate team in which I had called to put in a complaint about this mistreatment we received. She offered to make my dog's next appt. in August at a different location, free of charge, our office visit/wellness plan fee that day was waived and my dog's injection. The next month in September I went in for her monthly injection and the office tried to charge me for the "waived" office visit I had in August. They would not allow my dog to be seen without that payment. I tried immediately calling Ms. ** to clear up the confusion, I had to leave a voicemail. I had to pay that waived fee so my dog could get her injection. I continued to reach out to Ms. **.
The next day she called me and told me all has been done, she cannot help me. She would not even listen to me. She rudely dismissed me and my concerns. It baffled me as to her change of attitude and her reneged promise and agreement she made with me due to my unfortunate and upsetting July visit. My wellness plan also included drop off visits. On September 6th I went in to drop her off and they said the doctors were too busy, so I could stay and wait it out or leave and come back another day. I reported that as well as that was very unfair, and I pay for drop off visits, I went all the way there to be turned away? That complaint led Adrienne ** to remove me and my dog, and my family members as well, from the practice. She would not help me resolve the matter. I sent several emails and calls.
She went to a Mr. Ari **, DVM at the practice, and he signed papers as well in agreement to remove us, stating we weren't satisfied with Banfield and we complained more than once. I called him, and he as well stated he agreed with her, not even listening to me, the client. We had every right to put in a complaint to their client advocate team, that's why they're there. Again, he didn't care about me as a client, he immediately just agreed with the Ms. **, a field manager unwilling to help us at all, except to remove us. The new Banfield location we went to the staff were amazing to me, and she removed me and my family because we had concerns over our plan and mistreatment at our original location. She sent my dog's records and a letter certified mail. This makes no sense, where is the logic here, but it in my opinion, it strongly feels like discrimination, and I want to proceed with my rights to this situation with this company.
I'm asking for all of my wellness plan payments back as this has left me without a vet not to mention this mistreatment now of being kicked out of a vet's office because we had concerns/complaints about our plan and mistreatment there. This is an awful method of practice for a business, to say the least. There's a bit more detailed information that I will be putting on my complaint form, as well, as this is an overview of what has happened to me, I have her promise of waived fees on my voicemail, yet she still denies it.
Reviewed Sept. 26, 2016
I took my dog to Banfield Pet Hospital in Costa Mesa because she injured her foot. Unfortunately Dr. ** was the veterinarian working that day. According to Dr. **, if a pet doesn't have a blood test, she can't order an X-ray. Because my dog was under intense pain, she only gave her pain medication. Because my dog was taking ** for the inflammation, ** wanted to know if the ** was prescribed by them or somebody else. Because I asked for a written prescription for the pain medication, Dr. ** didn't like the idea and her assistant, John, was also giving me an attitude. My previous experience with Dr. ** was wonderful; he is very experienced and professional. Dr. ** orders a long list of tests, which will cost a fortune, just for a leg injury. According to **, a bunch of test for a leg injury will be justified just in case it is "cancer."
Reviewed Sept. 15, 2016
Banfield Pet Hospital is the worst!! I wish this had an option for negative 10 starts because that's what this place deserves. Please do not take your pets there. They almost killed my puppy by giving him double vaccines when I told them not to since he came to me up to date with all his shots. He just needed a puppy exam because I got him from the airport. I've told the lady "No vaccinations. Just need a puppy exam." She said "No problem. When do you want his vaccinations done." I said "When is the next available date." She said "Friday. Sept. 2nd." I said "Ok I'll take it since he would be 10 weeks at that time." Dr. Jamie ** DVM was his veterinarian. She signed & dated that she did not give any vaccinations to my puppy. She only gave him an exam like I asked. 5 days later he became very sick.
I called to have him go get checked & on 8/25 they told me he had pneumonia in both lungs & after paying $333.19. He had to be in the ICU for 2 days for double pneumonia in both lungs & also on medication for 2 weeks. Also the practice manager April ** did not want to talk to me about my puppy or what malpractice they did, only until I called the corporate office & talked to the people higher up. This place makes me sick! They wanted to blame the vaccination manufacturer & have them refund me my money I spent in 2 days while my puppy was in the ICU.
After canceling my wellness plan I got 8/12/16 I was told to pay $256.99. Now I've been told they don't have a cancellation fee & no one wants to give me my $256.99 back. I get the runaround over & over. Getting a call from April ** the practice manager with an attitude & telling me she will talk to whoever & see who told me I had to pay $256.99. I don't understand why she is a manager when she doesn't know anything what's going on. Nobody does that works there for that matter.
I also had to pick up a paper from the vaccination manufacturer. I told the guy that was answering the phones "I have an envelope to pick up for Duke (my puppy's name) or for Monica (my name) that Sheila left for me to pick up & I know she left for the day." He said "Hmmm... hmmm... who are you here to see?" I said "No one, again I'm here for an envelope to pick up for Duke (my puppy's) or Monica (my name). Sheila left it for me. She just called me an hour ago." He then said "Ok hmmm just a minute." Then he walks away, goes in the back for 5-10 mins. Comes back & says "Hmmm you can hmmm come back tomorrow. Sheila didn't leave anything for duck."
I said "What?" I said "Duke. D-U-K-E not duck or for Monica & I'm not leaving until I get that paper! So you need to figure it out & find it." He said "Ok. Ok. Sorry but there's nothing here. She didn't tell me anything or leave anything." I said "Well she told me it would be at the front desk with you so you need to find it because I didn't come over here just to stand here for 30 mins. for a paper." He said "Oh is it for Duke?" As he hands me an envelope with Duke on it. I said "You're kidding me right? Is that what I said 30 mins. ago?" He said "Sorry about that".
I honestly don't know how people can be that dumb working with important information. I know a few people I talked to after everything that has happened to my puppy. Told me things that happened to their dogs like having a call saying their dog "jumped" off the table & broke his hip or rib & Banfield didn't want to take responsibility for their wrongdoing, it's always the dog's fault or someone else was at fault. I will never & I hope others will read this & never trust your pets with these people.
Reviewed Sept. 14, 2016
I have been taking my cat to Banfield Pet Hospital for over a year now in Jacksonville, FL. To be exact, she has been seen at the location in Oakleaf Town center (9515 Crosshill Blvd #113, Jacksonville, FL 3222). I took my cat recently for her yearly appointment (yearly shots, teeth cleaning, etc.) During the visit I spoke with the people who took care of my cat that day BEFORE I dropped off my cat and AFTER I picked her up.
I stated to them that I had plans on traveling with my cat and asked for any suggestions on what I can and should do to make the travel (flight) easier and LESS STRESSFUL for her. The vet suggested that I give my cat children's ** for the flight. I also asked for a health certificate to be completed. The vet stated that the ONLY vet approved to write health certificates in that location will be in the following week. He suggested that I bring my cat in the next few days so that they could "monitor" her while she is under ** to see how it works for her. Great. Moving on to the next visit:
I called BEFORE I arrived to verify the amount of ** that I should give my cat. The nurse assistant stated that if I wanted to bring her in and they will give her the dosage there. I dropped off my cat at 9:30AM. The nurse assistant spoke with me and stated that they will attempt to give her the dosage and if she becomes too aggressive that they will just contact me and have me pick her up so that I can try myself.
I called the office to check up on my cat around 3:00 PM. The receptionist said that the vet is in another room at the moment and to call back in about an hour. That sounded off to me, because they have never not given me an update before & I found it odd that my cat was only there to be "monitored". No work was being done on her whatsoever. I decided to show up and see what was going on. I arrived around 3:45 pm.
The receptionist walked back in the office to advise the nurse and vet that I arrived (I can see them clearly). The receptionist came back and told me that the vet said that they tried to give her the dosage at noon and at 3:30 pm but were unable to due to her being "difficult". The receptionist said that if I wanted to take her home and bring her back later to try again or reschedule.
At this point, I was extremely upset at the fact that it was now 4:00 pm and I NEVER received a follow up call to pick up my cat. I told her that I wanted to speak with the vet, she walked back inside to let the vet know. She then came back and told me that the vet was assistant another customer. I then looked through all the rooms to see if that was true & there was no other customer there at the time. Finally, the vet called me in a room and I expressed to her that the hospital's team themselves suggested that I bring my cat in to be monitored. That the idea for me doing that was to see if I can relieve stress on my cat for the day of travel. I told her that I was told that I would get a call after the FIRST ATTEMPT to give her the dosage and that if failed, I would be contacted to pick her up. However, that did not happen.
I told the vet that instead of lowering the stress level for my cat, it increased. My cat was there for more than 5 hours for absolutely NO REASON. All that time could have been avoided had I been contacted at noon after their first attempt. (That's if they even tried). For more than 5 hours my cat was not only stressed, had not eaten or had water. All of that was expressed to the vet. She only apologized and said that I could reschedule. Due to this experience, I will be canceling my health plan with them and finding another vet clinic to take my cat from now on. I would not recommend Veterinarian: FALLIN **.
Reviewed Sept. 14, 2016
Our experience with Banfield, more than 3 years started good. We couldn't get into our vet's office when our dog was very ill with a vomiting, and they were able to see her, and help us. Over the last two years - their lack of response for needing an appointment - you can't get one sometimes for 3 to 4 days. Problem # 1. I have been sent to collections for nonpayment. I have tried to get the corporate office to work with me, but they have gone completely silent when I ask for documentation of what is being charged and what has been paid. We have 2 current animals, and 2 animals we no longer have. We can't see the information online, and the first person I spoke to at their corporate office couldn't see this either. So how can I owe money if they can't see what I owe I ask?
I have emailed - again trying to get some information. I rec'd one email back - with charges for one of the animals... I have made payments, but they can't show me what has been applied and how. Then they refuse to answer any more emails and insist we call. My husband spent more than an hour calling various #s they have given them, and still not able to resolve. I emailed again, and they refuse to send me documentation and insist we call again. I even stopped by the vet's office to see if they could help. They can't see the information either. I would be happy to pay - I have paid the other two - but since learned we are paying for a preventative heartworm med - they all had a severe reaction to, and they only carry that heartworm, and one other one.
I have to order heartworm meds from PetMeds - and they approve it. Yet - I am being still charged for two of these animals. And the one they sent me to collections for - which I repeatedly asked for documentation on - was being charged too - and it's too bad for me, because they refuse to take it off the bill. One of the DRs was also very rough with one of our dogs... Caused part of her rectal tissue to come out. But could I get her in to see the DR immediately? NO... So I don't think it is a good idea to have them spay or neuter our animals, because if there are complications there may not be availability to see a DR immediately. Yet they will not allow me to reduce my plan to just the basic. Will not go back to Banfield. These animals - are our children. I wouldn't take my child to someone I don't trust, and I surely am not taking my pet's back!!!
Reviewed Sept. 12, 2016
My 6mo old dog had been neutered at the local vet. Over the weekend, we started noticing that he was swelling more than we anticipated and decided to take him to Banfield to get checked on - just out of concern and Banfield was the only place still open. We arrived 45 minutes before they were supposed to close (WITH AN APPOINTMENT), and they considered not taking us in because they were getting ready to close. So, right away they were unprofessional. After the front desk figured out that we could be seen, we had a very quick wait time and went back to a room. We showed the "vet" (I say "vet" because I'm not sure we saw a trained professional) the swelling around his scrotum and penis and she said they would check it out more. They took his temperature and while that was happening they were joking about lube as they inserted the thermometer into my dog's anus! Unprofessional again.
Then, they decided they would test for anemia to see if the swelling was internal bleeding - or so they said. The tech went out to find what they needed to do the test. She returns and both of the people we were working with had no idea where the tools and materials they were wanting to use were located. How do you not know where your resources are in a vet's office? Unprofessional strike 3 already. They finally do the test and take blood. Too bad they had to try three different spots on my dog with a needle to finally hit a vein - trauma for the young puppy.
They said they would have the results in about 15 minutes - so we wait. After about 15 minutes the girls return and tell us the tests were fine and that Reggie was fine. The swelling was still "normal" and we could just ice it and he will return to normal. We paid, left, and still felt uneasy. Since we didn't trust their verdict, we went to another vet the next day (Sunday, so an emergency 24hr vet), just to get a second opinion. They were IMMEDIATELY concerned with the swelling our puppy had. Right away they figured it was an infection and basically laughed at the test Banfield ran to check what was wrong the night before.
They run their own tests and come back to us letting us know that if we had come in any later that our puppy might not have been very well off. He had a massive infection and abscess that looked the same as it did the night before. It was rapidly spreading and the people at Banfield had no idea what was wrong with our dog. Had we listened to their "medical advice", we would be sitting here with a dead puppy and a broken heart. If you care about your animal, never take it to Banfield - pay the extra to go to a real vet and have your pet properly taken care of.
Reviewed Sept. 11, 2016
My beloved 16 yr old Maltese is in stage two kidney disease. I wanted to get a second opinion from elsewhere. Taking my dog to this sorry clinic was the biggest mistake I ever made. The so called veterinarian who couldn't even read lab results, prescribed wrong medications, ordered unnecessary lab tests. Yep, that is what my local Las Vegas veterinarian did to me. After spending over 300 dollars on urine test, and wrong medication (they refused to give me a refund) I am now out of 300 dollars.
The doctor could not answer any of my questions concerning her condition - her immediate answer was, "I have to call specialist to find out what's going on with your dog." Just imagine you are sick and you go to your doctor, and the doctor is completely clueless! And they have the nerve to charge you for "consultation" fee. I have heard Banfield likes to hire young, inexperienced vets. Anyone who is crazy enough to bring their pets to Banfield deserves what they get. They are expensive and clueless. Avoid Banfield like plague!
Reviewed Sept. 7, 2016
Our dog had been a patient at Banfield since she was 8 wks old until we had to put her down at 10 yrs old. I do not entirely blame the vets for her demise as Banfield themselves. We live in a resort area and for over a year the Banfield had one vet. We have lots of snowbirds and vacationers, so this is crazy. When we tried to get our little girl dog in to see vet, we had to wait 3 days. By the time they did see her, she was very sick and wouldn't eat or drink. They have her antibiotics and she started feeling better after about a week.
She lost about 2 lbs by that time. I was giving her water with syringe. She recovered somewhat. This happened in October. By March, she was in kidney failure, early stages. Changed her food and said there was nothing more than could do. By May, she was sick again. Finally they did an xray to discover what they thought was cancer. Finally did an ultrasound and decided it was her gallbladder. At this point, we went to local vet hospital and she had emergency surgery. Gallbladder had grown to 8 times its size.
No wonder she wasn't feeling well. Banfield vets really dropped the ball. After surgery and 4 ivs of electrolytes, she had 3 great weeks of life. Kidneys failed again and she was in so much pain that we finally had to let her go to rainbow bridge to wait for us. Since then, we have a new puppy and have NO INTENTION of taking her to Banfield. I cannot even go to PetSmart anymore. Unfortunately, we had recommended Banfield to friends with new puppy 3 yrs ago and feel very bad. We have warned them numerous times to be very proactive in her care and understand numbers when she has blood tests etc. Praying that they listen.
Reviewed Sept. 7, 2016
I took my geriatric dog to Banfield pet Hospital Jacksonville Fl to have her teeth cleaned. She is older so I asked to have NO vaccines administered. I had a conversation with the tech saying no vaccines. She asked about rabies and I told her she had a 3 year last year. She told me we give them another Rabies Vaccine anyway. So again so no Rabies Vaccine and no other vaccines. All Vaccines were administered!
Reviewed Sept. 2, 2016
When I woke up I could tell one of my dogs was not feeling well. You could actually see the pain in her eyes along with tears. When she started walking she held her head down and was limping on her front leg. I called the Banfield Hospital that I normally use and explained what was going on and that I wanted to bring her in right away to be seen. They said the Vet was in surgery and wouldn't be see her till 3 pm. This was 11 am in the morning when I called, which meant she would be in pain for at least another 4 hours. They told me I could drop her off and she could be seen by a vet tech and then by the vet between 3 and 4. But I would need to be back by 6 to pick her up. I had already heard some horror stories about Banfield and knew better to leave her there. I promptly told them to forget it and I hung up. They immediately called back and left a message saying the exact same thing I had already heard during the initial phone call.
I picked up my little girl and took her to a VCA hospital here in Atlanta. Although they are a company I could tell they had high standards and well trained staff. As soon as I walked in carrying her they immediately asked what was wrong. My information was taken very quickly and within minutes I was in a room. A vet tech soon followed for vitals and soon after she left a real Veterinarian walked in and gave her one of the most comprehensive exams I'd ever witnessed. She was with us for almost 30 minutes. She was brought fresh drinking water. Turns out she had a pinched nerve in her neck causing muscle spasms and pain in her leg. She was given an NSAID and muscles relaxers. I explained to them how Banfield treated us and they were nothing but professional and had no comment.
Every time I went to Banfield we were never treated with care. But at VCA (Pets are people too) everyone there showed care and true concern for my dog. Compared to some of the other horror stories I've read about Banfield I was very lucky. The other downside is that I tried to cancel my wellness plan and I'm mid year in and would have to pay out $180 per dog to get out of the Banfield Cult. Although I don't feel I owe them anything I will pay it but one thing for sure I will never go into another Banfield or Petsmart...
Reviewed Aug. 27, 2016
After a positive experience with 2 different Banfield's I took my cat to the location in Addison, TX. I just signed him up for a wellness plan and the DR said he needed a dental. My cat stopped eating and I had him back in for observation and called nearly every day for two weeks. Then the DR says the cat has thyroid issues and give him meds and "wait and see" for two weeks. I grow more concerned daily because my cat is not eating and Dr. dumb dumb doesn't listen to me and my concerns. I take my precious boy to another location only to find out he's in renal failure. They work on him for a few days and then 3 weeks after that damn dental that he probably should have never had at his age I have to have him put down. I was heartbroken - and still have to have lost my precious cat of 10 years due to -- in my opinion -- the incompetency of this so-called DR. Banfield said they'd look into it but so far no one has called me back.
Reviewed Aug. 23, 2016
We've been getting all of our pet care from our local Banfield Pet Hospital for the last four years. It was a franchise owned by a very good and competent vet who took exquisite care of Boots, Ruby and Maxie. The corporation that franchises the hospitals has been buying our all of the franchisees. Since April they have had a complete turnover of staff. None of the vets has more than a year or two experience. They sold me a tick and flea treatment called First Shield. We applied it to Maxie (our 92 lb. German Shepherd Dog) and she collapsed within two hours. About $800 later and a trip to the Emergency Department at Memphis Veterinary Specialist in Memphis we got her back on her feet.
Last week we allowed Banfield to remove a small cyst from her back paw. They sent her home with an undressed wound, no antibiotics, and a cone way too small for a dog her size. Within two days the wound was infected and when I called to come in to see a vet they said they couldn't see me until the next day. They started her on antibiotics but it was too late. By yesterday it was in really bad shape. Today I got her into a new practice with a very good vet who now has her on an excellent treatment plan and hopefully Maxie will be back to full health in 2 to 3 weeks. And of course it is going to be expensive. So two recommendations; never take a pet to Banfield and never use a product called First Shield.
Reviewed Aug. 19, 2016
We enrolled our bulldog in the best yearly plan at Banfield in TN and paid it in advance; later on we had to take him for evaluation and they said he was fine, only inflamed prostate that by neutering him would get solved so we had our Max neutered and he got worst. Vet at Banfield said they could do nothing else and to take him to an emergency clinic where they found Max had stones on his urethra that was causing his illness so they had to try 2 different procedures before having to go to plan C which was opening a new way for him to urinate; a $3600 +bill!
Next visit, 7 months later, was for his physical and teeth cleaning, covered by the plan. Lab results were excellent according to the Vet that delivered us Max after that day, but 10 days later Max started bleeding profusely through the new opening for his urination, and as it was after hours we took him to the Emergency Care Clinic once again, where they found he had a serious infection which is now being controlled with antibiotics; BUT we were asked what antibiotic Max had been given prior to his dental cleaning, we called Banfield to ask and were told NONE and if the infection meant we needed to put Max to sleep. So, we have cancelled our plan with those pirates, not a penny was returned although there are still 4 months of coverage, and I recommend whomever reads this to PLEASE FIND A LOCAL VETERINARIAN and look for a plan that refunds you a portion of your expenses BUT NEVER CONSIDER BANFIELD IF YOU LOVE YOUR PET.
Reviewed Aug. 16, 2016
I took my cat to Banfield because they sent me a "Welcome to the neighborhood" card for a free exam. My cat had stopped eating over the course of about 2.5 weeks. They told me he needed to have his teeth cleaned, that his teeth were so bad that he had roots that were showing in his mouth and hanging down so far you could get a toothpick through the "Y" of the root where it is attached to the tooth. They told me more than likely he'd need more than 1 tooth extracted. Well, he failed his blood test so they wouldn't do the cleaning but said he'd need the IV fluid therapy for the kidney disease he had. At $350 or so a pop. They said after that they'd redo his blood work to see if he was healthy enough to undergo the anesthesia for the teeth cleaning and extractions.
When I balked about the cost of the IV therapy, they said a subcutaneous fluid could be given that would be "a little less than that." No other advice or anything else about what to do for him not eating. I picked him up and took him straight to his regular vet (should have not worried about saving that $63!!!, who checked my pet - he didn't have any abscessed teeth, no roots showing, nothing to indicate he'd even need to undergo anesthesia for a cleaning! He gave my cat subcutaneous fluids ($50!! not $250!) said he wasn't near critical enough for IV therapy, and gave him an anti-nausea medication and when I got my cat home he ate more in 2 hours than he had in the previous week. When Banfield called to check on my cat, I told them he never had roots exposed like they told me he did and she said, "That's good." Wow. Never, ever, EVER again.
Reviewed Aug. 12, 2016
I been to Banfield Short Pump, Glen Allen at 5 pm today on 08/12/16. It was 5 pm 100% when my cat was crying to leave home. After so much trouble driving there and manager refused to take care of my cat. No reason given. Very hateful. These staff/manager has no heart towards animals and I am not sure how he became manager. I will not even hire him to clean my toilet bowl.
Reviewed Aug. 12, 2016
Do not sign up for this plan. I thought it was a good deal. A year later we did not need the adult plan. The cost to cancel was $151 because we visited the Vet the day after the plan expired and this was after paying $89 during that same visit. I was on the phone almost an hour trying to get them to cancel my plan. First on hold for 30 minutes then another 30 minutes to get the plan cancelled. They kept trying to convince me to stay. I was happy with the vet but so not worth the cost you end up paying. Very disappointed with Banfield and their services!!!
Reviewed Aug. 11, 2016
We had our dog on the wellness program for 2 years and it's a complete waste of money. Now that I'm trying to cancel the plan they're trying to charge me additional fees. Until I pay the fees I can't get out of the plan. We were new dog owners so thought the plan made sense. But every time we brought our dog in they added extra "necessary" services (e.g., they had to express her anal glands every time, even though she showed absolutely no signs of needing it done. Literally 2 weeks after we had it done once we brought her in for a follow-up and they claimed she needed it again!).
She swallowed chicken bones once and we brought her in to get checked out - they "observed" her for 8 hours, x-rayed her once and gave her something to coat her stomach - then charged over $900!. Most frustrating part is that now that we're trying to cancel the plan they claim to have sent us flea & tick medication via US mail and need $54 payment for that. We never received the medication - and we don't even use the brand that they claim they sent. We've been buying flea meds through Amazon for the whole 2 years, never through Banfield. I've spoken with a customer service rep and a supervisor. Both claim they can't resolve the issue, and also can't send me an email confirming what they've told me. They'll just keep charging me until we pay $54 for something we never received.
Reviewed Aug. 10, 2016
I've had a pet plan since February 2016 and decided I'd like to cancel my plan because every time I take my dog to Banfield it doesn't fix anything. All that happens is she gets so stressed she starts pooping blood (stress colitis). So its a huge waste of money for me! The gentlemen I spoke with wouldn't work with me at all! I understand I signed up for the plan, but I cant bear to watch my pup suffer like that. She feels terrible, EVERY TIME we go there, and I feel that instead of worrying about taking my money every month, they should have worked with me, just a little.
Reviewed Aug. 10, 2016
They don't know who is their manager or supervisor!! Don't give you sick appointment!! Tell you to take to Oradell pet hospital. If we have to take there then we would get their insurance!!
Reviewed Aug. 10, 2016
I took my 41/2 lb. Chihuahua to Banfield because he was not feeling well. Elvis was 7 yrs.old and had never been sick before. I was told Elvis had a heart murmur and that they needed to do some x-rays and blood work. They told me "This would cost 780.00 but if you sign up for our plan it will only cost you 125.00. But wait we will give him his shots too." So I left my poor baby with them and what they did I will never know. They called me to pick him up about an 1 1/2 hrs later. When I got there they brought Elvis to me and the first thing I said is "What is wrong with him?" He was acting so strange I started to leave and went back and said "Are you sure he is OK?" They said "Yes it's just the medications. He will be fine."
As the evening went on Elvis got worse. His little heart was beating so hard and he just looked at me like "What is happening to me?" I kept holding him and telling him "It's OK. You're fine baby. You just need to calm down. I love you Elvis." I realized this is not fine and I called an emergency Vet. They told me to bring him in right away. I was taking him there and he started vomiting and his little body just went limp in my arms. I tried CPR but he was just gone. I found out the next day that they should of never given my poor little baby his shots while he was sick.That is what killed my best friend. How do they not know that?
I went in to their office the following day to ask them why and to get my money back. I told them I wanted my money back because I didn't want to feel like I paid them to kill my dog. That is exactly what happened and they refused to give it back to me. I want to file a class action suit against them. I made that promise to my Elvis when I buried him way before his time because of their neglect. Elvis I am so sorry my baby. I love you and miss you and I am so lost without you. RIP my little man.
Reviewed Aug. 8, 2016
My boxer was diagnosed with severe food poisoning. Took him to Banfield at Coral Way and 35th Ave, Miami. They did x-rays and performed surgery on our dog. Open and sewed his intestines and informed us afterwards they don't provide overnight care after surgery. We had to transport the dog and care for the him at our home without the necessary equipment for transportation and recovery. Had to take him back and forth to the "Hospital" for post surgery check-ups. Our bill was up to then 750 plus 3000 surgery charges... On the second night after surgery, our dog died. I am sure they knew he had no possibilities to recover, and did the surgery anyway just for profit. Please stay away from these butchers...
Reviewed July 29, 2016
Checked in for pet check up (also pay for pet wellness plan), sat for 45 min with no communication from staff on when we would be seen. Staff finally came and said "we will see you in a few minutes" so we waited and waited. Decided we were leaving so told staff we were going because of lack of communication and customer service staff did not offer any update or apologies for wasting our time. We will be looking for a new vet.
Reviewed July 28, 2016
This place is a complete ripoff. I paid $1200 to have my dog's teeth cleaned and 3 teeth extracted. I had her on a wellness plan which I paid monthly which never paid off. I just had another dog's teeth cleaned and teeth extracted at another vet clinic and the charge was $278. This is an egregious overcharge. Over 400% of customary charges. DON'T FALL FOR IT. They will take all of your money. They have a very corporate attitude. JUST SAY NO.
Reviewed July 27, 2016
My husband and I had taken our two shih-tzus to Banfield since they were puppies. We signed up for the optimum wellness plan which included teeth cleaning. All in all, my experiences with Banfield were okay. The plan included all vaccinations and well checks, including dental. The vets were okay - the one outstanding vet left after a short while... big disappointment.
Our problems were when we tried to get out of the plan two weeks ago. Our first and youngest baby died this past April. She was 12 and we were devastated. We had been taking her to three different vets (emergency vet, eye vet, and Banfield). The emergency vet, Sage, in Concord Ca was wonderful. They saw her through her illness and we said goodbye to her there in April of this year. At that point there was no problem financially with Banfield.
Then in one short day we lost our older Shih-Tzu who would have been 13 this coming February. She got sick in the morning and in the afternoon we rushed her to Sage. We were shocked at the diagnosis and had to say goodbye to her that afternoon. We were more than devastated. Losing our two babies in under three months was absolutely the worst thing we had been through.
The bomb came when my husband called to completely cancel the wellness plan as both our babies were gone. Cancelling our first baby was okay - no problem at all and they dropped the fee to just one animal. After asking to cancel the entire plan we were told that we had to pay out our contract - at more than $250.00. I was not a happy camper. Then the next day when I looked at my checking account I found that not only had they taken out the $250, they had taken out the monthly $51 the day before! I was outraged.
I wrote a review on Yelp (not a good one) and the review was responded to be Lisa ** from Banfield expressing her sorrow at the passing of my babies and that she would review our account. Yeah, right! She asked for the name the account was under, the animals' names and a good number to contact us. Well, it's been over two weeks and I have heard nada, nothing, zilch from Lisa **. I will have to watch my checking account closely to be sure they don't deduct the monthly premium in August.
In addition, I have to agree with other complaints - Banfield tries to gauge you financially whenever possible, including trying to sell you liver support supplements because your dog's liver enzymes are too high and they can't do dental work until they come down. This one ploy lasted for four years! Every time they did blood work the liver enzymes on both our dogs were too high. They also tried to give me antibiotics for one dog's ear infection, which never worked. Prices for meds online are greatly reduced compared to Banfield, or probably any other vet. I recommend all you fur-parents look online before getting meds. To end -- Banfield tries to bleed you dry. Don't take your precious animals there.
Reviewed July 25, 2016
We purchased the wellness plan for our Yellow Lab Puppy, Beau. Included with the plan was his flea/tick & mosquito repellant ~ FirstShield Trio. My dog vomited and was lethargic after we applied it. When I looked it up online I discovered that it's been making dogs sick AND many are dying. There's a class action lawsuit in the courts now and Banfield has an exclusive contract with the manufacturer which is why they continue to use it. We took the 2 doses we had to Banfield, explained that it was making Beau sick and asked if they had something else we could use. We were told no ~ that was all the plan offered. They could refund the money for the 2 we returned and take it off of our wellness plan so we didn't get it in the future but there were no substitutes.
We needed to purchase something else offered at Petsmart or elsewhere. How can this company continue to use this product??? No one alerted us to the awful things this stuff is doing to lots of dogs - never gave us a choice. WHAT IF MY DOG HAD DIED? When I asked the employee if she was aware of all the awful things this medicine does to dogs she indicated that she was aware of all of it. To be fair ~ she doesn't make the rules and I shouldn't shoot the messenger but damn ~ we're talking about a member of my family and they (Banfield) obviously care more about money than the animals they get paid (handsomely) to take care of. We are going to start looking for a different vet. I read elsewhere that cancelling our wellness plan is a nightmare and could take months to get them to stop removing the payment from your account. Wish us luck!
Reviewed July 25, 2016
I will first say that this review is not a reflection of Dr.'s ** or ** at the South Lincoln Park Banfield, located at 1415 N Kingsbury in Chicago. They should open their own practice. I would follow with my four dogs. That said, I would never go back to this, or any other Banfield location. I took one of my dogs in for a simple check up, and it was determined that he needed to be seen again in two weeks. I made the appointment for exactly 2 weeks from the day I was there, which happened to be a Saturday. The day before my appointment I got a call from the front desk, who incidentally had confirmed with me several times during the week, to tell me that my appointment needed to be cancelled. I asked why, and they told me that the doctor was in surgery at that time every Saturday.
Clearly I was perplexed since, as I stated, they had confirmed multiple times during the week. Further, it seemed strange that there was not an automatic block in the schedule since it is a weekly occurrence. More troubling, however, was that the front desk would not realize that the doctor was in surgery every Saturday during that time when scheduling my appointment. I guess they are the type of folks that simply do not care. They punch in, punch out, and collect their check.
I was reasonably upset, and the front desk person, ** (sp) tried to help, however, she was not able to schedule an appointment. The practice manager, **, then intervened and was able to squeeze me in that Saturday morning. While this was a nice gesture she acted as if she was doing me this enormous favor by getting me in on the day with which I had an appointment. I, again, was not impressed and told her if it was not for incompetence on their part she would not have to do me this giant, breathtaking favor.
Fast forward one month. I bought a new puppy and had her in for her first and second round of shots. The second round was on Sunday July 9, 2016. The doctor walked me to the front and we scheduled an appointment for her final shot, the rabies shot, for Wednesday July 13,2016. This was particularly important as we were leaving for Europe on the July 14, 2016, and my mother would be watching the dogs, and, without the rabies shot, the dog could not be taken to the dog park with the others.
Come Wednesday I get in the car and call because I am running a little ahead of schedule and wanted to see if they could see me early, and if not, I would simply do some shopping at Petsmart. Much to my dismay I was told by ** (sp) that my appointment was not for the 13th, it was instead for the 20th. I went on to explain the situation and asked why I would ever schedule an appointment for when I was out of the country, to which she replied that I should ask myself that question. I become more frustrated and was trying to see if I could get in later that day, and was told I could not. I explained that if she reached out to Dr. ** she would confirm that I was indeed scheduled for that time. She refused.
The following day, on the way to the airport, I was able to contact **. I told her about the conversation I had with her employee. She actually called me a liar and told me she knew that particular employee would never talk to anyone that way. I immediately challenged her to pull the recording from the conversation we had. They, conveniently, do not record their conversations! I went on to talk to ** about the incompetence of the front desk. She became audibly angry and asked if I was calling her incompetent. I answered in the affirmative, and told her it was clear why the front desk was so terrible; they watch her interactions with clients and simply mimic her sad, unprofessional behavior.
Shortly after I terminated the call that was going nowhere with the incompetent, unprofessional manager, **, I received a call from **, their regional medical director. She had spoke to ** and had already made a predetermination as to what had transpired. Rather than listen to me, and accept the problems with her front desk staff, and manager, she wanted to talk about my tone, and even cadence. I was clear: at no time did I yell; at no time did I lose my temper; at no time did I use foul language with either of the employees. She then wanted to hear the tone with which I spoke to them. An absurd suggestion. I was appalled by her accusations.
** then suggested that I go to another hospital, or, to put it more clearly, rather than discipline, or even fire, an incompetent employee, she would rather fire a client. I was clear that I went to that locations for the two doctors, period. The absurdity of her management style is beyond comprehension. There is a reason Banfield has 177 reviews and only 1 star. It is a top down problem!
Reviewed July 25, 2016
I have one thing to say... UGH! I bought the basic wellness plan and at first it was fine. I would stay with my cat during his appointments and he would get his shots and blood drawn no problem. There was always up-charges and up-services that they would want me to purchase. This happened with the assistants and the vets themselves. Annoying but I would just say no.
The problems started when they wanted me to drop my cat off. Suddenly, they were not able to get anything done and wanted to up-charge me $120.00 to sedate my cat. I would not pay for this and of course, they were not able to give my cat his shots or do his blood work. My cat received no services that he was provided by his wellness plan. I think this is a ploy so they get more money from you and if not, they do not have to provide the service. I call this a scam and a rip off.
Then, I tried to call to cancel the wellness plan. At this point, I have called over ten times and sent at least three emails in an attempt to get someone to cancel my plan. I am once again, put on hold by the Wellness Plan as I type this review. This is horrible customer service and I would not recommend this hospital or their vets. Do not buy the wellness plans. They are not worth it and more importantly you are being taken advantage of. Your pets are not safe with Banfield. I am hoping that I am able to cancel in the near future if I am ever able to get in touch with a real person.
Reviewed July 25, 2016
I thought that I should let know how negligent is this hospital. I have two small babies Chihuahuas. One of them got sick one morning (he vomits around four times). I called around 3 of the Banfield Hospitals near to Oviedo in order to get an appointment which I couldn't, they only option they gave me was to drop him off so they can take a closer look to my 4 months old Chihuahua in between appointments. The vet assistance was convincing which make us feel comfortable leaving our puppy in the hospital, but right away she said that the Vet might ask for x-rays that costs $199.99. We said that it was fine but we wanted to sign up for the Banfield pet plan for him. We called several times to check on our puppy's condition, they say he was doing just fine.
About six hours later, the vet called me on my cellphone saying that it seemed like my dog had eaten something that she could feel it in her belly but she couldn't properly see in the x rays what was it so she had to send it to a specialist for interpretation. Meanwhile she would give me some medication and send him home until the next day - that would costs us an additional $500. Oh wait! It wasn't all, she said that my puppy might go into surgery and if he did not make it we would still have to pay for the pet plan. She told over the phone that he could die, I immediately freaked out. We went straight to the Banfield on Tuskawilla Rd, Oviedo, after paying like $260 we went to see another vet who helped our baby in only one hour. We are just grateful that we did not signed up for their plan and we took our baby to a reliable veterinary that actually care for pets.
Reviewed July 21, 2016
1st of all the PetCo vet is now only seeing pets if you drop them off because their doctor is too busy to do an exam with you present. 2nd The pet insurance I have had for years on my animal. When I go to cancel the insurance for some reason there is a 20 minute wait for a computer to come on the line to ask you if they can call you back. Most of the time they do not return these calls. I've going on 4 months of me trying on and off to cancel this policy. I am so sick and tired of listening to their advertisements over their phone. It's enough to make someone crazy! When you select a different number instead of cancellation they are unable to help you and stick you right back to listening to their advertisements again for another 15-20 minutes, and then the computer comes back to ask if they can contact you later. I am so sick of the bull crap! That I will NEVER sign for another pet insurance again!
Reviewed July 18, 2016
I called to make an appointment when my fur baby was sick. I was told he needed to be seen immediately. They (OP Banfield) had no openings, told me to call Southside (Jax). They told me the same thing he needed to be seen immediately - they had no openings. Advised to call St. Augustine Banfield - No Answer. Tried 3 more times still no answer. Called customer service and explained my situation - put on hold and the lady I talked with and her manager tried calling St. Augustine Banfield and I was told they found the same thing - No Answer. This was the only time I needed to get in right away and couldn't!
Then after this incident went in for his just regular checkup and was asked if I needed ** - I stated I ordered online because it was cheaper (I did inquire about the price). I guess my account was flagged because I order online and Banfield denied. I called to inquire and got into the loop with the young lady that answered the phone. She state that she wasn't sure where the prior authorization was proving that my dog was on the medication. Banfield was the one that approved - Hello we have a problem. I am now paying for two dog plans for the same dog because Banfield couldn't / wouldn't get him in. I am done!!! My son has use them for years - 3 animals they are switching also. Everyone look at the local vets - a lot of them are offering the same plan and actually care and will get you in. My new vet is awesome and he and his staff are from Banfield.

Reviewed July 18, 2016
My puppy needed a third round of shots. I called to verify pricing because I know some vets will charge an office visit for the third round of shots and some will just let you get the shots without the office visit charge. They said there was no office visit charge. Afterwards they charge me $40. They promised to rectify the situation for months and in the end they basically said "We cannot refund you. We cannot give you credit. We cannot do anything even though they promised to make it right." I will never go into PetSmart ever again because of Banfield and certainly will not ever go to Banfield ever again and I suggest you don't either. They have a laundry list of complaints against them. I wish I would have read before trying them.
Reviewed July 17, 2016
So, first let's get past whether or not you should believe my review. My name is Kireston **. Look me up on Facebook and we can talk about the b.s. that Banfield is pushing. I paid for the most costly Banfield Plan. I live in IL and I was going to Banfield Countryside. Every time I went to this location, they refused to treat my pets for "ethical" reasons. It was unsafe. My dogs needed more testing. "Buy this medication and then we'll reschedule another appointment to do a re-check but since you have already used the free testing that your plan provides, you're going to have to pay out of pocket."
They refused to clean my big dogs teeth even though it was on the plan due to high elevations of some test but the high elevation had been a constant for over 7 years but NOW it was an issue. Pay for more medication. They refused to clean my small dogs teeth as well. On July 10, 2016 I took my dog is his annual wellness check-up. They told me that he had an ear infection. Less than 72 hours later, my dog had TOTAL hearing loss in both ears. My dog is now completely deaf due to the medication that they gave me. I'm sick to my stomach for my dog. On the bright side, they cleaned my dogs ears again for free.
Reviewed July 8, 2016
I currently have 3 pets on the Banfield Wellness Plan. I had an additional pet, a stray that I took in. I added him to our plan, an additional $39.95/mo, because I believed that he was going to be a part of our family. We could not keep him, and after 9 months of paying $39.95, I called to cancel the plan. I was informed that their policy had changed and I needed to pay an additional $104 to cancel the plan. So, if your pet dies, you are screwed. You will owe FULL PRICE for any services you have used during your membership. There have to be better options out there. Even if there aren't, I'd rather pay full price for vet services than give this company any more money. I will be cancelling the Wellness Plans for my three other pets ASAP.
Reviewed July 8, 2016
This plan requires you to call and cancel, or it automatically renews with no follow-up call at all. I had paid 4 months with no calls to even schedule a visit before I caught on, and when I attempted to cancel, I was given incorrect contact information twice. I had to call the office 3 times to obtain the contact information for corporate to cancel my policy. I requested to speak with a supervisor who did not return my call until the next day, and then didn't even acknowledge my issue. I was told no refund could be issued since there was no time stamp on a prior call even though I put multiple calls into wrong numbers due to their employees and never even used the policy. Seek out another vet. Banfield Hospital will basically rob you blind, or make it next to impossible to cancel without spending hours on the phone.
Reviewed July 8, 2016
Told us the cat we adopted was female; was a male. We paid for full diagnostics and checking. They said she was good, then proceeded to try to sell us a "Wellness Plan," which because of the full testing sounded like a good deal, so we sign HIM up. Do all the yearly checkups, dental cleanings, whatever. Year later we live in Ohio, go to renew it for living in Ohio, find out he's a him, and that he is F.I.V. positive.
After having paid for testing for F.I.V. at the Morrell Rd., Knoxville, TN location, they didn't even bother to check the results, just try to sign us up for a Wellness Plan, which they proceed to bill us for, and make us go in for checkups, and continue to not see the F.I.V., which they were supposed to be checking for. Sure glad I paid a full year subscription, fees, and other medications for absolutely nothing. Our cat could have been on some form of medication to help manage pain, as well as help prevent our other 2 cats from contracting F.I.V., yet Morrell Road couldn't bother to check their test results after our check cleared. Absolutely ridiculous.
I would like to say our West Chester, Ohio Banfield did find it immediately (it being F.I.V., and I guess also HIS genitalia), and have been incredibly helpful and understanding. But it never should have come this far, never should have gone past our initial checkup and testing before even TRYING to sell us more "services."
Reviewed July 8, 2016
Our dog, Ramey, took a turn for the worst last Monday and everyone at Banfield was super kind and helpful. However, we had our dog on the Banfield Pet Wellness Plan for several years and when I called today to cancel the policy due to our dog passing away I was on hold for almost an hour just to talk to a rep, then told since my husband had signed the policy that I couldn't cancel it and that they would only cancel it if he called. I also talked to a manager and tried to work with him on this issue since my husband works about 60 hours a week and didn't have time to wait on hold like I had to today. He initially told my he couldn't cancel due to privacy laws. I informed him I was very aware of the privacy laws since I used to work in an industry that dealt directly with them.
He then changed his story and said it was just their policy and not a privacy issue and still refused to help. As if we hadn't been through enough with Ramey passing away. Now we have to deal with this. We will never use this company again for pet insurance and after reading numerous online reviews we are not the only ones that this company has done this to.
Reviewed July 7, 2016
I have been bringing my pets to the S Aurora, Colorado location for 4 years and have been ok, not completely over the moon about the place. This past weekend, my friend, who has also been using their services for several years, went in with an emergency, her 1 week old puppy (her dog had puppies the week before) had stopped breathing & was wheezing. Because she didn't have an appointment they would not see her. The girl at the counter, Whitney, was extremely rude and uncaring, not offering to schedule anything or even have someone take a quick look/listen to rule out pneumonia.
My friend ended up having to wait 2 days to have the pup seen somewhere else and turns out it was pneumonia and she died today. One would think that when the word "Hospital" is used in the name of the company, that emergencies would be accepted. I have called and will not be renewing my wellness plans I have for my 4 pets. I refuse to take my animals to an uncaring vet.
Reviewed July 5, 2016
I would just like to say that my husband, as I type this, is currently waiting on hold to pay off our last payment on our sheisty, horrific wellness plan. He has been on hold for over an hour now. I joined because I hoped to save a little bit of money when it came time to spay my two kittens. When their procedure was finished I paid over $200 out of pocket for "blood work" while the wellness plan picked up the rest of the tab. Imagine my chagrin when my best friend paid $25 per cat at the humane society for spaying and neutering their three kittens.
At the end of my contract I called customer service to cancel both cats' wellness plan. Unfortunately, and might I add conveniently, only one cat's plan was cancelled. 11 months later, when I finally called again to cancel the second plan, I was told that since it is a yearly contract I would have to pay my final month before they could cancel my account. Let me repeat. I paid 11 MONTHS more than I wanted to pay. So, in my desire to be done with them I paid the account balance over the phone.
Two months later I received a bill stating I had a balance remaining and needed to pay $20.95. When my husband called to remind them that I had paid previously, they not only told him we owe $41.90 but that we had to call a different number to cancel the account. I'm done. I hope your awful company goes bankrupt. You are taking advantage of people and using awful business practices to cheat people out of their hard-earned money. I have nothing against the wonderful veterinarians that have taken care of my kitties, I sincerely hope they are able to find better jobs at more reputable hospitals once this horrible company goes out of business. P.S. If anyone reading this wants to close their account try this number first 1-888-649-2716. It will save you time.
Reviewed July 5, 2016
The main focus of Banfield is to have you sign a "Wellness Plan" before they even do an initial exam of your animal. Then every time you bring the pet in, there is always an additional exam or treatment that need which is never covered under the plan. When you get a printout after each visit of what the charges for services would have been had you not had your plan, the charges are outrageous - always double and sometimes triple of what any private vet clinic would have charged. They also refuse to give you a prescription for medication to buy online so you have to buy from Banfield at double the cost.
When I asked my new vet what her opinion of Banfield is, she said she had gotten a job with them when she was a new vet school graduate. She came for orientation and at the end of the day told them she was not taking the job due to the pressure to first of all sell the Wellness Plans then reviewing their charges realized they were gouging people for outrageous charges. She wanted no part of this scam and left and is happily in private practice now. I purposely buy nothing from Petsmart because although they claim to be separate, Banfield is a Petsmart entity. This whole operation should be shut down. Going to a private vet has saved me a tremendous amount of money after my year of being a victim of Banfield.
Reviewed June 29, 2016
The first week of March, 2016 I took my Baby to see Dr. ** for a check-up to do blood work to see why he was drinking excessive amounts of water, to get his ears checked. They took him in the back where I couldn't see what they were doing to him. He received a fecal (it was negative) but they still gave him de-worming medicine (which made him very sick).
They took X-rays and said his liver was enlarged (two vets later and a vet specialist said his liver was fine and never affected) and they gave me liver medicine for him (which made him sick and have tic seizures). And they took his blood and said his liver enzymes were elevated (he didn't have a liver problem) and that his kidney values were high normal (but Dr. ** didn't suggest K/D food or anything to help his kidneys). 2.5 months later he died of kidney failure. I am ready for a Class Action Lawsuit - my Baby didn't deserve to receive shots and medicines that made his kidney disease worse. He will be so missed and is still so very much loved!
Reviewed June 28, 2016
I was running and checking my credit reports and found that Banfield Pet Hospital is trying to collect $259.00 from me for services NEVER provided. Called the company, they referred me to their collection department. They basically instructed me to dispute it, No other recourse was provided. Then I decided to go online and to my surprise these guys are far from a good organization, and they do provide services for pets, there is a lot of VERY unhappy people out there. Me included. What bothers me, No bills No calls just a claim for me to pay. Something is very wrong with this picture. Customer service is and has been the norm for others, this doesn't exist with Banfield. Does anybody have an answer out there, and yes I am currently disputing this with EQUIFAX.
Reviewed June 25, 2016
I have been a customer for 7 years and have received wonderful care. I then moved out of the area and decided to go with a local vet. I requested to cancel the Optimum Wellness Program and since have received letters, calls, and outright refusal to let me go. I don't see the new Vet until the Fall for my dog's annual checkup and Banfield has refused approval for my dog's heartworm medicine unless I stay. They are putting my dog's health at risk. This has been like trying to leave a cult. I have also found that by going with the new Vet I will be saving over $500 a year.
Reviewed June 23, 2016
I called on December 21, 2015 to cancel my plan that renewed on me on December 19, 2015. Shame on me I was 2 days late, so I figured I would eat the month's payment of 37.95. Here it is June 23 and I was just talking with my accountant (my daughter) who asked me why I paid another vet when I had a wellness plan. So unbeknownst to me, my plan was never canceled. I called and was told that the notes say I wanted to cancel but then I agreed to try another location. That conversation never took place as I already found another vet. I was then told that they would not refund my money as there must have been some confusion as their employee said I would try another one of their locations. This is BS and I will make sure that I tell everyone I can about this company's unfair business practices.
Reviewed June 22, 2016
I cancelled my automatic payments to Banfield for what they call their Optimal Wellness Plan (OWP) because I was assaulted by a homeless person in their parking lot and did not want to go back there. I have two white standard poodles, and I was paying $77 per month for the plan. I was told that you couldn’t cancel anytime during that first year and I didn’t. I’ve been on the plan for two years and 9 months. I sent an email to Banfield explaining the situation. That’s when I was informed you are not allowed to cancel for any reason, even if a pet dies, until your anniversary date. My Bonnie was signed up on August 3, 2013 and Bailee on Sept. 3, 2013. As such it should cost me $274.00 to pay up the plans in full but here’s where the deception begins.
On December 30, 2013 I took Bailee in for a check. Her vet recommended that we do x-rays and that if I upgraded Bailee’s OWP they would be covered so I said sure. What she didn’t tell me was that if you upgrade, the plans’ inception date starts all over again so now Banfield says her enrollment date is December and they want $483.40 to allow me to cancel. My Bailee has Addison’s Disease and has to have an injection of a steroid called ** every 26 days. When I first started with Banfield they were charging me $156.79 per injection but with my discount from the OWP I was paying 133.27. When I left them they were charging $171.20 and I was paying 136.96 because of my discount. During my time at Banfield, Bailee received 38 injections for a total of $5,157.36. I found a new vet after leaving Banfield and took Bailee in for her ** and when I went to check out they charged me $41.00!
Twenty-six day later she went back for another injection and again they charged me $41.00. By now my battle with Banfield was really heating up and I accused them of price gouging and demanded a return of $3,599.66. The vet assigned to my case, Dr. **, didn’t believe me and said he had to verify that what I was telling him was true so I gave him the phone number of my new vet. He was authorized to confirm only that I was paying $41.00 for a drug he was saying cost $171.20. My vet’s office called to tell me that they made a mistake and from now on the injection would cost $100.00.
Are they also price fixing? Let’s assume my vet did make a mistake. If he can charge $100 and still make a profit it seems Banfield could also which in my mind still leaves me with the assumption that they are overcharging for drugs so that when they give you a discount, which looks good on paper, you are really paying the regular price or slightly elevated price for the drug. I believe they have still overcharged me to the tune of $1,092. I believe I should be reimbursed for the overage and if they want to they can deduct what they say I owe them and send me the balance.
My Bonnie went in for her dental cleaning on Sept. 3, 2013. When you check your pet in they have you sign all kinds of contingent forms just in case something is discovered during surgery that they need to fix. When I picked her up later in the day she was minus half her teeth! The dental cleaning which was free ended up costing me $753.33. I will admit she had some periodontal disease but I didn’t know it was that bad. OTHER THINGS TO WATCH OUT for: You’ll be told to put your dog on prescription dog food. This is where PetSmart benefits greatly from having Banfield in their stores. Five pounds of Hills T/D costs almost $22.00. Fifteen pounds of Nutro which I believe is superior in nutrition costs $27.00 and it carries the AAFCO statement which Hills does not. You’ll experience long wait times when you go in to pick up your pet after a procedure. Usually between one hour and one and one half hour.
After a surgical procedure they will have assembled items for you to take home with you and pay for such as the Elizabethan collar. Bailee had surgery three times and three times they had to collar ready to go home with me. I refused it because I still had the one from the first surgery. They also had cleansing wipes and ** even though those items were no longer indicated by her behavior. She wasn’t leaking or licking. I refused those as well.
Here’s a switch. I have nothing but praise for the vet who took care of my girls. She is one of the finest people on the planet but I do worry about her. I believe she is being worked to death. On one visit I made, she was the only doctor there and she had 30 pets in for wellness checks. I pray all those pets didn’t need their teeth cleaned. That seems like a terrible burden even for superwoman.
Reviewed June 20, 2016
I went in to pay my bill, the girl I talked to told me it had already went to collections. I asked how could it go to collections, it has only been a week. I had the money in hand to pay. The girl told me she could not take my money, that I would have to deal with collections. So I told them I was through and I went to another vet down the road. Several months had passed. So I called the main office where they explained to me that it never went to collections, that it had went to their home office for 30 days. So I ask why would the girl tell me such a thing and then not even take my money. This was put into collections along with the rest of the years maintenance plan, without calling me or sending me a letter.
Now I call and they more or less do not care. It must be very funny for the office to stone wall every one and destroy people's credit. Why can't Americans treat each other with respect in a time when we need it the most. Banfield is by far the worst. This all started because they did not tell me about a $7.00 upgrade on my wellness plan. Every review on here is like that. Stay away, these people are liars and con artist.
Updated on 7/12/2016: I just paid the woman (Janel) in collections and never received a pay off in my e-mail.
Reviewed June 20, 2016
I took my dog in because she wasn't eating too good. They did blood work and told me her thyroid was bad. They prescribed a medicine and told me to give to her 2 times a day on a empty stomach. So I started the meds and in 2 days my dog is puking. She never ate anything and was drinking so much water, and as fast as she was drinking she puked. I called the vet after 3 days and they told me to give her ** an hour apart from her thyroid meds. So I did. It didn't help. I called the vet again 1 day later and vet said to stop all medicine. So I stopped giving the thyroid and **. This is the only thing she was taking. The next day my dog still has not eaten at all and was so weak from no food and not being able to keep anything down. Well then she Started puking blood and I called vet immediately and she tells me they are booked solid and to take her to an emergency vet. This is on a Sunday, so only choice even when this vet's office is open.
And also told me if my dog was alive in the morning to bring her in and they would squeeze her in during the day because they were booked. I took my dog to the emergency vet and they gave her fluids and something to stop the vomiting and to take her to vet first thing in the morning. Well my dog didn't make to the morning. She died during the night. So first thing in the morning I called the Banfield Pet Hospital to let them know my dog didn't make till morning. The vet tried to blame me for my loss. Wow what a thing to say when I just lost my baby. They couldn't accept that the medicine they prescribed might have killed my dog. I almost went to the vet just to give them a piece of my mind, but I know I would have went to jail. They were the ones who told me what was wrong with my dog and prescribed her meds and them killed her.
My poor baby didn't deserve this at all. I will never forgive myself for taking my baby to this place, because I lost my best friend. They don't care about the animal's or our feelings. Please never take an animal to this place because you might not have an animal to take home. I wish they could feel my pain and sadness I feel, and what my poor baby went through. I am sure my dog suffered through this and nothing I did helped. I will never refer anyone this place and will never say anything good. They killed my baby and tried to blame me for their mistake. Please beware of the way your animal is treated and diagnosed. They kill!!!
Reviewed June 17, 2016
I moved to Palm Springs in July 2015 and I signed up for the Banfield Hospital wellness plan. All I can say is staff is incompetent they made so many mistakes on my dogs' scheduling, on my dogs' treatment plans, on my dogs' vaccinations and I had to correct them. And they sent me home with two very sick dogs after they had their teeth cleaned. For two weeks of diarrhea I thought they were both going to die. Their wellness plans are a rip off their management team incompetent. I've been trying for almost a week to get the doctor to prescribe a refill for a drug that they have used on my dogs in the past but unfortunately this hospital changes that faster than the chainsaw. So that has no experience with your dogs they want to do all these extraneous test that cost extra money and their refusal to give me the medication has cost me a lot of out-of-pocket expenses to go to another hospital. I vehemently recommend Do not use this hospital.
Reviewed June 17, 2016
I got rooked into a wellness plan and am having some serious issues with this company. I took my dog in for the "free" first visit because she had an injured tooth. They told me the wellness plan would cover the dental, plus vaccinations, and office visits etc. In turn, saving me a lot of money. I agreed to it and to do the core vaccinations. They did not detail the risks or benefits or go over what was to be performed. They took my dog into the back (this instantly made me nervous). I should have left right then but I didn't. They ended up running a number of tests and doing a full blood work up. (I agreed only to core vaccinations and simple blood work.) They gave vaccinations that my dog didn't need and she hadn't had in the past. They said they did fecal testing, worming (even though I told them that she is on sentinel for worm prevention) did an ear swab and numerous other tests without my consent.
A few hours after we got home from the visit, my dog broke out in hives. I called the 24 hr vet. Was told to give her **. It helped. I called Banfield in the morning. They didn't seem concerned, and said if it happened again to give them a call. Well last night it happened again - even worse. Called er vet. Was told to give more **, a double dose. It finally got better. Now on day 3 of the contract, I want to cancel. They give you 4 days. BUT the problem is they ran a crap ton of expensive tests and procedures and administered meds (none of which I agreed to). If I cancel they want me to pay back these services which cost just as much as keeping the damn plan. So I called the location I went to, and spoke with the manager there. He was very firm that they would not cancel without me paying for the services, (which I'm not even sure they performed) whether I agreed to them or not. That this is the way they do things.
I tried to appeal to his humanity but he pretty much said his hands are tied. He won't just part ways with me and call it even for the $72.90 I paid to start the plan. I told him I will become a protester at his location, hand out information to everyone going in, contact the news, and a lawyer if needed. He said he would get back in touch with me after he contacts his superiors and company attorneys. They did not have my consent to do all these things to my poor dog. I feel they were trying to get the services' charges so high that it would be pointless to cancel. They administered vaccinations that made my dog sick. They did not base treatment on the information I provided. They didn't even properly record the vaccination records that I provided. They said some of her blood work was abnormal, but then the paperwork they gave me says "machine error" on the abnormal results.
They wanted me to bring her back to be dropped off and leave her there for more testing; more $ for them. There are many inconsistencies in the paperwork I received, regarding what tests were even actually done. They didn't even give me a detail of the services rendered until after they had me sign the contract electronically (without being given a physical copy). The receptionist briefly stated the electronic payment policy and said "Sign here".
I have cancelled my debit card, so they can't take any more money from my account. I am waiting to hear back from the practice manager at this Banfield hospital, Ron **, but I am worried that they may not be willing to resolve this matter without me having to pay the $400 for services that I did not consent to. I do not want a negative mark on my credit, but I do feel that I have been scammed. I will not pay them another cent! Arrrggg, so frustrating. What they did is wrong and beyond unfair. Any way I can get this place investigated and stopped from doing this to others and their pets?
Reviewed June 17, 2016
I have had a plan with Banfield for my dog. It was the $24.95/month plan for basic care. I wanted to upgrade one plan up to get her dental cleaning. This plan was for just over $30/month. After doing an exam the doctor came out and told me that my dog has heart issues and that I would need to upgrade, again, to the $40.95/month plan to get the heart test and x-ray done one her heart to see if she was a candidate to be put under for the dental cleaning. Being that I love my dog like my kid I didn't want to take the chance on her not coming out of it just for a dental cleaning. I upgraded to the $40.95 so they could do the test. After doing the test they said they still can't determine her issue and recommended another pet hospital in the area to do another more expensive test that I would have to come out of pocket for since I would not be on their plan.
The test was called an Eco. So I did that. It cost me another $300 just for that test. Well that hospital told me it doesn't recommend I do the dental cleaning because they are not sure if she will come out of it. So I go back to Banfield with these results and tell them I will pay out of pocket for the test that was done under the $40.95 plan and that I wanted to go back to my original $24.95 plan since I would not be using the $40.95 plan. They told me that "you can't downgrade" so they gave me the number to corporate, (866 894-7927) and wished me luck downgrading. As if they knew it wasn't going to happen. I called corporate and they told me that I couldn't downgrade and that I had to wait out the rest of the 11 months now paying $40.95 for a plan I don't need and that after the 11 more months I would have call back and cancel my plan and start a new one for the $24.95/month. This will not be until May 2017.
This is ridiculous. This is how they take your money. Be very cautious when dealing with this pet hospital. They will nickel and dime you to death. I don't think there has been 1 single time I have come out of that hospital without having to pay for something they suggest even though they have you on a plan. This company is just as bad as car insurance where you pay and pay and pay and when you need them they make you pay some more. I will be canceling my plan after this year and going with someone else. I highly recommend you do your research on this company before joining.
Reviewed June 17, 2016
"Terrible care". I took my service dog into the Banfield for what looked like a broken leg. They suggested upping my Wellness Plan to cover the needed x-rays. I agreed and the x-rays were performed. After a review of the x-rays she told me my dog had broken all the bones at the foot joint. Vet showed me the x-rays and kept suggesting that the x-rays be sent off for a second reading costing $189.99. She told me I needed to see an Orthopedic Surgeon costing $150.00. None of this covered on the Wellness Plan. Vet splinted the leg and sent us home.
I was seen at the surgeon's office. They repeated the x-rays due to Banfield's x-rays being blurry. Their finding was that my dog had two prior breaks, one was a broken toe and a fracture of in the foot and the new break was the bones in the foot joint. They suggested removing the leg. Also, they saw bladder stones on the x-ray which needed an additional surgery. They told me Banfield had wrapped the leg with the broken toe sticking out and that was the reason why my dog was in so much pain leaving their facility.
Since January, I had my dog into Banfield numerous times complaining that he might be in pain for the same leg because he was attacked by another dog and he was showing signs of a bladder infection. At no time did they ever say he may have a broken bone or possible bladder stones or needed an x-ray. My surgery bill was over $3700.00 and they should be responsible for the whole amount plus the whole amount of cancelling this Wellness Plan due to the fact I will never take my dog back to their facility again. They failed him. He is the only one who suffered here. You pay for insurance for your pet and you trust their expertise that your pet is in the best care but in this case he slipped through the cracks of the system. I just want them to own up to the fact that they failed and should pay. In my opinion do not pay for the Wellness Plan or take your pet there. Go someplace else!
Reviewed June 14, 2016
I bought my flea meds online. Banfield declined to provide the prescription to the online store saying it was their policy not to allow purchase of meds online. They did match the price less a $5 additional discount I received from the online store.
Reviewed June 13, 2016
The only reason I would give them 1 star is because for basic preventative care, the service and cost were fair and reasonable. However, for resolving financial matters and being able to cancel, I would give them a negative 10. The credit card used to bill was stolen and I walked into a Banfield and provided my new information. Within 6 weeks, we received a 3rd and final attempt to pay the $101 balance to prevent being sent to collection. Well, we NEVER received the 2 previous notices and the amount due is the combination of 1 month and their late fees. I tried to resolve this online but the system conveniently does not recognize my email or password.
If I use my ID - it tells me I'm already set up but I can't ever get past the need for an unrecognized username/password. So I moved on to the automated system provided in the letter. The first day, it did not work. I called another number and was told their automated online system was down. I explained the entire situation and was told I needed to go to a Banfield location, to which I explained that I had done that and this caused the problem in the first place. Today, I called the automated line and it worked to the extent that when I made my payment and to hold for processing, my call disappeared into a black hole. I then called another number to make payment and cancel.
I was told I can't cancel until I'm current but that I needed to use the online system... ODG... so I called another number and their wait times were 11 minutes and I could opt for their call back service. I'm still waiting. It is crystal clear that Banfield lacks integrity and has absolutely no interest in doing the right thing. I want to pay my bill, avoid collection and cancel, and the only thing they are interested in is "forcing" me to stay in a plan that is neither useful or necessary. I feel that I am being held hostage because they can affect my credit. Seems fairly illegal to me.
Reviewed June 10, 2016
I went online and scheduled an appointment for 2 four week old kittens. I received a phone call a few days later asking me if I wanted to set up an appointment. I ended up with a different time slot than I scheduled. I posted that the kittens' "names" were Louis and Clark. In short, I had to explain 3 times it was 2 kittens, not one and they weren't puppies! Then I had to wait for the person to confer with the vet if they could treat 4 week old kittens. I'm thinking, "What the?" Aren't they trained to handle all ages? I wanted to save a little money due to a tight budget, and I had the free exam coupon. Of course I was encouraged to buy into the wellness program.
After reading numerous complaints, I ran like **. Canceled the appointment and made an appointment with my local vet, who I trust with my precious children. I won't be charged inflated prices, nor will I be charged for numerous pets with one visit. Thank God for sites like this one. After checking the wellness program price against the cost of 2 visits with full care and vaccines for my dogs with my vet, I will save over $300 in vet costs. I will make the one time payment to my vet before I ever step foot in a Banfield clinic or take on the wellness program. Take the advice of people who have been there if you're considering Banfield, go to a reputable vet. It may mean the difference of life or death for your pet.
Reviewed June 6, 2016
My name is Brittany, I am from Dallas Texas. I hate Banfield so much. So I Upgrade my plan to Plan Type: Special Care. Plan Mode: Monthly. Renewal Date: 5/26/2017. Date of Last Payment: 6/5/2016. Status: Active. As you see above, the due date is 26 of each month. I asked them if I had to pay the 42.95 to upgrade. They told me no but as you can see they charged me it and I didn't have the money in my bank. I have overdraft fee now. I am going to call them and ** them out for it.
Each time I go they try to get me to pay out of pocket knowing that the reason why I have the plan because I don't have the money. Each time my Yorkie get her teeth clean they always try to get me to pay for this pill to calm her down. Its cost about 24 dollars and I tell them, "No she is fine, I gave her meds for that already." And what do they do, they did it anyways and didn't charge me and my dog was sick for weeks because of it. And I am OCD about my dog and I make sure she healthy and her teeth are okay, and somehow knocked 3 lower teeth loose and wanted me to pay them to pull them. That would cost me 200 dollars. I told them, "NO that your fault not mine".
Lucy on this meds that control her bladder... She pees all over herself and this pill helps her control it but the side of effects is cancer. So she has to get blood drawn before she could get the meds. I understand that but when I can't get her in the doc won't call in her meds and that make my dog suffer. I have to beg the doctor to do it. We have bad storms here. They work around mine scheduled not theirs. I try to cancel it and they said I would have to pay ** load of money! This isn't a damn credit card. I hate the doctor, I can't go anywhere else. I tried since they didn't do the meds, they can't refill them. And oh check this out, so If you are 1 day late on her Rabies they won't be good for 3 years only 1. That ** but the DAPP was 3 days. I don't go there often and they still take out the money. That ** stupid, they should only take out the money if you use them! Help me I am stuck!
Reviewed June 5, 2016
I've had a wellness program for my pet for several years. The very first year I attempted to have his teeth cleaned they informed me they would not do it because his liver enzymes were too high. After multiple ear infections, skin conditions and performing all kinds of expensive blood tests and ultrasounds, they still could not determine why his liver enzymes were so high. Finally a vet, who eventually left after a very short period of time, determined my dog had Cushing's disease.
More expensive tests and the only way they will continue this medication is continuing the expensive tests every 6 months not to mention the medication is 50% more expensive at Banfield. They will match other pricing but expect to be there at least an hour even after calling the refill in and bringing a print out of the price every single month. Yesterday my baby went in for the 6 month test at 7:45 am, at 4:30pm I had to call for a status. Well to make this story shorter, they released my sick dog at 5:30 with a catheter still in his paw. They overbook and do not really care for your pet. STAY AWAY FROM BANFIELD.
Reviewed June 5, 2016
Neglect, laziness and bad prescriptions on a Friday afternoon appointment have turned my dogs simple case of allergies into a $4,000 emergency vet visit at 2 in the morning, not including poison controls charges and one suffering animal for upwards of 22 hours. After prescribing a known poison for my dog, not distinguishing the medications, two scared phone calls on my behalf to their office, and one very uncomfortable and scared animal, this Banfield location brushed off my dogs reaction leading me to believe it would all work itself out in a mere few hours.
Needless to say, after 26 hours of paranoia, no sleep, panting, pacing and a heart rate of 200, my dog has been admitted to a hospital for 3 days. I wouldn't trust this hospital for a split second, and quite possibly Banfield on an entire scale. Beware of the trust you put in their services. My naive trust almost cost us our animals life, and did cost us more than our savings account as well as hours of suffering on an innocent animals behalf. I will be cancelling our wellness plan, as I have been a consistent customer for years, but the third time is enough. Wake up, and remember why you've chosen your profession Banfield.
Reviewed June 4, 2016
There have been multiple times that I have called Banfield to take my pet in when it is sick. I am repeatedly told that there are no available appointments. Often times the next available appointment is a week to two weeks out. It is very concerning, especially when you are enrolled in their wellness program and paying a fee, monthly, that you cannot get your sick pet in that day or within a reasonable amount of time. There are those more immediate care situations, that are not true emergency circumstances, that come up with pets.
It is not advisable with some pets symptoms to put off seeing the vet for a week or more. It becomes stressful, in terms of worry about your pet and also a financial burden, to be paying monthly for these wellness programs and then not be able to get an appointment when your pet is in need of timely medical care. At that point the option is to go to an emergency clinic where the office visit fees and diagnostic fees, such as Xray, blood work, etc. are much higher.
Reviewed May 28, 2016
I took my dog to a Banfield after she tore a ligament in her knee and my preferred vet wanted her to be seen in 2 weeks when we were going to be out of town. They were AWFUL. The very first thing the vet did before I even finished telling her the problem was pulled out the brochure for their pet insurance. I told her I'd like to address the problem at hand considering my dog was having trouble walking and I wasn't concerned with preventative care at that very moment. She told me she would renew the pain medication that had been prescribed to the dog but she wanted to first get bloodwork to check kidney function (my dog is TWO years old btw) and an x-ray of the knee. I was going to have to pay extra for that though because she "could miss something" on the x-ray so she prefers to send them out to a radiologist for a mere $200 in addition to the cost of the x-ray.
She then proceeded to tell me that my dog was having some dental issues and again tried to push their insurance on me. I was just about ready to walk out when she finally agreed to prescribe more pain medicine, but would only give her 2 weeks worth. She left the room to get the medicine and I looked at my dog's teeth because again, she is only 2 and I hadn't noticed any problems with her teeth or gums before.
What I saw was the DOG BISCUITS they had just given her stuck to her teeth. I told the vet tech this and asked her to relay this information to the doctor. She nodded her head rudely and didn't tell the doctor as I had asked because I got a "reminder card" in the mail a month later telling me that "the vet noticed some issues with her teeth" and I should reconsider purchasing pet insurance. They were just rude all around. When I was checking out they overcharged me for the visit and AGAIN were rude when I pointed this out. They were SO put out when they had to do a refund. It was their mistake!!! I will never go here again. They only care about making money, not about your pet.
Reviewed May 27, 2016
I signed up for the Optimum Wellness Program for a year with all the bells and whistles because my dog was older, and I thought it would be cheaper. They had him in a cage almost 12 hrs without being able to pee. He had bladder stones, that must have been torture. I told them I do NOT want him to get any shots until I know he is healthy enough, but they insisted a Rabies would not harm him. Well within 8 hrs of him being home; he went into cardiac arrest and died. He was playing before I brought him in, dead within 24 hrs. Then they tell me; I need to pay the $75 a month for the next year and can not use his insurance on my other dog that I can now not afford to put on a plan... They killed my dog first exam, and now I need to connect to pay another year.
I believe if you started this as a Pup and maintained regular appointments it may be a good option, but if you love your older or sick dog, don't bring it here. It's a wellness program, wish I thought more about that before I had my beloved Moe killed. Be careful of vaccinations with older, smaller dogs also... It's a scam. House dogs do not need Rabies. There was a zero chance he would have been attacked by a rabid raccoon; but 100% chance that Rabies shot could kill him and it did. Don't let those vets bully you into them.
Reviewed May 23, 2016
I called Banfield today to advise that I had to have my pet put down last week and they tell me I have to continue to pay the monthly premiums for the remainder of the year!! MY DOG IS DEAD and they want the rest of their payments! I am ** PISSED! People need to know this is what can happen. I am beyond shocked and just outright livid.
Reviewed May 17, 2016
I had been a Banfield Wellness Plan customer since 2012. The plan renews annually on March 10. The care provided was less than stellar and when my dog became very ill I was told to take him to a 24 hour clinic. He died on April 3. I am now being dunned for the cost of the annual wellness plan despite my dog passing away. I am going to contact a class action attorney and if anyone is interested in exploring a class action lawsuit please do so.
Reviewed May 15, 2016
Banfield Pet Hospital is a SCAM. Stay away if you don't want to throw away your hard-earned money. I took my two cats for a physical on a Saturday at the Coral Gables facility, and was told they needed a dental cleaning. Paid $382.46. Made appointment for the dental cleaning for the following Saturday. At no point did they give me an estimate for the dental cleaning. Dropped them off at 7:30 a.m. and asked what the cost would be, and was told by a rude, half sleeping clerk, "That usually costs $140. They would need anesthesia and pickup would be around 3 p.m." Was given paperwork to sign and I noticed that I had to initial next to some five extra items, things that could occur during the dental cleaning. I didn't hear from them so I called and was told to pick up at 5:30 p.m.
I got there and asked for the bill -- $569.62!!! "What?" I said. I start shaking like a leaf, astonished. The cats needed extra sedation because they were aggressive and they could not do blood work. Wouldn't you be aggressive too if you had to stay on a cage for 10 hours, without anything to eat since 10 p.m. the night before? My cats don't bite nor do they have sharp nails. Nails were trimmed the week before at the same hospital!!! But of course I had initialed next to the $62.91 each for the sedation. They showed me. They also charged for another physical, even though they had one done last week at the same place. Also, they charge customers for "medical waste disposal." Wait a minute, they have a license to operate a pet hospital and we have to pay for disposing medical waste???
Fee after fee... Rip off! They should be audited and inspected. They don't care about you or your pets. When I dropped them off the clerk shouts on a phone, "DROP OFF!" as if dropping off a sack of potatoes. STAY AWAY from Banfield! Sorry PetSmart, but I will not shop there anymore. I don't want to even see Banfield inside your stores.
Reviewed May 13, 2016
When he was a kitten we noticed one day that he had a lump that seemed to be painful. We took him to the Banfield down the street which was inside PetSmart. I would have taken him to my local vet but it was Sunday afternoon and they were closed. The vet that looked at him suggested all of this preliminary testing including an ultrasound, blood work, then a surgical incision and biopsy, then antibiotics, and God knows what else. After I heard him say ultrasound right away I thought, "what kind of a scam is this? He has a boil for goodness sakes. All he needs is a few pills!" I've had enough cats to know.
Just to humor him I asked, "And what does all this involve as far as money?" I almost dropped when he said it would close at least $1000, to start! I told him I couldn't afford it and he responded with, "Well what about $700? Can you do that?" I took my cat and left faster than he could take his next breath. The next day for about $40 my regular vet prescribed some pills and in a few days my kitty was good as new. Banfield, Scamfield. What's the difference???
Reviewed May 10, 2016
We took our dog to Banfield and they basically told us that she was just having bad diarrhea, but she has a lot of blood in her feces. They gave us an antibiotic, then told us that she would be fine. Anyway, the next day I had to give her another bath because she had poop all over her butt. After that, she started wobbling and not being able to walk. So I picked her up and put her on my lap. I figured her medication was just making her lethargic. So I went to get up and she didnt move, but she was still breathing. I set her up. But her head just fell to the side.
So me and my mom ran to the car to take her to a different place. She was laying in my lap and we were driving as fast as we could. Then she started breathing harder. She stretched out her legs, then scrunched them back in close to her chest and started shaking. After that she went limp and stopped breathing. We got to the other vet and they did everything they could to try to bring her back, but they couldn't. They told us she probably had a liver disease and/or an abruption or something else besides bad diarrhea.
We went back to Banfield to complain, but the doctor kept trying to make some stupid ass excuses and tried to blame it on us. He then told us that he didn't offer us the blood test because he was told that we had some financial constraints, so apparently he couldnt even offer us a blood test. He was trying to use bigger words to try to save himself. Then he told us that he told us before that we should have taken her to get IV, but when my mom was told that, she had it that since they are a pet hospital that they would have done that for us, but they didn't. So the moral of this story is do not go to Banfield Pet Hospital. They will not take care of your pets, and even if your pet dies because they give you the wrong diagnosis they'll probably blame the fact that your pet died on you because their ego is too large.
Reviewed May 10, 2016
I took my 2 1/2 month old puppy to Petsmart - Banfield Pet Hospital, when I believed she could have had an ear infection because she kept itching away daily behind her ear and a foul smell was coming from her. I went in and was seen by TWO vets (one I assume was in training). They told me her ears were clean and nothing was wrong with her; they also recommended a cleaning solution which cost $30 to clean her ears daily for a week (BUT SHE HAD NO INFECTION, so why recommend it??). I am no professional so I took their advice and bought it anyhow and followed their instructions - for her own well being.
This is my first puppy, I am a new pet mom and just wanted what would be best. I am on a tight budget but figured her health came first! About 2 weeks later I took her to another vet for her to receive her vaccines, and was informed her ears were inflamed!!! The vet said, "Didn't anyone ever tell you, don't go to PetSmart?" Which is when I decided to actually read the reviews from other pet owners and their experiences. My jaw dropped when I saw the 1.2 star rating!!! SMH! All they care about is your money, NOT your pet's well being!
Reviewed April 20, 2016
I adopted a kitten that supposed to had all the vaccines required. At the adoption Center they gave a certificate to take the pet for a free office visit. As soon as I got there they said the kitten needed a lot of vaccines right away and that I should get the wellness plan otherwise was going to pay a lot of money because I needed to go several time to repeat the procedure. I unfortunately got into plan but I decided to called the adoption center to double check why they told me the kitten had all the vaccines already. I told them all the vaccines that Banfield Pet Hospital told the kitten needed right away and they were mad saying they shouldn't do that. It was too much and little especially for Rabies. I also went to another vet doctor and told me the same thing that it was too much what they at the Banfield Pet Hospital.
The adoption center told me that the kitten was fine at least for the first year and didn't need anything else. I went to the hospital to cancel and complain about the situation but they told me that the adoption center was wrong and the other vet I visit was wrong as well. I had to dispute the charges and supposed they were going to give me half off but when I got the bill and they only gave me $10 off. I called them and they just hung up me to avoid me. Please stay away!!!
Reviewed April 9, 2016
Do not go to Banfield Pet Hospital, and never get into their wellness program! Their only motivation is getting money from you. My wife signed our two dogs and a cat up. Now we're paying over a hundred dollars a month whether we take them in or not. I've tried repeatedly to cancel this annual contract but they have many tricks up their sleeve to keep you from canceling. She talked to someone at their headquarters and was told she would owe them 750.00 dollars to cancel. Please if you care for your pet, take them to a real vet who cares!
Reviewed April 7, 2016
I signed up for the wellness plan, $53 a month for a year. My dog died the next day. I tried to work something out. They said, "No, tough luck, too bad. Pay up or else."
Reviewed March 31, 2016
I came in with my cat saying that she is been losing a lot weight and that she stop eating. She looks in her ear and it is yellow and say she maybe has fatty liver disease or bladder infection. I was like ok. Got antibiotic and pills to keep her food down. One week later I went back because she was doing worst. She say it get worse before it get better? I went every week for five weeks. We ask for X-ray. She said "We do that on her next appointment." but she was just hanging on to live so we took her back on a Sunday to Banfield and I demand an X-ray.
She called back hours later and "I'm sorry there is nothing we can do for her. She has cancer in her lungs, liver and in bowels. I was like “For five weeks you people keep telling me she has fatty liver disease.” I took her for a second opinion and she say it's better to let her go. My heart just broke when she say that. I called Banfield and did a complaint against the doctor. After a week I call to find out what was done about it. He the doctor did everything she could for my cat and that I owe the $280 for her wellness plans if I want to cancel since she passed away.
Reviewed March 30, 2016
I personally visited Banfield Pet Hospital in Phoenix, twice in order to resolve the charges on my AmEx. card. During the first visit in July, I was told to call an 800 number for any billing issues. I called the billing issues service. It went to a voicemail (after hours) so I left a voice message and contact information. No returned call. At one of the visits, I was informed it could be an auto-pay, and I stated I don't do autopay on my AmEx card and did not authorized this. I received a letter from Banfield Billing department with a different contact 800 service number. In the letter, the Banfield was continuing to bill me monthly. I received another letter on 11/20/15 from Banfield billing service department. Again, the amount had increased.
I called the billing service number on Nov. 3, 2015 and again, express that I did not want the insurance and that I did not authorized auto billing. I received another Banfield billing letter dated 11/20/15 with the amount continuing to increase. I followed up with a letter dated 12/1/15, expressing my frustration with Banfield's representatives and did not want the pet insurance. I received another from Banfield on 1/21/16 with a more threatening tone and stated the amount now owed was $107.80; continuing to increase each month.
January 26, 2016, I called the number on that letter in order to resolve this issue and stated again, "I did not want the insurance" and stated "cancel, cancel, cancel." (I have a witness to this call) and I also asked during this call to the representative, "why didn't the representative that I spoke to on the November 3 call cancel the insurance as requested." He stated something to the fact that he and other representative cannot while there is a balance due. That did not make sense to me.
January 26, 2016, I followed up with a letter again outlying all the attempts to stop Banfield from continuing to bill me monthly. I even sent a check for the $107.80, just to stop the harassment and to keep my good name and credit rating. However, they never used it and in March 2016, I received a collection agency notice and now I am getting harassment phone calls.
Reviewed March 24, 2016
I have been a member of Banfield for years. This past December, my dog was lethargic and he couldn't walk. I called up in a panic and they would not take him. I told them that it was an emergency and explained the situation. He couldn't even walk, I had to carry him everywhere. They told me the next appointment was in 3 days. This was in Levittown, NY. I put the phone down and called Farmingdale. They took him right away. Come to find out, he dislocated his hip somehow (he is always jumping and running). He had to be put on painkillers and other meds for 2 weeks. Now, I just called Banfield in Farmingdale to get my dog a rabies shot because he is due. I can't get an appointment till next Thursday, that is 7 days from now! Unbelievable!
Reviewed March 22, 2016
First we found a mutt. My daughters brought it home and wanted to keep it. But it was sick. He had a terrible cough. We thought it would get better. It didn't. So we took him to Banfield in the Rim in San Antonio Texas. We had the best vet. Very caring and kind. On the first visit we paid $350 or so in medical costs. The next week, we had to bring him back and at that point I asked if A WELLNESS PLAN would be a good idea. Yes, it would save money, but I think because he was so sick no one suggested it. Sure enough... we had to put him down.
Banfield was great. I didn't expect any reduction in the agreed plan contract because the cost of his medical care exceeded the agreement. I didn't even ask when I called, I just inquired on how I could be sure they don't auto-renew since he died. A wonderful person, Becca, waived a few months of the fees and shortened the contract time for me. Very unexpected. She said since I have used Banfield in the past and she could see how soon he passed away she could assist.
I was NOT expecting this. Anyone who purchases a wellness plan is well informed that it is a 12-month agreement. You're not entitled to get out of it because something happens to your pet. Perhaps, people on this ConsumerAffairs complaint site need to just adhere to the agreement they agreed to instead of thinking someone owes you a favor or something. My experience with Banfield was wonderful and frankly I have always had good experiences with their vet care. I would recommend them to anyone.
Reviewed March 22, 2016
I didn't realize I had to pay for my wellness plan after my pet passed away. When I brought my pet into Banfield, I was also surprised they aren't a real hospital, they did not have the equipment to help my dog. I also was offered a bigger plan to cover Xrays, in which I did up my plan. My dog passed away the next day and here I am stuck with a higher bill every month. $52.00. They were also suppose to give my dog a dental cleaning, that never happened.
Reviewed March 19, 2016
For the past 2 years, we have had a wellness plan for our dog Susie. Not surprising, that plan has proved adequate for basic preventive care (routine checkups, teeth cleaning, etc). However, the hospital frequently tends to recommend unnecessary and optional upgrades for a healthy pet. Today however, we had a bad scare when 4 year old Susie had sudden muscle contractions that temporarily immobilized her. My wife immediately called our Banfield affiliate to schedule an emergency visit. The receptionist conferred with the doctor and to my disbelief recommended taking her to an emergency vet clinic since it was almost time for them to leave for the day.
In the past when emergency issues have come up, we have received prompt assistance and empathy from other local veterinary services. Sadly, today's experience has left a negative impression with me. Since there is obviously little value in a Banfield Wellness Plan, my wife immediately canceled the remainder of our service contract. I will NEVER utilize Banfield's services again. I WILL absolutely convey to all of my friends how little Banfield cares about providing quality care for their customers.
Reviewed March 18, 2016
Our dog Sasha was taken there for spaying at around 8:30 AM. They didn't have our paperwork ready so we waited 5 more minutes. We left her and went home expecting to get a call when she was done. At 5:00 PM we called and found out she'd been done for a while. We asked what happened and told them we never got a call. They gave us attitude saying maybe we gave them the wrong number, when in fact we gave them 3 correct numbers. They proceeded to give us more attitude and didn't give back our dog. They decided to argue for a little while. Eventually we got Sasha back. We also ordered for her nails to be trimmed. We're they? Nope. Never doing business with them again. Maybe it's because we're Asian, maybe not. All we know is they gave us the worst service ever. Hope someone reads this before making the mistake of going to this rude, overpriced place. Thank you. Have a good day.
Reviewed March 16, 2016
My 16 year old granddaughter offered to take my foster dog for a routine visit at our local Banfield Hospital. Two month later, after repeated calls asking for back payments, we learned Banfield had signed her up on a Wellness Plan for the foster dog (who had since been adopted!). When my frustrated 16 year old granddaughter would ask them to PLEASE stop calling, they ignored her pleas and the fact that she was only 16, insisting she pay for this plan. Several months later, I signed for her to opened her first TEEN checking account and she made her first purchase at PetSmart, to buy her cat's food. Within 2 weeks, with only $15 in her account, Banfield had her bank card information and made an unauthorized, $340. withdrawal from her Teen Account... putting her in overdraft status.
We can only guess that Banfield had hacked into the Pet Smart Register Receipts to find her bank card information!! We called our bank and they confirmed, Banfield had used her debit card information to make this illegal withdrawal. Banfield committed fraud when they stole my 16 year old granddaughter's bank card information!! We have filed a police report and plan to pursue this illegal activity until we have justice!! Consumers beware, your card information is NOT SAFE or Protected at PetSmart!!!
Reviewed March 15, 2016
My dog is a very healthy, happy fella. I've been going to Banfield for 2 years. I only go there when I have to. The wellness plans are a joke. A Doctor actually told me that the wellness plans were not for sick dogs. Meaning the plans don't cover any injury or sickness. Just preventative care. All the staff do is try and push as much unneeded meds and tests as possible. They been trying to get us to chop my dog's junk off every visit for years. He was born with 1 testicle. Banfield told us his other testicle was up inside him and it must be removed or he would die of cancer. Another vet did an x-Ray and there is NOT ANOTHER testicle up there but Banfield insists on trying to charge us $700 to remove the missing nut.
We dropped our dog off for his shots and picked him up hours later. He was totally disconnected and spaced out. He had a "I just got **" kinda personality which was weird because he's usually playful and happy. I KNOW WTF!! NO MEANS NO BANFIELD!!! I don't know what happens behind those doors or if this is all my imagination but it is this customer's option that something doesn't smell right and it's not my dogs shattered ball sack. Banfield doctors actually have contests with each other to see who can run up the most money throughout the day. This information was told to me by a friend of mine who works the front desk. All employees are trained to push product like their Ben Affleck on ** the movie boiler room!
Reviewed March 8, 2016
I had a beagle for thirteen years. During that time, I had her taken care of by Banfield. While I find they can do the basics... shots and check ups. I don't feel they are the place to go for major issues. My dog developed a big skin tumor on her belly area and lost a bunch of weight over a 6 month period. Banfield wanted to do blood work and could not determine what the problem was. We had surgery to remove the tumor and her condition got worse... she started having sores all over her belly. Again, they could not give me insight into what was wrong or why it was happening.
A week ago she had to be put down because of massive blood loss from the sores. While my dog was thirteen, I feel if I had gone to another vet, I would have gotten better care and giving her more of a quality of life even though she was a senior. There would have been a diagnosis at least. If I get another dog, I will not be going to Banfield again. I feel a local vet would have given me better care.
Reviewed March 6, 2016
I took my dog to Banfield inside Petsmart in North Las Vegas to get his annual shot. When the doctor came in and was about to give the shot to my dog, my dog didn't feel comfortable with her and decided to pull back on his leash. My dog started growling when she continued to pull to try to calm her down. When he didn't, the dr started getting mad at me and screaming while telling me that she doesn't trust my dog and that if I also feel the same way with my dog, that she would need to put a muzzle on him (which I'm perfectly fine with anyways).
But I didn't see the point of Dr Velia ** screaming at me just to tell me that and asking if I wanted to put a muzzle on him so they can administer the shot. She was very unprofessional talking to me when she could have talked to me politely and should have took her time getting my dog be comfortable with her and try earning a bit of his trust. There's no need for screaming. I'm never going back to this doctor again. Very unprofessional!
Reviewed March 1, 2016
When I signed up for my cat, people at Pet store told me it is a month to month contract and wellness plan for a cat is $25/month but they cannot explain why he lost a batch of fur at his back. They gave me prescription so I can go home to clean his ears which they did not want to do it until I asked them to show me how. I paid for the visit plus sign up for wellness plan and they still did not want to care for him. I lost the cat and called them for cancel and they said I had to pay 12 months before they can cancel the renewal for next year. This is outrageous. I don't think they even earn a star.
Reviewed March 1, 2016
At first when I came to this vet over 2 years ago to get my dogs shots up to date, I did it only for their wellness plan, did not have a very good experience the first time. I am used to the doctors doing the shots in the room with the owners like a regular vet. Well not here. They took my dog in the back and had a very large man lay on top of my dog because she wouldn't stay still and one of the vet techs saw that I was looking through the small glass in the door and getting upset that he stood in front of the window so I could not see what was going on. My dog is terrified to go to this vet but with being a single mom it's hard to pay pet prices so I keep giving them chances to improve and still getting treated horrible.
Today I called up there to set another appointment to get my dogs shots renewed and I asked the first lady I spoke with to hold on and she hung up on me. The second lady was short of calling me a ** and would not do as I ask of just doing the shots and nothing else... The people are very rude and disrespect to the owners of the animals. After this visit I will never take my dogs to this vet again and do not recommend at all... They need completely new staff!!!
Reviewed Feb. 27, 2016
I would advise people to be very careful when dealing with Banfield. It is a scam. They overcharge. They go into your bank account to withdraw funds even if your pet has not been seen. You can never speak to a supervisor and they tell you that you will still have a balance even if you want to cancel. Please be aware, don't do it. You will be better off going somewhere else. Signed a very unhappy customer and believe you me my Nemo will still get the best of care elsewhere. Good luck new customers.
Reviewed Feb. 26, 2016
Last year I took my Lhasa Apso to the Banfield Pet Hospital in Las Cruces. He needed extensive dental work. This surgery ended up cost $1400.00++. Last week, he again needed dental surgery at my local animal hospital. When the vet got inside and looked at what the previous vet had done she was appalled. Apparently ALL kinds of roots and nerve endings were left behind. Because of this, he ended up developing a fistula on his upper left canine. If I weren't so far away I would take them to small claims to sue them for my money. Unfortunately, that is not going to be possible. So aside from the fact that my dog has lived in almost constant pain from a botched surgery more than two years ago, I am still out the $1400++ I paid for the procedure. Be careful if you are taking a pet to any Banfield Pet Hospital. I would certainly never take my beloved little dog there again!
Reviewed Feb. 26, 2016
We are 1st time pet owners. People recommended this plan because it covered everything including the spay. That was the biggest lie! The spay costed over $1000 with this insurance, an ear infection test isn't even covered... $70 plus medicine. Just dropped my baby off again for something wrong with her eyes, $76 just to look at her. DO NOT waste your money with this wellness plan.
Reviewed Feb. 23, 2016
My dog who is one years old was having a pet emergency. I brought her to the Banfield Hospital that she has pet insurance through and they refused to see her stating they have other pet appointments and would not be able to see my dog. I explained that my dog was having an emergency and possibly had an intestinal blockage. The young girl at the desk refused to help my pet, so I took my pet to another vet and had a $4,000 bill. I contacted Banfield after and they refused to help with the bill and no restitution was given. Every time I take my pet in they are only concerned with what they can sell you not about your pet's health. They are criminals. Would not have anyone take their animal to this place.
Reviewed Feb. 15, 2016
I know I have been there many times before and have asked for medication for my pet for his health and they said they needed to see him again. The charge would be 120.00. They would not dispense the meds until I made a visit only so they could charge 60.00 office visit and 60 dollar med charge. Also they would not see him because they closed in 20 min.
Reviewed Feb. 11, 2016
My husband has tried on numerous occasions to cancel our cat's health plan. We had called and sent them emails as instructed by them, but they still continue to charge us every month. We were told that it will be taken care of once they receive our email but that doesn't seem to work. They lied. They gave us the runaround and given us different phone numbers to supposedly call, but every time we call and even leave messages, they do not call back. Until now, we are still struggling to speak with someone. They are a scam! Customers beware. Do not buy their plan for your pets or you will be in the same situation like us. Find other reliable trustworthy company!
Reviewed Feb. 10, 2016
They assured me that they could, and would.
3 months later, I call to cancel my last dog's plan. They tell me that she had already been automatically renewed, and I would have to wait another year to cancel her policy. I flatly refused and blocked the automatic withdraw from my checking account. Now, 4 years later, they have sent the 500+ dollars they say I still owe to a collection agency, and it has now negatively affected my credit score. I am still in the process of disputing with TransUnion and Equifax and hope that I can get this matter resolved. In short, if you're happy with the process, good for you. Just be careful. Once you're in, they're going to pull every trick in the book to not allow you to leave.
Reviewed Feb. 6, 2016
I'm currently an unhappy customer of this facility. While my 2 mini hotdogs were good and healthy things were okay, they always try to get you to upgrade your wellness plan. When trying to make an appointment during late hours or weekends, they're always "booked". All of their recommendations aren't really suggestions. I brought my healthy baby girl in because I noticed rapid breathing and they "recommended" an x-ray for $800+ to find out what wrong along with blood work. I asked Dr. ** to tell me what it could be according to her experience and knowledge. She said she didn't know until x-ray was done. She said it could be pneumonia. "Why do you think it's that?" "Because of the breathing." Well, it wasn't pneumonia, the x-ray didn't show or prove anything because it was "unremarkable". She read it and saw NOTHING but decided she needed a radiologist consult for $265 to agree with her that there was nothing there.
2 weeks later not knowing what was wrong after antibiotics and pain killers, she examines her back and realizes with my baby's reaction that it is her back... UNBELIEVABLE!!! This breed suffer from back problems. You couldn't try doing that exam before the $1200 bill? To avoid the $1200, they suggested upgrading her wellness plan to just pay $400 but an additional $28 a month on top of the $48 a month I was already paying. Now in for a year contract if not, I get charged for everything. I wait to cancel them. Vets do not know more than what you can google yourself. Please read reviews before committing to this place. They're all about the money, not your pet's health.
Reviewed Feb. 3, 2016
My little yorkie was brought to Banfield lethargic and not feeling well. They vaccinated her with a lyme disease vaccine. By the time we got home she was having seizures and almost died. Two weeks later she is still in the hospital and they said "if she lives she will be a dog with special needs".
Reviewed Jan. 29, 2016
As I was reading these reviews this morning (Tina of Marina, CA on Jan. 23, 2016 review) my heart sank. Almost word for word the same exact thing happen to us this past weekend with our beloved dog. This place only cared about the money and my dog died as a result. The first day we took her in they started laying out the $$ plan then talked us into buying into the wellness plan and I could hear them hi-fiving each other and "good job" instead tending to my dog when they "sold me" on their plan.
Turned out she had lymphoma after they treated her all week for pancreatitis. It was only after I took her to another vet that had ultrasound capabilities when we got the devastating news and we called our family to rush down and had to put her down right then. Banfield tortured my dog for a week while we paid thousands of dollars to them. I can't tell you how unprofessional they are, they are not real vets. If you love your pet, stay clear of this animal torture clinic!
Reviewed Jan. 29, 2016
I have two dogs registered at Banfield Pet Hospital in Yonkers. Today they both has a dental appointment. After registering them, one of the assistants walks out, grabs my dog's leashes and begins pulling and dragging my dogs into the back. I asked her why couldn't she carry them as they always have. One is 12 lbs and the other 14. In the afternoon, when I picked up, they tell me that their anal glands were expressed. The yorkie kept rubbing her butt against the floor. As I walked to car, I realized the shih tzu was full of feces all over her butt, back and tail. I was disgusted and went back but by now, they were closed and inside their locked doors. I was there for awhile, no one came out and I decided to write this review. I came home to wash my dog, clean my car and put ointment on my other dogs butt.
This is unacceptable. When I am present and their anal glands are expressed, the dr is very careful and keeps everything clean. That's like having a colonoscopy and waking up to find yourself full of crap. And then walked to the elevator and told you goodbye. There was a time when this clinic was different, had better ethics and careful procedures. Dr. ** was great and so was the staff at that time. Now it appears the one doctor employed practices and then leaves. I am never going back here. I am going to try the one in PA. If that one is just as bad, I will end this plan. It's not really worth it anymore.
Reviewed Jan. 29, 2016
Their wellness plan is such a rip off, they sign you up for a year and automatically renew and if you bring your pet in for any reason they do the works on them and then if you try and cancel they charge you for all the treatments that they did on your pet.
Reviewed Jan. 28, 2016
My dog had his teeth cleaned at Banfield last year. He has had check-ups since. He went in for his annual cleaning and I was quoted a price for tooth extractions. 6 hours later they inform me that he needs to have 8 teeth extracted. That's 8 – eight teeth removed. Why wasn't this noticed in his previous exams. This is a scam! They always up charge every time. I WILL NOT RENEW MY MEMBERSHIP. BE VERY CAUTIOUS.
Reviewed Jan. 28, 2016
Have been taking my dog there since birth. Pay monthly for wellness plan and get a bill for heartworm test last seen in September but January appointment revealed mature heartworms. The today he was attacked by a Pit bull, rushed him there, had to wait 20 minutes to find an employee came at us with all these $$$$$. We agreed called back with more $$$$$. We agreed called back and said they were rushing him to ER because they have no ultrasound machine. He started swelling and we needed 2000 minimum or he would die. Got to ER and he died within minutes of us saying we didn't have 2000 and we were denied for financing! No empathy, no sympathy, just a cash cow who play on the emotions of Pet lovers!
Reviewed Jan. 23, 2016
In the early part of 2011, I took my small dog - my sweet baby-girl to the Banfield in Springfield, VA on Frontier Drive, because she was having digestive issues. I brought in a fecal sample and they did blood tests. The doctor came back and said "there is SO MUCH mucous in her feces, A LOT." I said "yes, she throws up a lot and it is mostly bile - that is why we are very concerned and she has a loss of appetite periodically."
The doctor told us that she had a food allergy and that we should put her on a prescription diet - specifically "The Hills- Zd" and periodically if she has an upset stomach (if we hear rumbling sounds) we should give her some famotidine (pepcid). So we did that. Over a 4-year period, my dog saw 4 different doctors and all four were informed of her condition - the throwing up had lessened, but was still occurring periodically, her cholesterol level was moderate, and she was still having diarrhea and mucous in her feces as well as periodic loss of appetite.
Fast forward to 2015, we moved to another state. In October my sweet baby-girl got very sick and was throwing up repeatedly and refusing to eat. Immediately, I took her to the local Banfield and they did tests and said it looked like pancreatitis, and that they wanted to keep her all day to give her IV fluids. They sent her home with 3 different medications to counteract the stomach upset and help with her inflamed pancreas. I took her back for 3 consecutive days during which they gave her IV fluids and monitored her and retook blood tests. On the 3rd day they said that she should get an ultrasound. I immediately took her to the local pet specialist hospital since Banfield does not have ultrasound capability. I waited in the lobby. 15 minutes after they took her for the ultrasound the technician returned and said that the doctor would like to speak with me.
They led me to a room where the doctor explained that my sweet baby-girl was deathly ill-in serious condition and that her gallbladder had burst. They told me that she needed emergency surgery or she would die and be in severe pain until her moment of death. I was devastated. I was in shock. The surgical team came in and asked me about my baby-girl's medical history. They commented on how well I knew her health history, and they were shocked that when I told them how long she had the symptoms she had - why hadn't I done something sooner?!? I told them that I had done everything I THOUGHT I was supposed to do in informing her veterinarian and taking her for check-ups (and interim office visits because of complications). I then begged them to please do everything they can to help her. Crying, I kissed her on the head and told her I loved her.
1 hour later I received a phone call telling me that there was nothing more they could do to save her and that her gallbladder had been leaking for a very long time and that it had disintegrated in their hands when they opened her up. They told me that because of the prolonged leaking, her liver was destroyed. I didn't think I could be lower than when they told me how sick she was. I had to make the decision to let her go. The hardest thing I have ever done. She was my child, my family. The pain in my chest was incomprehensible. My family gathered at the hospital to say goodbye to her.
I know the stages of grief that people go through because I am a psychologist. I know that anger is one of them, but the anger I feel over this is more than justified: In 4 years my baby-girl saw FOUR DOCTORS at the SAME Banfield! and ALL FOUR misdiagnosed her! NONE of the FOUR DOCTORS suggested an ultrasound, not a word! This could have all been prevented if the Banfield in VA had simply suggested an ultrasound. I looked to see how expensive an ultrasound is and it can cost from 1500-4500 dollars.
This company is supposedly owned by the Mars-M&M company. WHY isn't there an ultrasound machine and a tech at each location and if they can't AFFORD to have it at each location WHY can't they have a portable one and technician that travels between Banfields on certain days to perform them???!?! WHY did it take my coming to a different Banfield to have the doctors there give OPTIMUM CARE!!??? Isn't the standard of care at each Banfield hospital supposed to be the SAME STANDARD??? They are not providing OPTIMUM care if they aren't even SUGGESTING what should be done.
Two days after my sweet baby-girl died, I called the Springfield, VA Banfield to tell them she had passed away and that they had misdiagnosed her and asked if they were interested in knowing the state of her condition so that they could use it as a teaching case so this wouldn't happen to anyone else. They said they did want to know and that they would call me back to get the information. They never called.
I called the corporate offices to speak to someone about the negligence experienced by my baby-girl. They said they would have someone from advocacy contact me to learn of the circumstances. They had the Banfield doctor that misdiagnosed her - the same one that said she would call me back months earlier (and never did) - call me!!?? Why would you have one of the people who I am calling you about call me? When I called them back and asked why advocacy hadn't called me they said a doctor was scheduled to call me... 2 weeks later and I am still waiting on that call.
I know there is a lawsuit going on holding them accountable for not providing the level of discount that they advertise by the wellness plans, but no one is after them for not providing the same standard of OPTIMUM WELLNESS and care across each location as they advertise. ALL OF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF: the doctor had done due diligence for her condition which was OBVIOUS to the Pet specialist hospital in a matter of minutes. That much mucous in her feces indicated a mucocele issue in the gallbladder, and if there had been an ultrasound test SUGGESTED or provided on site. She was in pain for YEARS, YEARS!! I can't wrap my head around the outrage and pain I feel over this. Banfield FAILED her, they failed US because we trusted them with a precious part of our family.
Reviewed Jan. 18, 2016
I have seen the wellness plan go downhill for a couple of years now. One of my pets was given the proper medicine for an infection, but half the prescription was stolen in a home break-in. I called the Daytona Banfield office and asked for a half refill and explained why. The vet originally told me to give the full course to my pet, which is usual protocol in a prescription fill. Now I am asked back with her for yet another visit to check her. I am sure they are upselling. I am sure they are playing on my love of pet for profit. This is a company on the downslide with consumer service.
Reviewed Jan. 18, 2016
Beware of Banfield Salesmanship... My 19 year old Rat Terrier broke her hip in my car and I brought her into Banfield who explained that the xray would be $200.00 and to read and refer me would be another $100. They then told me I was overdue for a rabies shot and that by law I needed that. Overall they seemed MORE INTERESTED in getting me on a plan and pinning me to a monthly payment than they were to the fact that my dog probably would need to be put down because of her age. This happened in January of 2015 and I am just now finishing my last payment of @42.95x12=$515.50. Afterwards I went to our local Humane Society who directed me logically, truthfully and with great care... No salesmen there.
Reviewed Jan. 15, 2016
While SHORTLY emp at 220 and fill in at ValleyView, I was NOT impressed with any of their cat/kittens. I worked 8 yrs. at an area Vet and only left due to bad back problems. Most of the kittens had URI (snotty noses, runny eyes). They were all able to get to each other and spread this. They were adopted out with these problems as well. I would never work for or recommend this company for any animal, or animal care, ever.
Reviewed Jan. 14, 2016
My dog had intestinal blockage confirmed by Banfield and they said they could do the surgery. I agreed. Surgery started around 3PM and around 8:30PM they finished and said for me to come pick him up. When the doctor explained they could do the surgery he did not mention that there would be no overnight care. When I picked my dog up he was still not fully awake from the surgery, cold, in severe pain, confused. They brought him out to my car on a stretcher and gave me instructions and meds. My dog almost died.
Next morning I called the local Emergency Vet Specialist and they took him in right away. He spent 2 days on IV fluids and pain meds. 3rd day he became septic due to his intestinal wall leakage. I agreed to have the Carolina Pet Specialist operate again. They had 24 hour doctor and tech care, and thankfully he is now still with us and is on the road to recovery. I will NEVER use Banfield again even for a minor injury. My cousin who breeds dogs and worked at Pet Smart for 12 years, she said she wouldn't trust Banfield Pet Hospital "with a dead skunk"! I agree with her.
Reviewed Jan. 11, 2016
I have had 2 dogs enrolled with them since they were both 8 weeks old. Somehow Banfield allowed one of my dog's rabies shot to expire and not the other one. The dogs got out of the yard for the first time ever. While being chased by several people and cornered, the dog was scared and bit someone (very minor no stitches required). The dog got taken to the pound and quarantined for 10 days at the expense of $20 a day because of an expired rabies shot which Banfield does the scheduling for. They will not back their own mistake and claim it to be our fault for their error. I would not recommend this shoddy at best animal hospital to anyone who loves their pet. I have read no good reviews about them and will never take a pet to them again. They only care about billing you and not your pet. Don't be fooled like I was.
Reviewed Jan. 5, 2016
My family has a six month old Australia Shepherd puppy. Roughly 50% of that breed has a genetic predisposition that makes them unable to tolerate certain medications. With full knowledge of our dog's breed, and without any attempt to ascertain whether our dog fell within the intolerant group, they gave him several doses of at least one of the medications roughly half of his breed can not tolerate. Our puppy had a near fatal neurologic reaction, and was only saved because we took him to another vet who was able to treat the poisoning. Further complicating matters, although I witnessed the Banfield vets administer one of the medications in question, there is no other record of the administration of this medication.
Foolishly, I did not ask for documentation at the time as I mistakenly believed that Banfield provided honest and competent veterinary care. I believe if this documentation did ever exist, it was altered or destroyed when I filed a complaint with both the Better Business Bureau and Banfield's patient advocacy office. Banfield is a company that cares considerably more for their profit margin than for your pet's health. I would like to warn anyone who takes the time to read this to never contract veterinary services with Banfield. This is a mistake you may likely regret, and your pet may not survive.
Reviewed Jan. 4, 2016
I have 2 dogs in the wellness program for the past 4 years. I also had been taking them prior to joining the wellness program. I liked the convenience of the plan (which is not cheap) and the location. That's where it ends! From the beginning they always want to tack something on even on wellness exams (which they are free - trust me they're not) which are included in the plan. I'm always asked to pay for something. They always upsell. You spend another $50-$100 dollars every time! They seem to forget I'm making monthly payments for my visit on 2 dogs.
It takes forever to drop and pick up my dogs. I don't know about other locations. The Northville, Mi is slow sometimes waiting over 30 mins to get my dog. Why because they want to upsell everyone before they take their pet home. So they make you wait. Why the pitch each and every one of us! So annoying. When my dogs plans are up I'm done with them, you can beat their prices all day long at other local vets. It will cost me more to cancel the contract than to finish it out. That is the only reason I'm finishing up the plans. Don't sign up. It's a trap. They play on our emotions and love for our pets to make money.
Reviewed Jan. 3, 2016
A few years ago, my family adopted a neighborhood tiger cat (a neutered male, approximately 5-8 years old) that was abandoned by the family of his owner (his original owner had passed away). He loved the outdoors yet we provided him with warm, dry shelter in addition to food, water, treats, and companionship. We also enrolled him in a wellness plan at Banfield in Aberdeen, NC for $20 per month in an effort to give him medical care. The first year of the contract was fulfilled with no issues whatsoever.
The annual contract rolled-over in March 2015 and we allowed it to continue. During this same month, our cat supposedly received a routine check-up and care (behind closed doors) during a scheduled appointment. Because the Vet had an emergency with another pet during our scheduled appointment time, I was asked to leave our cat in Banfield's care and I would be contacted when he was ready to be picked-up.
In late August 2015, one day before his next scheduled routine appointment, our cat went missing. My daughters and I have searched tirelessly for days, weeks, and months. We remain deeply upset and miss him very much. I can only presume he was attacked by a predator such as a fox or coyote. In September, my wife called Banfield to cancel the contract after paying monthly for 7 months during 2015 (March through September). While still grieving over our beloved pet, and to our surprise, Banfield had no interest in stopping the automated monthly credit card payments; therefore, I elected to close the account.
I asked the Banfield representative if this is the first time that a pet passed away (or went missing) during a contract. She said "no" and that Banfield will sometimes make exceptions when a pet passes. On two occasions now, I have asked to discuss this issue with a representative of management in an attempt to resolve the matter but I still have not received a call. I only receive monthly letters threatening collection agency intervention and credit damage, say I presently owe $62.85.
I have lost all respect for Banfield over this matter. I do not know if they ever provided service to our pet behind closed doors in March. Since my pet remains missing, I do not receive contractual benefits for the remainder of the term so why do I owe anything further? I welcome Banfield's management to act with respect, dignity, and professionalism in attempting to resolve this matter.
Reviewed Dec. 29, 2015
I completely agree that they do upsell just as any place of business would, however, they don't even consider what is in the best interest for your dog. My dog supposedly had a sinus infection. They gave me medicine to last 5 days ($50) and on the follow-up visit I mentioned that he still wasn't better. The vet recommended that I let it run through the system and not put him back on it. Needless to say, the dog got worse, and when I went back they made me pay $50 for the medicine again, to start him all over just a few days later. Time, money, and my puppy's health could have all been further exhausted. They just want what's best for their pockets. The wellness plan is pretty much only helpful for the first 3-4 months of a puppy's life. After that, it covers nada! You get only a 5% discount on products and other services... Honestly I was able to find my puppy's medication cheaper at Publix. This is a sad product that just rips people off.
Reviewed Dec. 27, 2015
We had a Banfield Pet Wellness plan for our 2 deceased dogs. In June 2013 the vet prescribed Trifexis 1 dose monthly per dog. In 9/13 our 12-year-old Beagle developed lymphoma. Within weeks we had to put her down. We adopted another Beagle puppy and gave him 1 dose of the drug. The following month our other 12-year-old dog developed cancer of the urethra. Banfield referred us to a specialist and we did chemo in attempt to save his life. He was put down 2/14.
We adopted a Boston terrier and had taken the dog to Banfield for a checkup. Within days the other adopted Beagle had a serious seizure. We had only given him the 1 dose of Trifexis. The vet tried to convince us to put both dogs on Trifexis but after research we refused. We received a sizeable bill for the euthanizing of our dog with urethra cancer. They told us the plan didn't cover it. We are being billed monthly by Banfield for the Wellness plan for only 1 dog at $52 per month. If I wished to have a plan I would have it on BOTH of my dogs as I did before.
I have called more than 8 times to the local Banfield and they said that the plan would stop billing. In my last call I was told that I need to contact corporate in Portland to cancel the plan and that they were unable to cancel it at the local level. I have never taken either of my dogs back to Banfield since their initial check up. So they have collected more than $700 from me and sent us to collections for the euthanizing of our beloved dog for $150.
Reviewed Dec. 22, 2015
I got a wellness plan for my new cat and a very old dog. In order to get all the cat's shots I went with a Banfield Wellness Plan. First off, don't believe them when you ask them if you can just pay cash every month. I asked this, repeatedly, because I didn't want them to use an automatic withdrawal on my bank account. They will give you various evasive answers like, "the first payment has to be made on a card and then you can call and change it afterward." Yes, you can change it later down the road, to another credit card or bank account that they will automatically withdrawal from. AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL IS THE ONLY WAY THEY ALLOW YOU TO MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS. They sell it as a great way to keep up with your animal's health, but what they don't tell you is that they gouge their prices by hundreds of percents on almost everything, while offering very few useful services.
For example, want flea and tick prevention? They provide you with either Comfortis chews or Advantix gels... just as long as you pay for them separately. For my dog and my cat I paid over 90 dollars per month on their wellness plans. That's over 1,000 per year for only covering 2 actual visits. Plus, at each visit I ended up paying at least $150-$500 PER VISIT. Also, their cancellation process is set up so that you cannot cancel without paying back a large lump sum. I tried to cancel my dogs, and in less than 6 months of service, that's one visit I made, they claimed I racked up over a thousand dollars in services and so far I had only paid 600 on my plan. The only way to cancel would be to pay the 400 in a lump sum. This is not worth it, I suggest getting a low limit credit card (like $500) and putting it up for vet bills only. You'll save yourself the extra thousand that Banfield would have charged you.
Reviewed Dec. 21, 2015
I bought this Wellness Plan in order to provide my friend, an 8 y/o, terriers with the healthiest possible life. Though they give rabies and other vaccination without fail, they are always pressing for some type of upcharge outside the Wellness Plan. So when Ace developed a severe cough and violent sneezing, they went on an upcharge binge, x-rays, and a tooth extraction. Over 700.00 in upcharges! This didn't resolve the issue, I took him to another vet service and they dx my dog with a brain tumor that is going to end his life.
When I complained about their incompetence as it relates to this misdiagnosis, the vet went on the defensive stating that though the tooth extraction had nothing to do with the brain tumor she was justified because the tooth was going bad. Banfield clinic is in the business of selling their wellness plan and up selling services to make money off our love for our pets. They are vultures and I discourage all pet lovers to make other choices for their pet health needs!
Reviewed Dec. 19, 2015
This PetSmart and Banfield Hospital is probably the worst pet hospital I have ever visited. I came here because my dog's eye appeared infected after visiting PetSmart grooming. Apparently from exposure to other potentially sick dogs or maybe a scratch from grooming tools. I did not make a big deal about the groomer's ineptitude because it did not seem like a big deal. And my dog has had several surgeries in her lifetime and I am used to having to take care of her. At Banfield after some unnecessary tests, the veterinarian determined that my dog had an infection. May I add that the tests seemed unnecessary and are mostly done to make you pay for what is supposed to be part of the "unlimited free visits" offered by the Wellness plan. I let them do the tests because no harm can be done and it cannot hurt my dog to be checked for multiple conditions.
As expected, the number of tests were not needed given that they were both negative. The doctor sent me home with 3 medications for which I asked for the prescriptions to order at the human hospital I work for where I can get them for half the price. I even do this with my allergy medications which are normally more expensive at Walgreens as opposed to my employer's pharmacy. The doctor agreed to do this but seemed somewhat upset and left the room immediately and declared that "we won't be able to administer the medication then". I ended up finding the medications. Two of them at my hospital pharmacy and one online. I administered the medication religiously and did eye irrigations consistently despite my dog trying to bite me. And after two weeks, I saw no improvement.
I was not told to put a cone on my dog and apparently, my dog had been rubbing her eye after I put medication which made her infection worse. Because I am not experienced with canine eye conditions as I would have expected the doctor to be, I would have never foreseen this. I took my dog to the vet again for a follow up appointment. The doctor again did some tests because she said she suspected "an eye ulcer". It was obvious to the naked eye that my dog had an ulcer but the doctor administered Fluorescein to be able to diagnose. Again, this seemed unnecessary but I let them do it because it does not harm my dog. The doctor said my dog now needed an "aggressive treatment" and sent me home with a plasma serum drops and another antibiotic. Because I wanted to make sure that the drops were accurately administered so that my dog will not go blind, I said I would want to bring her for them to do it.
The doctor and the assistant had no problem quoting me how much this would cost, $7 regardless of how many times a day it needed to be done. Because of the medication administration service name provided, I confirmed with the assistant, Samantha, that they would clean her eyes prior to administration because putting medication over a dirty eye is just as bad as not putting on the medication. And she confirmed that they always clean dogs' eyes when they notice signs of discharge. I wanted to make sure I got this quote because they seem to profit from the services and I did not want to pay $100 a day for administration of the meds. For the first couple of days, I brought my dog in and the doctor did the eye irrigations and administered the medications.
After the first time I visited, the doctor said that she tried to charge me for one administration but that the system would not let her charge me for only one administration, only for two or more so she let me go. Anyone knows that if you visit Banfield, you never go home without paying so this was definitely not my decision. It was the doctor who said she could not charge me for one administration. For the weekend, I brought in my dog and was immediately told by the person at the front desk that the price for the administration would now go back to being $7 but opposed to what Samantha initially told me. It would be $7 for each administration. She said this instruction was left by the practice manager. I said okay and continued to wait for services.
I confirmed with the young lady at the front desk who would do the administration of the meds and she said that it would likely be Dr. ** (spell?) since Dr. **, the vet who usually sees my dog, was not here. After an unusual wait of about an hour, I was greeted by Natalie who did not introduce herself and did not state her qualifications (I found out later by asking the young lady at the front desk), who covered herself when my dog's pups almost jumped at her (to say hidogs do this) which made Natalie appear uncomfortable. For one, when the doctor cleans my dog's eyes, she always sees us immediately and does not make us wait unless it is time to let the first drops be absorbed before putting the other ones. These two behaviors were already a bad sign for me. I was also surprised by the fact that they were having this assistant do the administration since before it was usually the doctor. This was the third mistake.
Natalie had no idea what she was doing. I even asked her before anything happened whether the doctor would be able to do it and she asked me whether I did not want her to do it. I do not care who did it. I just wanted to make sure that whoever did it, did it correctly. This was the reason why I was bringing her in the first place. I then said that if she felt prepared to do it, then I was okay with that. I told her that because my dog bites WHEN YOU TRY TO TOUCH HER PAINFUL EYE, she should make a muzzle out of gauze. She apparently did not hear this and proceeded to look through the meds. She looked puzzled by the meds as if she had never seen them before. I had to tell her NOT to put dilating atropine in my dog's eyes since it was in the morning. I thought she would know not to but thank god I told her.
She then barely cleaned my dogs eyes and then of course put on the antibiotic drops on only one eye after I said that even though the instructions said to only put them on one eye, the doctor put them on both so that the infection would not spread. She then proceeded to put on the serum without even letting the antibiotic drops be absorbed and of course without putting them in the other eye. The girl had a puzzled look the whole time. I did not say anything to her and after thanking her, went straight to check out. I asked to speak to Practice Manager, one to clarify the pricing which had been changed twice and two, to address why they had the assistant see my dog this time when prior times my dogs had been seen by the doctor. This is not about academic elitism. It is simply that this assistant looked particularly clueless.
After asking for the Practice Manager, Jason, I was told that he was not available as he was in surgery. Natalie came up to me and said that she was under the impression that I did not want her to use a muzzle. I continued saying right, right because I never wanted to speak to her as her incompetence is clearly not her fault. She came to provide her unsolicited opinion in a very rude manner and was upset that I said Right, right and stated that she did not need my sarcasm. Well, I am sorry. I do not need your incompetence OR your unsolicited opinion either. I then contacted the national line to have Jason give me a call back because I wanted nothing to do with the hospital staff. He finally called me back and after explaining the situation, he reduced the situation to being my fault because I should have told the veterinary assistant what to do.
I am sorry but the reason I am coming in to have the medication administered is because I do not have any knowledge whatsoever about veterinary services. If I did, I would not be paying to have my dog checked out. He clarified that the doctor and the assistant's first information was correct, that the administration of the meds regardless of how many times it was performed would be $7. He then with an attitude said that I had not paid the previous times. Man, I am sure the staff would not have let me walked out if I would have had to pay so this is something he should talk to his staff about, not me. Second, he should not be asking a client/patient's owner to provide veterinary training. Third, he should not be hiring people who dislike dogs and are completely clueless about what they do. Fourth, Natalie never checked the monitor ONCE except for checking me in and he told me that there were no notes after how to clean my dogs eyes.
Well even if the notes would have been there, Natalie would not have known because she NEVER checked. Natalie never even introduced herself. Natalie never even asked me. I will come back to this place because I like the doctor and the assistant Samantha, and I want my dog to have consistent treatment. But if you can avoid this place, do so.
Reviewed Dec. 19, 2015
Banfield Wellness Plan is totally a rip off. After being enrolled in the plan a year and having 25 taken outta my account every month I ended the plan at the end of year. I took my poodle in for her annual and they told me because I ended it on December 7th I had to pay outta pocket for her shots or enroll again. That money they took from me didn't count or wasn't going to pay. I ask why didn't anybody scheduled her appt. before it expired. No response. Very bad business. Banfield Wellness is a SCAM, if you ask me and I coulda save that money all year long for a vacation. I'm so angry. They need to be shut down. I found a better doctor that's honest and way cheaper, in Douglasville, GA, 30135.
Reviewed Dec. 15, 2015
Banfield Pet Hospital is horrible. The doctors do not know anything. They will send your dog home sick. He had a liver problem which I'm thinking is serious and she just sends me home with pills. They make you purchase things that you don't need so they can meet their sales. They disgust me. And I took my dog to get screened. She gave me antibiotics $80. Then my dog passed and she told me save the pills for a new puppy. Like why would you say such a thing when I just lost my baby? He was part of my family. So now I have so much doubt that I should have took him somewhere else. Maybe he would still be here.
Reviewed Dec. 9, 2015
It is amazing there is not a class action suit yet! ***WARNING*** Their WELLNESS PLAN IS A SCAM. When you sign up your loved pet you think you're doing the right thing, but what they do not tell you is that every visit no matter how small the visit the Drs will run every test under the sun including a fecal matter test when you take your pet in to get his nails trimmed.
After 4 years I found this very funny and never knew why until I went to cancel this service... You can not just turn it off... First they drop any and all discount and mark everything back to full retail... Take what you paid in from what you used that year... and they will not do this for the full term just in case you went a year or two not using the service... scam. Example 4 yrs paid in 1500$, use of serves after their markup and discount reneges 1200$ one should get a $300 refund. Instead they go by what was used via a physical year of their choice so it will look like you paid 8 months at 200$ paid in and used 300$ in services... I could go on and on but I must get back to work to pay for a service I don't use and have not had the pet for the last 3 months... BEWARE OF THIS SCAM.
Reviewed Dec. 8, 2015
I was talked into the wellness plan when I went in for my free exam (coupon). I had been using PetSmart day camp for quite a while and was told this would be a great alternative for vet care as my dog could have his exams while at day camp. Not only was I lied to about the plan but was talked into tests because they said tests would be covered by plan, but when I tried to cancel they told me that I used too much and would have to pay the difference. I no longer had my dog but couldn't cancel. They could not test my dog as he had to go to a specialist.
I paid over 1000.00 for specialist. That should negate my plan as they don't offer those services. So I am paying for nothing. I was never given a hard copy of this plan and feel that their practices are shady. There is no way to prove what was said to any of us about the plans cancellation policy and they tell you that things are covered when they are not!!! Someone should start a class action suit against them. I'm in if anyone wants to. I don't like being lied to and taken advantage of.
Reviewed Dec. 8, 2015
We brought our mix (black lab and Chesapeake bay retriever) who is 90 lbs. in for a normal checkup. The vet tech tried to sell us every shot known to dogs and when we told him we were not going to buy them or the wellness plan until we talked to the vet because we didn't know what we could afford or what was actually needed the tech started repeating himself and when we pressed the issue, he just stood there, for 5 minutes, acting like and talking like we couldn't see the vet until we bought their program. Now, a couple years later they put him on rimadyl for arthritis and some knee injuries. We find out that rimadyl has some pretty concerning side effects, particularly in labs, that the vet never told us about.
Now tonight I find him bleeding from his bum and all they had to say was find an emergency vet. Nice to know that they are great for healthy dogs, but when there is a real issue, they sluff it off. They always press for the most expensive treatment first, and ALWAYS get argumentative, trying to talk us into what they want to sell us (and it's always the most expensive route) and never seem willing to talk about options or alternatives. Furthermore, they keep ** at us to make him lose weight, why??? He has a nice hour glass figure and you can visibly see his ribs. These people do not know about different breeds. They do not realize that being half Chessie, he's gonna weigh more than a lab...
Going to find a new vet. I do not recommend these people to anyone. They're in it for the money, not the animals. And in addition to this, the couple times he has been in there for procedures he's always come home covered in urine, which smelled way stronger than his ever has. They DO NOT take care of dogs in their custody, never take them out and do not put down pet pads in their kennels. They just make them lay in it. It smells like it's from not only multiple dogs, but old as well (extremely strong, like urine gets when it gets old). They don't even have a dog walking area at their location. Richfield, Mn.
Reviewed Dec. 3, 2015
My girlfriend and I took her dog to Banfield thinking it would be a good idea and easy. The lady at the desk said we could just pay cash when we come in and they wouldn't take money out of my account automatically. She also said they just need the card on file just to have it. Late down the road I look at my bank account and I'm negative in my account because Banfield automatically withdrew money. We go to cancel it and they want us to pay almost $300 dollars. Well my girlfriend signed the agreement at 17. Therefore she's a minor and the document is invalid. They keep telling us she's not on the agreement but we have the agreement right in front of us. And she's on it. So if there's any comments anyone could add to maybe give us a better understanding that would be great.
Reviewed Dec. 1, 2015
I will start by saying Banfield is not our normal vet/clinic. Our family had a pet emergency and were referred to Banfield. Upon arrival, there was immediate attention and outwardly it appeared as great concern and care was going to be given to our dog. Blood work was taken, first test was performed incorrectly so a second test was needed. Blood work came back negative, so xrays were taken to try and diagnose the problem.
The Rochester Rd. clinic xray machine was not working so we were escorted to the Adams Rd. clinic. Xrays were taken and upon review over the phone with the doctor we were told that there were abnormalities and they could not determine if it was foreign bodies or infectious disease, then stammering and stuttering by the doctor followed by "I'm not sure how to explain it." That was the only explanation presented to us. It was then recommended to give the dog fluid under the skin. This seemed to be the only worthwhile treatment that we received that day. We were told by the technician that we would receive a CD with the analysis. She indicated the function was not working properly so they would email our normal vet the results. We were also told by the technician to not worry about payment and that someone would call us the following day to follow-up in regards to our dog's well-being and to get payment information.
During the follow-up call, no questions were asked on how our dog was doing. The call focused on payment ($427 was our bill - 4 Xrays, Blood work, fluid) and they treated us as if we ran out of the clinic with no intention to pay. During this call, when we inquired about our dog's analysis CD and email, we were told that they do not provide that function. Our normal vet had to retake xrays because Banfield failed to provide. This cost us additional money ($157 - 4 Xrays, with 6 cans of gastrointestinal low fat food, a B12 shot, and antibiotics), albeit it was nearly a quarter of the cost of Banfield but with more treatments provided. And our vet quickly dismissed the claim of any foreign body or infectious disease and indicated it appears to be a perfectly healthy looking stomach (although empty).
Today, as I look back on the event, I feel that Banfield stole money from my family. I have no CD to prove any tests were performed. The only confirmation of treatment I have is the fluids under the skin that my dog received because my wife and I had to help the technician provide the treatment. I will never recommend these clinics to anyone and will continue to look for review sites to warn other animal owners about Banfield clinics. Although their xray machine and CD/email services do not work well, their credit card machine works great! The money was immediately (less than 30 seconds) withdrawn from my account.
Reviewed Nov. 28, 2015
My dog hurt her back. She could barely move her hind legs. I felt a bone on her spine. I called Banfield in Willow Grove, PA. They said it would be a week until they could see her. I have sat there for a couple of reg appts being delayed because of emergencies. When it was my dog, I was told to wait a week... I called another Banfield and after a heated argument, they had me bring her in... The vet manipulated her spine and all was good. My dog couldn't walk and they wanted me to wait a week... So much for caring about their patients... They have signs at their front desks that say emergencies come 1st. If not for getting so loud with the 2nd Banfield, I would have had to wait a week for that one.
Reviewed Nov. 25, 2015
For the most part I find Banfield very adequate. However, upon the passing of a pet I was informed that the WELLNESS PLAN is an annual contract. Thus I am 2 months into the new year & will be required to pay the remaining term or accept a 1 time buyout of the contract. Not thrilled with this aspect but I figured I would leave some feedback as I will more than likely not renew for our other dog & look into alternate plan.
Reviewed Nov. 23, 2015
*The ONLY reason I went to these people is because I received a free examination from PetSmart because I adopted a kitten. NEVER AGAIN!!! On Nov. 18, I had went to Petsmart to adopt a new kitten. Our beloved cat (and my Pitbull's best friend) had passed away 8 months previous due to seizures that were diagnosed by my private vet who takes care of our whole house of animals. We brought our new family member home and immediately saw that she was sneezing badly and probably had kennel cough because she was previously in foster care and now was in the stores' adoption center and also had not had the vaccination.
Common sense tells me this is kennel cough. Petsmart adoption gives you coupons for food, accessories, and a free Banfield examination. Since there was a coupon for this, I thought we could take her in and try it out. I had never had any experience with them so I thought we can try it. I should have read reviews before I went.
First red flag: My daughters took her in because I was working and they called me and stated that the front counter people treated them horribly because, "You are one of those people with the coupons." What does that mean? I have a coupon given to me by Petsmart because I took a kitten into my home so I should be looked down on? NOT!!!! Second red flag: They tried pushing the health plan and told my daughters that we needed to purchase this so she can see the doctor. This is simply an out and out lie. I am assuming that because my daughters were young (19 and 21) maybe the clerks felt they could take advantage but in my opinion they were just wanting us to purchase the plan, get our money and didn't give a flying leap about my kitten.
Third red flag: I get there and see the Doctor letting her know that I have seen this before and my feelings about kennel cough because of where she came from. In all fairness, I did probably have an attitude because she refused to treat anything unless I forked out $300 for a blood test that may or may not show her problems. After I refused, the treatment was "A shot in the dark" (was her snide comment), she gave me antibiotics for $65 a bottle (At my regular vet its $20.00) and wanted her back for another $300.00 if it doesn't work. Yeah, that ain't happening. I took her to my vet and she is happy and healthy and taken care of.
Read these reviews before you do anything with these people. Corporate attitudes about money and the bottom line should not be brought into the world of Pet health. These are family members not just property that can be disposed of. I may have had my kitten only a few days before we went in, but my whole familyloves her (including my Pitbull) and we would be devastated if something happened that could have been avoided. I will NEVER step foot inside this so-called pet medical facility. My only hope is that these problems are solved before any more beloved family members are lost. The reviews I have read all seem to have the same undertone. Banfield is a corporation just looking for the next dollar.
Reviewed Nov. 20, 2015
Due to overrates and expensive care, I cancelled plan for my pet at Banfield Pet Hospital effective 11/29/15. Last day of plan was 11/28/15. Took dog for have her teeth clean and they refused to perform procedure unless I renew contract or pay +$300. Extortion? No wonder people are canceling their plans. They really suck. Rather go with a private vet.
Reviewed Nov. 19, 2015
Horrible crew, young vets that just graduated -- zero experience. They don't do accurate diagnosis. Period! I noticed symptoms of anemia, 1 month before she died. Took to Banfield and they assured she was doing well, gave her rabies shot and she died afterwards!!! I AM SO UPSET. This won't be forgotten! NO WAY! My pet DIED due vet negligence at Banfield! I do NOT recommend Banfield to others!
Reviewed Nov. 19, 2015
I'll keep this short, as they've run me around so much it’s become exhausting. First of all, I brought my dog into get fixed. My gf picked him up and they didn't give him painkillers after the surgery. They claimed to not have my full CC number in their system, just my last 4 digits. Sounds like a corporate accounting problem so my dog had to suffer, which is completely inhumane. After that incident, I called to cancel my account multiple times, yet, keep receiving updated bills. Then a collection agency calls and claims I owe. Because I wanted to cancel my plan and the surgery and diagnostics was discounted, I'd have to pay the full price. Funny, I thought the wellness plan included that in the plan which it shows. So what "discount" price are they referring to after the fact?
Well, I paid the collections and receive yet another bill. It says it’s for $179 so I call and of course they say it’s now for $374. I asked the girl to explain how there were charges yet again and she repeats that I have a plan and still owe other than the discount rate. It’s like I bought a car on sale and months later they say "we're changing it to full price." However, I canceled the plan multiple times yet they still charge so I must still have a plan? They just say whatever to get you to keep giving out money. All paid and I am sure the account is not cancelled. We'll see next month. Some advice: Have your bank block them from auto-withdraw. Also, anyone that wants to draw up a case settlement, send me an email. Misrepresentation of service rendered and neglect of contract terms, sounds good.
Reviewed Nov. 17, 2015
Don't fall for their wellness plan crap. It's just a load of crap. Their recording says and their contract states you can in fact withdraw from contract. I became disabled and requested to stop the wellness plan but they refused and have sent a negative report to my credit report that I owe over 500 for services that weren't paid for. I paid them cash for every visit for my pug. They took my dog out of the exam room and I heard my dog screaming and yelping terribly. They finally brought her back and my dog climbed up to the back of my neck and stuck her face in my shirt, and later that evening got sick. I called them back and they wanted me to bring her back and charge me for another visit after I had just had her there earlier that day.
Then I've had my dog on heartworm preventive since the age of 9 weeks -- she just turned 2. Banfield lied to the new vet I took her to and told them my dog has never been on heartworm preventive meds. Lies lies lies!!! They also had the audacity to tell me that once I became established with them I was under obligation to continue to bring my dog there and purchase meds there. There is no law that states that. The law also states a dog is required a heartworm test once yearly. My dog had just had a check up May 2015, had rabies and heartworm test done and her rabies is good through 2018 and her heartworm test is good until May 2016. They were looking to take advantage of me again.
They are in the business to take advantage of people and take money at all costs. Do not be suckered into their wellness plan. They are predatory and aggressive in pushing this wellness plan crap only to get more money out of you and mess up your credit report. They are less than professional and were in my opinion abusive to my puppy. They should be closed down for such shoddy business practices. Beware people of where you take your beloved pet and keep your hand on your wallet -- they will rob you. They have a way of convincing you that this wellness plan is to your benefit when in reality they are gonna end up charging you double and then some after you have paid your bill. If you love and value your pet and your wallet stay away from Banfield. Biggest scam going!!!
Reviewed Nov. 17, 2015
I have a three year old Maltipoo dog who I took in to receive a rabies shot. While I was there I was talked into and signed up for a wellness plan, which is basically a dog insurance. After filling my head with diseases and horror stories about my dog, I agreed to sign up for the basic wellness plan. I was told this plan covered any and all medical visits, procedures, and other services. But after I agreed I was then talked into signing my dog up for the wellness plan which included a dental cleaning after I was told he needed it to avoid gum disease and other various oral issues that he was supposedly already showing signs of.
This wellness plan with the dental cleaning was over $100 more than the basic plan that I had originally agreed to. The only reason I agreed to getting the plan at all was because the employees working at Banfield informed me that my dog was in urgent need of many medical services and tests should I want him to remain healthy. Still that wasn't enough to convince me. I was then informed that all my dog's costs, save for necessary medications, would be covered in full. I was told that all medical examinations would be covered, several fecal tests, urine tests, blood work, the dental cleaning, and much more would be completely taken care of under this plan. After being assured several times that nothing more than the cost of the wellness plan would be charged to me during that year, I agreed. I paid the wellness plan in full costing roughly $530. To have my dog completely cared for for an entire year, the price seemed well worth it.
Because my plan included a dental cleaning, I was quick to schedule an appointment for him to have it done. Shortly after dropping my dog off with Banfield for his appointment I received a phone call stating that Banfield had done blood work on my dog without my knowledge to see if he was healthy enough to undergo the anesthesia needed for his dental cleaning. The blood work showed that my dog had some "concerns," so Banfield then ran a liver panel test, once again without my knowledge. They told me that my dog had elevated liver enzymes and not only could he not get his dental cleaning that day, he needed medicine to lower his liver count if he wanted to ever have his teeth cleaned. I was then informed that the liver enzyme test they had already done and the medication needed to lower his enzymes were not covered by my insurance and would cost me $110.
When I asked for the reasons my dog's liver enzymes could be elevated, they told me that it was possible he just ingested something his liver didn't agree with and that in a few weeks the levels would return to normal on their own, meaning the medicine they urged me to take would be pointless. I then asked the symptoms of elevated liver enzymes. Vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, aggression, and more were among them. My dog had never exhibited any of the symptoms listed and doesn't still to this day. Yet still Banfield urged me to take caution by buying the medicine and scheduling another check-up in four weeks where they would charge me another $67 for another liver enzyme test not covered by my wellness plan.
If my dog's liver enzymes were down after the second test in four weeks, they said they would then agree to schedule his dental cleaning, but stated that they would need to use a certain medication on him while he underwent the anesthesia to keep his heart rate down. That heart rate medicine was over $60 and would not be covered by my insurance. Should his liver enzymes still be elevated after the four weeks, Banfield informed me that my dog would then need to be scheduled for an ultrasound of his liver which would not be covered by my insurance and would cost $255. I was then told the medicines and surgeries needed afterward should they discover anything in the ultrasound would also not be covered by my insurance.
Livid that the insurance I paid over $500 for did nothing to benefit me thus far, I demanded a refund. Banfield refused to approve my refund because they said I had already utilized over $500 in Banfield medical services. Medical services that were pitched to me under the false notion that everything would be covered. Had I known all of that, I would have paid the reasonable $15 for the single rabies shot I needed. When I confronted Banfield about lying to me, no one there would admit or acknowledge that they had told me upon purchasing the wellness plan that ALL medical services were included and after my one time fee, I would need to pay nothing else. They avoided my direct questions, beat around the bush, and settled on the fact that because I had already utilized medical services exceeding the cost of my wellness plan that I was simply out of luck and would not receive a refund of any kind.
I honestly believe that my dog's liver enzymes were and are still fine. My dog has been a healthy dog for his entire three years of life with absolutely no symptoms of anything. When I had taken him in for his rabies shot they had done blood work upon my signing of his wellness plan. I was told that all the blood work came back fine and that my dog was exceptionally healthy.
Yet not even two weeks later were his liver enzymes elevated and they were trying to get me in the hole for another $500 in medical expenses that were supposed to be covered under the amazing insurance they sold me. Not to mention the $500 in extra fees did not include the prices of the surgeries and medications my dog would "need" should he get a bad ultrasound for his liver. Not only did Banfield employees lie to my face several times regarding the wellness plan benefits, I also fully believe they lied about his health in order to get more money from me. I would NOT recommend a Banfield wellness plan to anyone out there looking for dog insurance.
Reviewed Nov. 17, 2015
So I took a stray kitten to next door Banfield Hospital. The free exam coupon otherwise offered was discarded as inapplicable because I was offered A HUGE SAVING with a wellness plan, with reasonable monthly fee of $35.95 and $49.95 non refundable membership cost. The cat was seen during one visit, which when billed was both an Office Visit $45.95 and then Comprehensive Exam $45, both of which happened simultaneously. And the plan would save me so much from the cost of caring for a new kitten, plus if I so choose I may cancel it anytime I want. I left after leaving $225 for membership fees, and two medicines and an appointment for surgery for a cat to spayed her. I was sold a Revolution for Feline 5.1-15 for $104 (otherwise available for $91 everywhere else I look and Milbermite solution billed at $55 ( available for $21 plus shipping).
When I called to cancel, after making alternative arrangement for fraction of the cost, I was told that I will need to pay $206 before I am allow to do so, and because I called within 4 business days, I would be given a "credit" for the membership non refundable fee. What looks like and what is presented as an insurance plan and reasonable way to care for a pet, amounts to a scam to charge higher prices than usual retail for drugs, double fee for what is a visit and an exam, and when asked if I should at least be able to be given a credit for a coupon of free exam, such was deflected as it needs to be addressed with a hospital first.
So after you wake up and you realize that you just purchased the most marked up veterinarian services, you better brace yourself for a bill for all the savings. If you in your folly gave up the entire price of $477 or more, only then you could expect some savings, but unlikely. And you will not be able to cancel the arrangement unless you provide the upfront payment charging you for all the services that they provided at non discounted rate, despite the fact that when they were provided no one explained that this is only a price if you remain the faithful payee for a year.
One should be able to modify the price of the service after it was rendered under the understanding of price 1 and then when even after keeping the fee for that period, demand a reimbursement for all the "special" billing which was the basic consideration offered for the agreement. Of course, all disputes are subject to arbitration under federal law and subject to contract law of Oregon. My advice, don't even think about it and get out as soon as you can.
Reviewed Nov. 14, 2015
I have had SEVERAL bad experiences with the Banfield Pet Hospital of OKC, Quail Springs location. First and foremost the vet we saw, Dr. **, was terrible and told us our Pug was definitely pregnant and we need expensive x-rays to see how many pups were in there so they would safely all be delivered. We decided to get a second opinion as we had had problems with this vet before. Thank God we did! First the vet who did the second opinion informed us of how terrible Banfield is. He told us that having x-rays to confirm pregnancy were not only not needed and a waste of money but also it would have been way too early for x-rays anyway. But the real kicker was the fact that he told us OUR DOG WAS NOT PREGNANT! He figured this out in literally less than 5 seconds.
The other problems we have had with Banfield besides the vets being poorly trained were financial. More than twice we had cancelled the wellness plan on 2 of our other dogs. We filled out the correct forms in addition to going up there and physically canceling the service. After about 2 months, money again began to be withdrawn from our accounts for these cancelled services. They were taking money out of our accounts when they were not supposed to be. It got to the point where my husband just went and changed his account number to stop it. Please animal lovers, stay away from this so called pet hospital! They are undertrained, overpriced, and crooks!! DO YOUR PET A FAVOR AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!!!
Reviewed Nov. 13, 2015
The only thing Banfield does is vaccinations, which they are great at. But the moment your dog needs more care they send you to MedVet where you get financially raped. Don't get me wrong I LOVE MEDVET and I am SO grateful that they were able to take care of my dog TWICE when BANFIELD wouldn't. Why am I paying this much money on a health care that doesn't help my dog? I'm essentially paying 624 dollars a year for care my dog does not get. My dog was injured twice in two different freak accidents. They couldn't stitch up his neck wound... Sent us to MedVet. Wouldn't remove his sutures... Sent us to MedVet. The second time he got hurt I asked if my wellness plan for older dogs would help cover wound care. Nope. Sent me to MedVet. My dog needed x-rays... Sent me to MedVet.
This isn't the first time either. My previous dog got neutered and almost died. Their stitches didn't hold and they tried to say my dog ripped them out. He was barely awake after the surgery and under constant supervision. I had to carry a 90 pound german shepherd through Petsmart and they were angry with me because he bled on the floor. So in a nutshell you are paying an $624 dollars a year for once a year vaccines and the occasional exam that is never used unless your dog is ill. They make you believe you are getting a good deal when you're not. It's not worth it. If you enjoy having your money go to a normal vet. I've never paid more than $120 for yearly vaccines.
My advice? Do what I did. I traded up for a real insurance policy on my dog (NATIONWIDE IS REALLY ON YOUR SIDE) that is 12 dollars cheaper and comprehensive. It will cover surgery and trauma. Comprehensive. Not this once a year vaccine that you can get for $20 at vetco. Also, you are not locked in to anything. If your dog dies you don't have to keep paying it. Good luck people. Don't fall for this scam.
Reviewed Nov. 13, 2015
For many years, we took our family cat to the Banfield Pet Hospital in Boulder Colorado for veterinary services. For several years now, we have purchased a wellness plan which includes a fixed set of services. For the first couple of years, it was probably me who signed up for the plan. This latest time (4/2014) my daughter was the one taking the cat to the vet so the plan got renewed in her name.
While in college, I provided a MasterCard credit card to each of my kids for education related expenses. My daughter specifically called me to see if she could charge the renewal on the MasterCard. As the cat was as much my pet, I said yes. What I did not know at the time is that she was not given a choice to pay up front but instead told she had to sign up for monthly charges to a credit card. It is not clear whether the contract was adequately explained, particularly that it would be automatically renewed one year later. The entire contract was in electronic form. We never received a copy.
I recently went to Banfield Pet Hospital in Boulder and requested to have a copy printed. The Optimum Wellness Plan contract covers 3 pages and is cumbersome to review even when you have a physical printed copy. The cancellation terms say the customer can cancel at any time but is responsible for paying the difference between the cost of services rendered and the total of monthly payments made so far. It also says, even if the covered pet dies or is lost, Banfield reserves the right to keep any payments made even if no services were rendered in that year. Although this is documented in the contract, it is NOT mentioned in the cancellation terms listed in the FAQ section of the Banfield website.
Keeping payments made without providing any services is unethical and perhaps fraudulent. Our cat had advanced kidney disease and was euthanized in January of 2015. We did not remember to cancel the policy until later in 2015 when I discovered Banfield was still charging the family credit card $25.95/month. To make matters worse, the Plan was automatically renewed in April 2015. No services were rendered by Banfield from April 2015 to October 2015.
Both my daughter and I have called and written the Wellness Plan Relations department several times. Initially on the phone, I was told the representative would not discuss the problem with me because I was not listed on the plan. I was told to have my daughter call and give them permission to speak to me. She did exactly that within minutes. In verbal and written correspondence, Banfield continues to refuse to work with me. My daughter then sent the same email requesting the automatic charges stop and that we get a refund for payments made without services being rendered. Eventually she got an email saying "sorry about the loss of your cat" and that automatic charges would cease. There was no reference to a refund.
Both of us have since filed complaints with the Oregon Better Business Bureau. My complaint was of course answered with the same "you are not on the contract" even though Banfield has been given permission to speak to me. The bottom line is we were charged for services never rendered. Im willing to let 4/14 – 3/15 go. However, renewing the plan without my knowledge and charging me $25.95/month for services that were never rendered is at the very least unethical. And given the way the electronic contract was executed but never given to the customer, I would say this borders on fraudulent business practices.
Reviewed Nov. 12, 2015
Just be sure you know what you're signing. They will not transfer to another pet. Even if you haven't used the plan yet. Or had your first payment taken out of your acct. 2nd if your pet is ill and needs to be put down. Or even just passes away. You will still have to pay that plan. Banfield should consider this in reviewing the plan they've put in place. Making death a reason for the plan to be stopped! Doctors and staff at the location we use are very nice. My issue is not with them. I should have read what I was signing or ask more questions.
Reviewed Nov. 12, 2015
I put my account on hold because of financial issues. Later found an easier way to afford to pay for my pets to be taken care of and called Banfield to cancel my plan that I have not used for over 5 months, and I'm being told I owe $279 before I can cancel my plan and if I don't pay, I will be sent to collections. When I asked for an itemized list of what I'm paying for, he told me I would have to get that from the hospital. It has been the worst experience ever. Will never again take my pets through them.
Reviewed Nov. 11, 2015
I took my 17 month old black Lab who is sick with an ear infection and also in heat, to the Banfield in Warminster, PA today. They make you drop your pet off and when the vet has time, they look at them, don't do this. Continue reading what happens when you aren't there. I received a call from vet that she did in fact have an ear infection but was also told she was given her Lyme's vaccine because she was close to needing it. Well, I was never asked if I wanted her to get the vaccine. It isn't required by law, and furthermore I told them I was leaving tomorrow for a trip and kenneling her.
Who gives Lyme to a sick dog, in heat and whose owner is leaving for a trip. NO ONE. I also noted on the drop off sheet that she is in pain after Lyme. I was honestly not going to give that vaccine to her again. I called the main office and they took some bogus report from me and told me someone would call me back. No they won't and they don't let you cancel the wellness without charging you. BANFIELD IS A RIP OFF. GO ELSEWHERE!!!
Banfield Pet Hospital Company Information
- Company Name:
- Banfield Pet Hospital
- Website:
- www.banfield.com
