Dental Clinic error - What would you do?

[longsuffering]

I'll try to keep this short.

My wife needed some dental work. We went to the dentist, had an examination and were presented with a estimated 'Treatment Program' of $2500.

We don't have dental insurance and aren't exactly flush with cash at the moment, but we decided we'd go ahead because my wife wasn't really willing to walk around missing a visible tooth.

Close to a month after the first examination, I take my wife in for the dental work.

2 1/2 hours later, I return to pick her up and I'm told: "There was an error made in the treatment program we gave you. The cost of our services is actually $6000. How would you like to pay for that?"

Blah, blah, blah, I balked, we talked, (loud enough for other clients to hear about the error) and to make a long story short, the office manager eventually said: "We will honour our original quote, but hope you will consider paying some or all of the difference between the estimate and the final invoice based on services. Our laboratory costs alone (3rd party) are $1800."

I have confirmed independently that the market (retail) value of the services received is about $6000.

So keeping in mind that there is no insurance to backstop the cost, what would YOU do?

Would you say "Your mistake, your problem. Thanks for the discounted dental work."?

Maybe you would you pay in full. After all, the services were received.

Or would you offer to meet in the middle somewhere?

[burn_this_city]

So the lab work cost $1,800, and they want $4,200 for services rendered in the office? 2 and half hours in the dentists office shouldn't justify $4,200. Dentists are terrible for absolutely ripping people off on a couple hours work. I would pay the $2,500 and call it a day.

[BlackArcher101]

I wouldn't pay a cent more. You shouldn't have to bear the additional guilt because of their mistake. I would also change to a different dentist.

[MoneyGuy]

While I'm tempted to take the original quoted price, I'd meet them half way. I think that's the honourable thing to so. They have costs they have to meet.

Maybe I should post this in the unpopular-opinions thread.

[vektor]

don't pay a cent more than you agreed in the beginning, would you have agreed to do the work at $6000? It's absolute nonsense they'd ask you to pay the rest and try to justify their actions, it's their mistake, they have to deal.

[malcolmk14]

Well I bet they won't be making that mistake again.

[wooohooo]

What procedure is it? Are you seeing a specialist? Those rates seem high for a General Dentist.

[blankall]

Do you have the quote in writing?

[Ace]

Would you have still went ahead with the procedure if you knew it was $6000 ahead of time?

[bizaro86]

Seems like a bait and switch to me, especially if they knew you didn't have insurance and the price was a significant factor in the decision.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

I wouldn't pay the difference either.
That quote was obviously a pretty big factor in your decision on whether or not to go ahead with the work. Would you have gotten the work done for $6k? Who knows, but that's not your problem.

They gave you a quote, you agreed, don't feel guilty about holding them to their word (even if it was mistaken), because they woulnd't feel any guilt about taking money you didn't intend/can't spend.

[Rathji]

Wouldn't pay a cent extra.

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

What procedure is it? Are you seeing a specialist? Those rates seem high for a General Dentist.

It wasn't a general dentist, I used dentist for easy reference and the work done doesn't really matter, as I independently confirmed the FMV of the services performed.

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by blankall

Do you have the quote in writing?

You bet I do.

[Buff]

I would pay $2500. They quoted you $2500, that is what you pay. Their mistake. Too bad, so sad. You go to a store to buy a toaster and the price on the shelf says $20, but they forgot to change the label, the price in the system is actually $30. Too bad for them, you pay $20. Same rules apply at the dentist.

My father-in-law had a similar incident with a mechanic. He was quoted $800 for repairs, which he thought was too good to be true. Turns out it was. The mechanic said that he made a mistake and the repairs should have cost $2000 but his mistake so my father-in-law still has to pay $800. Since my father-in-law was expecting to pay $2000 he offered to pay it, but the mechanic said "No, it was my mistake you pay $800, thats the rules". Happy customer, kept coming back and brought more friends to the place as well.

I think the dentist was hoping that you would fork over the $6000 if they mentioned their mistake, but were prepared to only charge what they quoted.

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by Ace

Would you have still went ahead with the procedure if you knew it was $6000 ahead of time?

No. Not at this time. We would have waited and considered other alternatives.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by longsuffering

You bet I do.

Does it say anywhere on the quote, that pricing is subject to change due to whatever factors that they can say? Not sure if that is legal or ethical but hopefully the quote doesn't have some sort of clause that they can change the price due to unforseen issues or errors.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Buff

Does it say anywhere on the quote, that pricing is subject to change due to whatever factors that they can say? Not sure if that is legal or ethical but hopefully the quote doesn't have some sort of clause that they can change the price due to unforseen issues or errors.

Sounds to me this isn't an unforseen situation, it's just an error.

Example: If they quoted you $500 (or whatever) for a root canal, and then it turns out you actually needed 2 root canals, then it's reasonable for the price to go up.

It sounds like here she was getting one cap/veneer, and they quoted it wrong, and then want the extra money. That's not unexpected or new information, that's a mistake in the quote, which they should honor, especially since they've already done the work.

[peter12]

The little guilt trip attempt at the end should have been the icing on the cake.

[St. Pats]

Not a chance I would pay an extra cent. Would never go anywhere near the place again either and would warn others. Ripoff artist.