Fined for missing appointment

[5000Audi]

So been going to the doctors office ( pregnancy for the wife) and we missed our last apmnt because of busyness, so we called to re schedule the date and they said ok sure no problem, but there will be a $20 fine for missing your apmnt without 24 hours notice..

So my question is, this is a public womens clinic is it ok for them to charge people money when they on ab health care..?

[Tik-Tok]

Yep. I believe If you don't show, they can't charge AB health, therefore you just wasted an hour of their time (unless they suddenly get a walk in), so they want to recoup at least part of that pay.

[elesdee]

$20 is not that bad for missing an appointment. My dentist charged me $50.

[pinoyhero]

$20 seems cheap. You'll now need 2 appts (the next one and the one you missed) and ABHC pays for one not two.

[D. Dub]

They should have charged you more for wasting their time. :dunno:

[Doozer]

I don't know about the legalities, but it shouldn't have been a surprise. Virtually every clinic in the city will charge something for missing an appointment without notice. Hell, I've even heard of some other places like hair salons trying it, although I don't know how successful they are.

[01RedDX]

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[RY213]

I once called my dentist to cancel an appointment 24 hours ahead of time, I thought I was being polite. They informed me they needed at least 48 hours and fined me :banghead:

[Weapon_R]

I found a new dentist when mine tried to fine me.

[5000Audi]

i dont mind the fine since its only 20 bucks but i was just wondering if they could do that.. and why would i now need to appointments... we book a new one 2 days the following work day ( monday)

so thanks for the info guys!

[swak]

My dentist charges $40 for missing an appointment.
Just stick to your appointments and you wont have to worry.

[badatusrnames]

Can you blame them? If they don't charge any sort of fine ($20 is minimal if you ask me) then people start to get pretty casual about keeping their appointments. Without any sort of charge, the attitude that some people have is that they'll casually make the appointment, but keep it only if it's convenient for them, besides - the individual isn't out anything for making the appointment.

On the other hand, the clinic is out a great deal because they've lost revenue for that space that they otherwise could have filled with a "paying" customer.

Can you blame the clinic? The $20 fee isn't to recover their costs, it's to prevent people from continuously breaking their appointments.

The clinic might also do this so they don't have to resort to double booking people to account for no shows.

[06civic]

my dentist never fines me. I missed alot of appointments with this one. Now i feel bad...

[googe]

Haha, if they tried to fine me I'd just go somewhere else. They can ask for money, but they can't really collect it.

I've never had a dentist or a doctor that was ready for me on time. Get there 10 minutes early, and you end up waiting 30 minutes or so anyway, sometimes worse. I've never fined them. So, I wouldn't feel too bad if something prevented me from making one.

[LittleAngel]

my doctor charges $25 if not called in before 24 hours

[dj_rice]

Originally posted by googe
Haha, if they tried to fine me I'd just go somewhere else. They can ask for money, but they can't really collect it.

I've never had a dentist or a doctor that was ready for me on time. Get there 10 minutes early, and you end up waiting 30 minutes or so anyway, sometimes worse. I've never fined them. So, I wouldn't feel too bad if something prevented me from making one.


:werd: that pisses me off, I book appt for 11am, arrive at 10:50am, but don't get looked at til 1pm...like seriously.....but hes been my doctor since I was an infant so I put up with it :rofl: :rofl: plus as a kid he gives you lollipops, anyone else have Dr. Amrolia as theirs?

[kolumbo69]

Bawh thats cheap $75 dollars for one of my Dr's

[w_man]

^^ yup ... $65 for mine

[xolemonteaox]

alberta health care doesn't cover the fee because this is an 'administrative' fee and not a 'medical' fee.

[kolumbo69]

biggest piss off is I cant book an appointment tell I pay mine! I lived across the city at the time and was like pardon? You think im going to come down to pay to reschedule another appointment! wtf

[Pollywog]

Meh, if I can get charged late-fees and <24hr notice fees at Fabutan, it doesn't surprise me that educated professionals are doing the same.

[sputnik]

My doctor charges $50 for missing an appointment and will refuse to see you any longer if you miss two appointments.

[Mar]

Anyone else thinking of the Seinfeld episode?