I took my 8 mth old Shih-Tzu into All Pets Dental Clinic in Weston, Florida, for her shots and meds. Dr. Jan Bellows stated that she needed surgery, immediately, as her teeth were a mess and it would cause significant problems down the road.
I explained to him that I couldn't afford to do so at this time, but he pressured me into the dental surgery by saying that I could set up payment arrangements with his office. I was asked to sign a document indicating that the surgery would cost $1K. I signed the document and left my dog in his care.
Within 1-2 hrs after leaving Dr. Bellow's office, I received a call from someone at his office. She stated that Dr. Bellows was with my dog in surgery, and that Dr. Bellows told her to call me and tell me that there would be an additional fee of $900. I was so shocked, at that point, that I don't even recall 'why' I was changed another $900.
When I went to pick up my dog that evening, they wouldn't let me see her right away. They told me to have a seat and that someone would be with me, shortly.
About a 1/2 hr later, a woman asked me to come to the back of the office, and she presented me with a bill of approximately $1800. She stated that I had to pay at least 1/2 that day. I explained to her that I didn't have those funds 'readily' available, and would need to set up payment arrangements. She said that I was required to pay 1/2 that day, but I could write a check for the remaining balance post-dating it for the following Wednesday.
I now understood why they wouldn't allow me to see my dog right away. They wanted their money and wouldn't return her to me unless I paid them in full prior to leaving their office.
I was forced into writing two (2) checks, although I told the woman that the funds would not be available until the following Wednesday. I explained to her that my money is tied up in mutual funds and it would be one (1) week before I received a check from my broker for $1K (which I'd asked my broker to take out of my mutual fund that morning to cover what I'd 'initially' been told would be the cost for my dog's surgery).
After discussing what had taken place with several of my neighbors, I learned that Dr. Bellows is nortorious for scamming people into unnecessary dental surgery for their pets. Matter-of-fact, there's another report on usacomplaints.com pertaining to Dr. Bellow's unethical practices.
I've stopped payment on both checks, and I'm only going to make payment of the originally agreed upon amt of $1K once the funds are available in my checking account. I anticipate legal action on his behalf, but I'm confident that a judge will rule on my side once given all of the facts.
What upsets me the most is that I'd only taken my dog into Dr. Bellows office to get her vaccinations, heartworm, and flee meds, and when I returned to pick her up, I was handed a bill for more than $1800 AND there was no 'payment' arrangement available.
I'm a single mom, and I'd just finished paying off my daughter's braces after 2 yrs, which only cost me $3K. How could doggie dental surgery cost $1800?
I'm particularly upset by the fact that Dr. Bellows had someone from his office calle me, in the midst of my dog's surgery, stating that it would cost an additional $900. What could I do? I felt trapped, and after speaking w/my neighbors, scammed.
I will NOT being returning to Dr. Bellow's office. Rather, I will make the extra 2 hr trek to my pets previous vet... Dr. Sessa in Hollywood, FL, whom I understand is also aware of how Dr. Bellows scams his customers into unnecessary dental procedures.
Cemcflc
Weston, Florida
U.S.A.
0 comments