'Send them a bill for $150': Patient gets threatened with $150 appointment cancelation fee for attempting to reschedule within 48 hours; doctor bails on him 20 minutes before they are supposed to meet

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Dec 23, 2023 6:00 PM EST

There are surprise fees for just about everything these days, but the last proprietor you would expect to be dubious is your doctor. At least… you'd hope that your doctor isn't a sleazy fee-mongerer, but it's tough to know which practitioners you can trust. It's usually the insurance companies that get a bad reputation for shadiness, but in our next story, one patient actually deals with a sketchy doctor's office, confirming that not all doctors are the good guys.

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  • After a surprise work meeting was called, u/AerodynamicOsprey reached out to his doctor's office to reschedule his upcoming doctor's appointment. They haughtily informed him that since they were only 48hours away from the actual appointment time, he would be charged a $150 for ‘cancelation’. 

  • Well, OP wasn't about to fork out any extra Ben Franklin's so he called out of work and marched into the waiting room. However, what happens next is absolutely baffling and the cherry on top of the crooked cake. Scroll onward to read this doctor's office story full of hypocrissy and double standards. After this, here's another tantalizing tale of fees gone awry– except this time, we're talkin' $75,000.

  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 9855290624
    via u/canva
  • 02
    r/mildlyinfuriating. Posted by u/AerodynamicOsprey 22 hours ago I try to reschedule doctor appointment, and get threatened with a $150 fee. Doctor then calls 20 mins prior to appointment to cancel
    via u/AerodynamicOsprey
  • 03
    I had an important meeting at work pop up 2 days prior to my doctors appointment. When I called the office to attempt to reschedule the appointment, they said that because it was less than 48 hours notice, there would be a $150 fee.
    via u/AerodynamicOsprey
  • 04
    I said fine, and kept the appointment and reworked my whole schedule to accommodate. As I'm driving to the appointment, I get a call from the office saying they need to cancel, no other providers are available, and I will have to come another day. It is infuriating.
    via u/AerodynamicOsprey
  • 05
    MollyOMalley99. 1 day ago I got stuck in traffic on the way to a dentist appointment and called to ask if I could re-schedule. They told me to come anyway and they'd fit me in. I arrived 10 minutes past appointment time and sat in the waiting room for an hour and a half, when they told me I'd have to reschedule. I got a bill for a missed appointment. Did not pay it.
    via u/MolleyOMalley99
  • 06
    20milliondollarapi 20 hr. ago 10 minutes isn't even bad. They could easily have worked you in. They clearly over scheduled and the same thing would have happened.
    via u/20milliondollarapi
  • 07
    ask290 10 hr. ago It's common practice in the US at least for some to be there 15 minutes before your appointment. You can arrive right up to your appointment time, but it's common practice to do that.
    via u/ask290
  • 08
    AngelaTheRipper. 15 hr. ago I once arrived on time to an appointment (was just vitamin D stuff), waited 2 hours, figured that I have better to do, left, they sent me a bill for it and scheduled me again without my consent, never paid those.
    via u/AngelaTheRipper
  • 09
    Whole_Custard_3210 1 day ago Tell them because it's less than 48 hours you are charging them a $150 fee 4.2k Reply Share owldimension 21 hr. ago Nope. Less than 24 hours. Double the fee. 1.5k Reply Share Sarrklon 20 hr. ago Less than 12 hours, quadruple the fee.
    via u/Whole_Custard_3210
  • 10
    Unique Mitochondria 19 hr. ago I did read a few times that people sent invoices for this exact thing and got paid. Reply Share 173 chili555 17 hr. ago Because the next step is small claims court and the doctor won't take three hours out of his schedule for $150.
    via u/UniqueMitochondria
  • 11
    -MakeNazis Dead Again 17 hr. ago No joke, one time I refused to schedule a follow up appointment because I didn't think it was necessary, and two weeks later I got a bill for $450 for "refusal of service". Took me like 4 phone calls to get it dropped.
    via u/-MakeNazisDeadAgain_
  • 12
    aradaiel 14 hr. ago This happened to me and I asked them for. $50 cancelation fee and the lady said ".... It doesn't work like that". Then I said "why not?" And she just hung up. I told my wife I wanted to find a new dentist and she said no :(
    via u/aradaiel
  • 13
    long_ben_pirate 1 day ago Send them a bill for $150. 12.6k Reply Share BigFPS 21 hr. ago I saw a case on "The Peoples Court" where this exactly happened and the practice had to pay. I know it is a tv show from a long time ago but I believe it practiced real law.
    via u/long_ben_pirate
  • 14
    Jante Maam 20 hr. ago At least you received a call. This peasant has to show up, wait, inquire why waiting so long, only to be told it's not happening. Total waste of my time and gas.
    via u/JanteMaam
  • 15
    Loopy Mercutio. 19 hr. ago Find a different doctor, and post up online reviews saying exactly what they did and stating that people shouldn't tolerate threats from their medical providers, and then get screwed over by them. And tell them exactly why you're done with their practice.
    via u/LoopyMercutio
  • 16
    Alive-Selection-5172 - 19 hr. ago You can charge the doctor's office the same cancellation fee. Just send them an invoice and include the date and time that they cancelled without proper notice.
    via u/Alive-Selection-5172
  • 17
    FlaxenArt 19 hr. ago I'm seriously going to start doing this. I have a doctor I see regularly - who is fantastic - but the office staff are a complete show. I get every 3 of 4 appointments cancelled or rescheduled last minute. It's absolutely infuriating.
    via u/FlaxenArt
  • 18
    Series-Party 19 hr. ago Yeah, it's messed up, I had a hair appointment, and I debated on canceling because due to punishment of my own actions, I took overtime and slept like garbage. It would have cost 75 to cancel, I decided to just it up and go. She texted me saying she was sick and moved it, I am glad she waited, but god, that logic is annoying
    via u/Series-Party
  • 19
    Gullible Education818 - 19 hr. ago a last-minute cancellation call, just 20 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment, is incredibly inconvenient and disrespectful of your time and commitment. Patients have their own lives, responsibilities, and schedules to manage, and these last-minute cancellations can cause major disruptions and stress. It's high time these healthcare providers realize that their actions have real consequences for people's lives.
    via u/GullibleEducation818
  • 20
    real_boiled_cabbage - 22 hr. ago I wonder if you could invoice them through quickbooks, and put some sort of mechanics lien on the building?? They may just pay it without even noticing. Or ignore it. I have no idea.
    via u/real_boiled_cabbage
  • 21
    Geologist Bright5918 18 hr. ago Send them a bill for $200. Tell them that's your cancellation fee. Then find another doctor.
    via u/GeologistBright5918
  • 22
    Climbincook 20 hr. ago I've had success with asking if i can reschedule for a few days later, weeks later. Then call back the next day and cancel completely since it's outsode the fee window. Agree it's infuriating.
    via u/Climbincook
  • 23
    No_Stranger_4959 - 19 hr. ago Didn't another redditor charge their doctor for the cancellation fee and get a refund? 8 Reply Share missannthrope1. 19 hr. ago Charge them $200.00.
    via u/No_Stranger_4959
  • 24
    getahaircut8 20 hr. ago There's a Seinfeld episode about this Reply Share 5 Important-Anybody-74 19 hr. ago Time for a new doctor
    via u/getahaircut8

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schedule sketchy shady appointment doctors office doctor the doctor scammy cancel Office appointments doctors Reddit fees cancellation fee
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