So when were you going to let us know you'd moved?

[fma_fanatic]

I had a doctor's appointment with my ob/gyn today. Apparently over the last six months or so, they moved from one part of the hospital building to another.

I've been a patient of this current ob/gyn for about 3 years now. They were able to send me a reminder that I needed to make an appointment for my yearly exam. They were able to take my call to schedule said appointment, and they were able to call and remind me of said appointment as well.

What they were seemingly unable to do was tell me during all those times was that they had moved and where the new location was.

So here I am, walking down the hall to where they were, with just about 15 minutes before my scheduled time, and the office is empty. Okay..

So I backtrack to the main foyer and ask at the information desk. Apparently the info has not been updated. So I call the husband in a panic, because this place will charge you a fee for being late.

I finally manage to find where they've moved to and I'm about 5 minutes late. The first thing the gal at the reception desk says - "You owe us a late fee"

Me: I don't think so. You didn't tell me when I got your mailer to make the appointment you'd moved. You didn't tell me when I made my appointment you'd moved, and you didn't tell me when I got my reminder that you'd moved. So how its it my fault when I didn't know you'd moved and I went to where you were then found out you were here made me late? I'm supposed to pay a late fee because you neglected to tell me where you were now?

The woman gave me a catbuttface, and I got the same cattbuttface when I left.

[Slayer]

They probably did that on purpose to recoup some of the moving costs, geez.

Glad you stood up for yourself. I'm sure others paid the fee.

[MaggieTheCat]

Are they ALWAYS on time with their appointments? Does your ob/gyn NEVER get backed up and does she ALWAYS see you at the time your appointment is scheduled? If she does, she should share her secrets with the rest of the medical world. If she doesn't, her office has no business charging "late fees." I have NEVER been to a doctor's appointment where I didn't sit for at least 10-15 minutes or more in the waiting room, and another 10-15 minutes or more once they took me back to the exam room. I know this is normal, I know drs. get backed up, and I rarely complain about it. But for them to charge you a late fee if you're 5 minutes late, then make you sit another 10 minutes for the doctor, is ridiculous.

[Sapphire Silk]

Good for you.

Charging a fee for not showing up is one thing. Charging a fee for being five minutes late is BS, and I don't care if they'd moved or not.

[fma_fanatic]

My first visit had to be rescheduled because one of her patients went into labor about 30 minutes before I got there. I ended up going back that afternoon to see her. The doctor I like. She's personable and thorough. Her assistant I can probably do with out because she chews her gum like a cow chewing a cud and gets frustrated because she needs a bigger cuff to do my blood pressure.

The second time - I was seen about 10 minutes after I sat down in the waiting room, which was right on time for my appointment.

Today, I was seen about 20 minutes after I got there, which was 25 minutes after my appointment time

[rose_metal_nz]

Today, I was seen about 20 minutes after I got there, which was 25 minutes after my appointment time

and they had the gall to try to charge you for being late?! Did you mention this to the doctor? If so, how did they respond?

[fma_fanatic]

I didn't say anything to her about the charge, just that I didn't know they'd moved. There wasn't much said about that.

I'm going to wait and see if they try to send me a bill. I really don't want to find another ob/gyn as I really like her, but if her office is going to try and pull a fast one, then I will just have to ask my PCP for another recommendation and tell her why if she asks.

[Geek King]

I'm going to wait and see if they try to send me a bill. I really don't want to find another ob/gyn as I really like her, but if her office is going to try and pull a fast one, then I will just have to ask my PCP for another recommendation and tell her why if she asks.

My personal rule on the subject: I'll pay a late fee to a doctor's office if they pay the same fee to me if I am in the waiting room and they're late seeing me. The only place that tried to get me to sign that paperwork (a dentist) withdrew the form when I jotted in that addendum.

[fma_fanatic]

My personal rule on the subject: I'll pay a late fee to a doctor's office if they pay the same fee to me if I am in the waiting room and they're late seeing me. The only place that tried to get me to sign that paperwork (a dentist) withdrew the form when I jotted in that addendum.

Luckily my dentists office is pretty cool and doesn't have a late/cancellation fee. I think the only time I ever was late was when we had a small ice storm, the power went out and I woke up realizing my alarm hadn't gone off. I called in a panic and they said come on in, we'll see you since nearly half the patients they did have scheduled called that morning and couldn't make it out of their driveways.