$100

 

I am sure many of you remember this recent thread about the Doc trying to charge me $20 for a no show fee when I had a 30 year perfect attendance record and it was their blunder because they failed to cancel one of my two appointments after I addressed it with them:

 

http://bluegrasspreps.com/bluegrasspreps-coms-break/would-you-charge-249679.html#.USzk0KVwp8E

 

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Moving forward, I just finished a conversation with a friend of mine and the office he works at charges a $100 fee for no shows. Thoughts? First it was $20, now $100, before you know it, it will be $250 and beyond. How much is too much? If it is so bad for the Docs why not just refuse the business of those that no show too much for your taste/business to be successful?

 

No I didn't miss anything, this was a discussion we had.

 

Finally, from a legal standpoint what is the precedent if the customer/patient refuses to pay the fee?

It's simple. Don't make an appointment and take a slot from someone who really needs to be seen, if you aren't going to show. I have no problem with them charging whatever they'd like. If I were the Dr., I'd refuse to schedule someone who had no show/no called before. It's just rude and inconsiderate, and I'm actually shocked that so many people feel them charging for such an occurrance is out of line.

It's simple. Don't make an appointment and take a slot from someone who really needs to be seen, if you aren't going to show. I have no problem with them charging whatever they'd like. If I were the Dr., I'd refuse to schedule someone who had no show/no called before. It's just rude and inconsiderate, and I'm actually shocked that so many people feel them charging for such an occurrance is out of line.

 

So $100 is okay? How about $250? $500? $1000?

So $100 is okay? How about $250? $500? $1000?

 

Yep. Doesn't bother me. I'm not rude or inconsiderate enough to no show without calling and cancelling.

Yep. Doesn't bother me. I'm not rude or inconsiderate enough to no show without calling and cancelling.

 

Wow!

 

I am more of the thinking Docs should refuse to see these patients in the future. My gut says this is more about money than anything else.

Yep. Doesn't bother me. I'm not rude or inconsiderate enough to no show without calling and cancelling.

 

Should I be able to charge the Dr. $100 if he is rude and inconsiderate enough to keep me waiting an hour past my appointment time?

 

For the record I've missed appointments before for nothing more then just forgetting. Doesn't make me rude or inconsiderate, makes me busy and scatter brained at times.

Yep. Doesn't bother me. I'm not rude or inconsiderate enough to no show without calling and cancelling.

 

It's rude and inconsiderate to leave patients waiting for long periods of time as well. The patient doesn't get money back on their bill when the DR is late or they have to wait past the scheduled time. $100 seems a bit excessive to me.

Yep. Doesn't bother me. I'm not rude or inconsiderate enough to no show without calling and cancelling.

 

That's absurd. You may be the model of respect and consideration but mishaps happen. I have three kids and we have missed an appointment by complete accident before. I would pay $100 for the inconvenience, but anything over that is ludacris.If patients have consitent problems, then avoid scheduling them. They most likely would not pay any way. The poeple who would pay are most likely the patients who would normally not have an atendance problem in the first place. This sounds like another case of punishing the people who follow the rules.

Dang, I'm gonna start today.

The issue of fees/penalties for no-showing appointments should be something that is addressed with the client at the time of his/her initial enrollment in the clinic, and is typically something that must be signed off by the client as a term of service. So, if a physician or clinic wanted to charge someone a $100 fee for no-showing an appointment, I suppose they could do so as long as the client signed the paperwork agreeing to abide by the clinic's policy. If a client felt uncomfortable agreeing to such a policy, then it would probably be best to seek services elsewhere.

Give the patient a mulligan for the first time...then, per an agreement, charge a sizable no show fee the second time. This weeds out the ones who are truly problems from those who had an emergency situation or just simply forgot...once.

The "right" fee depends on how much the average bill is for the practice and how much demand there is.

 

If the average bill is over $100 and you fail to show and that keeps a practice from scheduling another then I see no problem with it as long as the practice realizes it might cause a loss of a patient. That's business. Got no problem with it. We're all adults.

Wow!

 

I am more of the thinking Docs should refuse to see these patients in the future. My gut says this is more about money than anything else.

 

There is another side to this coin that is a lot more common. How about when the doc double and triple books appointments and keeps me waiting 2-3 hr past the appointment time? Am I also entitled to compensation form the Doc? Am I liable if I leave after 2 hours?

There is another side to this coin that is a lot more common. How about when the doc double and triple books appointments and keeps me waiting 2-3 hr past the appointment time? Am I also entitled to compensation form the Doc? Am I liable if I leave after 2 hours?

 

I do agree that if Docs want to take this approach (charge big time no show fees) they either need to run on time or hold themselves to a similar standard if they keep a patient waiting for an extended period of time.

I can't tell you how many times I had to leave the Dr's office because I didn't have time to wait any longer. I never got any payment for my loss of time and inconvience. No shows are just part of the business. If a patient is a habitual no show simply stop seeing them. Should a restaurant charge for a no show reservation?