Comfort Dental Valencia CA Michelle Shahisaman, DDS Failure to give xrays as promisedHard sell and exorbinate fee quoted Valencia, California CA
Was told I qualified for a grant- the amount would be given to the dental office. I would be charged $50 which was refundable. It was to insure that I would keep the appointment on August 17, 2018.
On that date I was told that they needed to do xrays which I agreed to. That was where the $50 would be applied but they would give me a copy of the xrays.
Then proceeded to quote me $8800, including the grant amount. I balked at the amount and they immediatly gave me an additional "office discount" reducing my total to $8400 IF I agreed to the plan and made a followup appointment right then.
I said I wasn't prepared to commit to that much money right then and they agreed to still give me the $400 office discount making my amount $8400.
I left the office disappointed because of the amount quoted. I was not given a copy of the xrays.
On August 23, 2018 I called to ask about the xray copy. I was told by Bernice that I could pick them up in the office. The next day I spoke to Bernice again and asked if she would mail them as I couldn't make the 45 minute drive again. She agreed to mail them.
On September 17, 2018, having still not received a copy I called again and spoke with Angela (I believe that was her name and that she was the office manager). She claimed that there would be a charge to mail them. I disputed that since originally was told they were mine since I'd paid $50 for them. I asked if the fee was the cost of a stamp?
She agreed to "waive" the additional fee (I was never told the amount).And mail them that day. I did receive a very poor quality copy of the xrays.
Last week someone called me from their office asking when I was going to schedule an appointment. I replied that I wouldn't be because I felt the whole thing was a scam.
I believe they inflated the cost to convince me that with the grant and office discount it was a reasonable amount. It wasn't.
I believe the entire offer of a grant was to funnel patients into one of their approved dental groups. I have since discovered that there are five denists in my same area- less than a 15 minute drive.
I have not been to another dentist yet.