Complaint Review: Sunset Animal Clinic - Dr. Frederick W. Labavitch D.V.M.

May 27th 2006 2:30pm

My dog had salmon poisoning so I took him to Sunset animal Clinic on a recomendation from a friend of my mothers. When I take him in he's not doin to well, dehydrated cause he can't drink water when his lymph nodes are all swollen which is what salmon poisoning does. The vet (dr.labavitch) brings us both into a examination room he asks me to step out and he proceeds to examin my dog.

Not even 5 minutes later he comes out and confirms my belief about the salmon pisoning. He asks if I liked to fish and if I had been fishing recently. I tell him yes on both accounts. I also tell him my dog ate a small trout that had been caught and had swolled the hook, so it died. My friend had then tossed it up on the shore which is how my dog came to eat it.

He tells me my dog is going to have to be in the clinic for the next 2 days, and that he is going to need some antibiotics. He then proceeds to warn me that it is going to be a little pricey.

He tells me the treatments + daily boarding costs:

$80-$100 a day for hospitalization care
at 2 days
+ blood test at $50
+ exam cost of $50
+ antibiotic cost of $75 or more he says depending on which one he needs.

Sitting in the lobby I figure the math and on the whole I'm looking at $500-$600 dollars. I ask him about the over all price being about $5-600 dollars and he says yes somewhere around there more or less depending on the meds. I figure thats reasonable enough.

I then explain that I don't get a check untill the 15th of June and that all I have on me is $100. I also tell him I may be able to get a credit card from my father to just pay him in full but no promises. Both him and his vet tech receptionist say that it is no problem either way and that we can work out a payment plan. He tells me not to worry that my dog will most likly be just fine. I then thank him for his help and give him $100 down cash. he gives me a reciept for the $100

2 days go by and I've heard nothing. I call them up and have to leave a message. He then calls me back and tells me that he is doing better but he would like to keep him for 2 more days just to make sure. I agree because I trust he knows what hes doing at this point.

The extra 2 days go by and I go in to pick up my dog. When I pull up I can see the doctor in the lobby and he looks at me and imediatly turns around and goes in the back. I walk in the door and the receptionist say she'll be with me in a minute. I wait for 20 minutes before being helped. No one else was in there just me. But hey I'll wait.

Finaly the vet tech comes out through one of the exam rooms and call me in. I go in and she is sweating and acting really wierd, like nervous or something. Anywho she shows me the bill and she won't even look me in the eyes. I view the bill and it has over doubled what he quoted me. $1765.70.

Needless to say I was a bit taken aback. I actualy started laughing slightly gave an exagerated "WOW" and asked her why it was more than double what he quoted me. She said she was sorry about it but said that it happens and there was unforseen complications. I then asked what they were scince the bill didn't say, and she said I would have to speak to the doctor.

I agree with that and ask to speak to him. She then tells me that he doesn't want to talk to me. Dumbfounded I ask why. She says that the doctor doesn't like to talk to anyone untill their bill is paid. She explains that he doesn't like to deal with the money side of things that he considers it dirty work.

At this point a red flag alarm goes off in my head. I'm getting rippped off I can feel it! I then sit down in the exam room and ask to see the doctor Now. She leaves and 15 minutes later he finaly comes in. He is completely Irate."YOU OWE ME THAT FOR SERVICES RENDERED AT THE TIME WHICH IS NOW TODAY!" he yells at me.

More than a little caught off guard at this man bursting in the room and yelling a phrase that barely makes sense at a normal volume. I then proceed to stare at him like a retard. I had no reply for about 2 minutes. He of course goes on and on about how he never has questions over his billing and he is completly insulted and pissed off that I would dare to question him or his billing. He said that young punks like me shouldn't tell him his business.

I may be young(29) but I'm no punk. I regain my ability to speak and stand so I do so. I am not an easily upset person. I very calmly and nicly asked him why the bill had doubled. And why there where all these treatments like X-rays and some other test that was not needed not to mention the stuff that was needed didn't even come close to matching the quotes. He then starts waving his hands about and saying something about me not telling him his business.

I then ask him again about the quotes and he then denies even giving a quote. He said he never gives quotes or prices to anyone. I then, completly baffled by his out right lie call him on it. I say if that true then why does your recepionist remember you saying so and apolligised for it? She remembers you saying it, how come you convienently forgot. At this he loses it snatches the bill out of my hand and starts yammering on uninteligbly while storming off.

I being a more than a little concernd go back out to the reception desk. I demand at this point to have my dog back. She turns around and goes in the back. Not even 30 seconds later the doctor comes out and says that he is going to keep my dog and charge me daily boarding fees untill I have him paid off in full. At this point I'm upset. Without raising my voice I explain to him that he can't do that. I also bring up that he is going back on everything he said to me on my initial visit.

He tells me to get out of his office. I say not without my dog. He then threatens to call the police on me. I tell him to go ahead I havn't done anything wrong and that he will be the one in trouble. He picks up the phone and PRETENDS to dial 911 he then sits on the phone for about a minute. I think he actualy thought I would run out of there or something. He then hangs up. He then says "Your not getting your dog back no matter what untill I get my money." I then tell him to pick back up the phone and call the police for real, that I'm tired of his BS and I want them there myself. He refuses.

I then completely at a loss pick up my cell phone and start to call them myself. Just before I hit send it dons on me that I don't have a copy of the bill. I hang up and demand a copy of the bill.

He then says NO I don't have to give you a copy. I explain that in order for me to have to pay a bill I must first recieve a copy so that I know what to pay. the logic was lost on him. He says NO once again and tells me to get out of his office. I tell him that no one pays anything without first recieving a copy of said bill. I tell him that his business practices are as ridiculous as he is and that he would not get one more cent out of me unless he gives me a copy of my bill and my dog back now.

He then starts yelling so loud that I couldn't understand what he was saying. And to be honest I didn't care. I got so fed up and so upset that I was shaking. I just turned and walked out. As soon as I walked out I dialed the nonemergency line for my local police. But I never even heard it ring for I was distracted by them locking the doors to the clinic.

So not only is he Price hiking on me but he refused to give me a bill and he STOLE MY DOG!

I have tried to go in there and get a bill to no avail. I have called the Vet board for Oregon and they are less than useless. I have no Idea what to do next. I called 6 other vet clinics and asked them about their prices (they had no problem talking about them by the way) And found that his prices are more than double the normal price. The Vet board of Oregon has no jusrisdiction over the fees vets charge. I called the cops and they didn't know if they could help me or not.

If anyone out there can help me please do! This is my last and final hope!! I WANT MY DOG BACK!! I have no bill no dog and yet now I have over $2000 in debt if he really does charge me for boarding(which I'm sure he will).

PLEASE HELP!

Daniel
Portland, Oregon
U.S.A.