I was sorely disappointed by Dr. Mark Reilly and Mid-Cape Animal Hospital's deceptive practices. Specifically, they estimate cost of surgeries and other services at the outset and assure you that is ... Read More
I was sorely disappointed by Dr. Mark Reilly and Mid-Cape Animal Hospital's deceptive practices. Specifically, they estimate cost of surgeries and other services at the outset and assure you that is the price in full but this is not really what you will end up paying. A secretary or administrative person estimates the service, saying that it is all inclusive--no other costs. When questioning her further, I was told $317 included everything--a pre-surgical discussion with the vet about the process, all bloodwork, etc., and he will meet your pet. She said, "that's why it costs so much--everything is included; you will not have to pay anything else". On the same day, the surgery in this case (a declaw of my cat) would be performed immediately after the discussion with the doctor. I was handed the estimate by the vet's assistant who assured me that the price was high because it included all parts of the service. For this laser declaw of my cat, the cost estimate was $317 firm for all services of the laser declaw on 2 feet. When I hadn't been called 3 days before surgery, I called them to confirm time and verify the estimate which I noticed was the price for declawing 4 feet (not 2, and I only wanted 2 feet declawed). I was also told that no fasting of my cat would be necessary before surgery and the price was still $317 even though only 2 feet would be declawed. The day before the surgery, I was called and informed that the price estimate had increased to $377 as "they had made a mistake but she could not tell me what the "mistakes" were. I protested this increase because the woman who originally prepared the estimate of $317 had told me it was high at $317 as "all bloodwork, fees, pre-op consultation were included in the cost". In response to my question, I was told that there was no difference in price whether two feet or four feet were declawed, which I found unususal as it must take more time to declaw 4 feet rather than two. I was told again that the cat did not need to fast beforehand. I did not feed my cat after midnight anyway--it seemed like the right thing to do. When I arrived for the surgery and the pre-op meeting with the doctor, the doctor reiterated that additional bloodwork would not be required but he felt it a good idea and so I could "check the box" to agree to have the additional blood work done or I could check another box to say "not authorized". Naturally, I did what the doctor suggested and since I was told that the price was high initially at $317 because "all bloodwork was included", I was bothered and told the secretary so but I still intended to have the surgery completed. When I met with the Doctor, he brought up my dissatisfaction with the increase in cost from $317 to $377. I reiterated my dissatisfaction and he said "anyone can make a mistake." I agreed with him but said that in my own firm, if we underestimated a job by our own error, we would eat the additional cost as clients count on the estimate we provide them with. I further explained that I had made a decision based on $317 and that perhaps I would have made a different decision had I known the surgery would cost $377, rather than $317. He acknowledged my unhappiness but said again, "we made a mistake" so I realized at that point that I would be paying the $377 now rather than the $317. He also asked I if I had fed the cat because she shouldn't have been fed before the surgery. Luckily, I had made that determination on my own because the Doctor's assistant had initially said it would not be necessary but luckily, I used my good sense about that. The surgery was completed without incident, and I picked up my cat the next morning whereupon the secretary presented me with the final bill--$492--not the $317 nor the $377--no apologies were extended for the additional cost; in fact, the secretary was quite rude to me when I protested this second change in estimate. She also boldfacedly lied, stating that "she had heard the doctor tell me it would cost $492--which was an out and out lie--I was the one who mentioned BOTH the $317 and the $377 increase to Dr. Mark Reilly, along with my own set of difficulties as my dog was also having surgery with Dr. Reilly's office the next day--this time it was dental surgery. I balked at the $492 bill and the secretary continued to treat me very rudely, saying I knew what the cost would be all along, which I certainly did not know as I would have stayed in Boston and had the declaw done there if I knew it would cost almost $200 more or about 60% more than estimated. originally! Although my dog needed the dental surgery, I told her to cancel the appointment and I would take my business elsewhere. I am writing about this because when I told others about it, I learned that almost all of my neighbors had had similar experiences wth this doctor and they were no longer using Dr. Mark Reilly or Mid-Cape Animal Hospital due to deceptive practice. Read Less