Customer ReviewsforAlden Animal Hospital

We switched when we waited an hour for our dog to be seen for regular visit. We could not wait any longer due to other appointments. Called next day to reschedule and did so. Few min later we received a call telling us we had to prepay before our next visit. I don't know if that's legal or ethical. We found a new practice.

Thank you for your review. I (the hospital manager) spoke with the individuals that were on staff that morning. I was told that you/ your wife arrived early for the appointment, which is not an issue at all. Just because someone arrives early does not mean we are able to see the appointment early. Be that as it may, we were running slightly behind that day (not unusual for a doctor's office). I was told you/ your wife left 15 minutes after your appointment was supposed to start (still during the scheduled appointment slot). If an individual does not show up for an appointment or, in this case, leaves before the doctor does their physical exam, we require a deposit for the next exam. It is legal to require a deposit for an appointment and it is ethical to give individuals an incentive to show up for their appointments. Again, we only require deposits for appointments where the previous appointment did not show up (or left). The deposit is just that. A deposit. It is the made in the amount of our exam fee and applied, as a credit, to the bill at the end of the appointment. It's not an extra charge. Obviously, your time is important and we do not like to get behind and have our clients waiting. However, the doctors time is just as important. It is unfortunate that the situation occurred and it is also unfortunate that, before a proper explanation could be given, you switched practices.

I am sorry to say that we did not show up early. We also waited for more than 15 minutes. Your associate is wrong about the time. And I have never been asked for a deposit for any Doctors appointment. Vet or MD. My wife works in the health field and never heard of such a thing. Paying at the time of visit we heard of and do. We also had two dogs for that appointment. If we had to wait that long for the first one. How long would it of been for the second one. Again we have been customers of that facility for over 20 years. Never had an issue. And that was because the vet knew us on a personal level. We will find that elsewhere. Also why would we leave early when our animals are very important to us. You can say it's ethical to make a deposit so we show up on time. Sounds very tacky and unprofessional. Also desperate.