Business ProfileforSanford Oaks Animal Clinic

I am a 70 old retired woman on a fixed income, living in *********, *****. On Monday August 22, '22, I took my cat Tortie to the Sanford Oaks Animal Clinic to have her teeth checked. They told me she needed all her teeth extracted and gave me an estimate of $1,200.00+ which I thought was alot and asked the technician, ********, to remove the $200+ for the urinalysis tests, and the total was then $1,049.57. I believed this to be the final total. Later that day they called me and said the cat needed ear treatment which would cost another $100.00 and I agreed, bringing the total to $1,149.57. On August 22, I paid $500.82 (which included $100.00 for the deposit) and left. I had signed a Treatment Plan for "Total estimate charges" of $1,49.57, which is dated 08-22-22. The next day when I went to pick up my cat after the surgery, a receptionist told me the balance was $966.47. I was shocked because be my calculations the balance should have been $648.75. I disputed this, however, they said that the treatment plan I signed was just for the day when I first brought the cat in and the remainder was for the surgery. Apparently, they did not remove the urinalysis charge and said it was needed for the surgery. All told the total for everything was $1,615.22 - far more than I was led to believe. I believe they underhandedly and deceitfully misrepresented the costs and charges. I have been going to this clinic for some years now and have been feeling that the way they present the charges and costs is not straight forward and up front. I paid $469.65 more than I was led to believe I would pay. I don't know if this is fraud, however, I think this business should be investigated for unacceptable monetary business practices.