BEWARE.
I hate writing bad reviews for medical offices but I feel I should at least let people know about the fiasco of an experience I got.
The office is nice and clean and the front desk staff were polite and efficient. My initial cleaning and appointment went well. There were a few cosmetic cosmetic sales pitches that I just plain cut into and said no to before it got long-winded.
Then I was pushed into a check-up within the next week or two because I told her I hadn't been to the dentist for a cleaning in years (but I swear I have fabulous teeth). I wasn't up for it but complied to get out of there. Later I rescheduled it. Then I was bad and I missed it completely. Tsk, tsk.
According to their Financial Policies Form that new patients sign, I then should have been billed for the missed appointment. However six months passed by and not a word was heard from them nor a bill seen. And honestly, by then I plumb forgot I ever agreed to and signed a form stating I would pay the $75.00 missed appointment fee.
Then I moved to Minnesota in August and a little over a month after I moved, I got two voicemails from Smart Smiles Dental. The first voicemail (left from the day before) was about calling them back to confirm an appointment for the next day. And the second voicemail (left earlier that morning) was about missing the supposed appointment-- an appointment I NEVER made.
I would have just shrugged it off as maybe a mistake on their end; no harm, no foul BUT the second voicemail went on to tell me that they were now going to charge me $75.00 for that morning's missed appointment-- an appointment I, 1., did NOT make, and 2., did NOT call back to confirm.
I called and the receptionst informed me that I had TWO missed appointment fees to pay for. I explained that I never made the most recent appointment as I NO LONGER LIVE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS and it would be silly of me to make an appointment for an office 300+ miles away on a week day when I am not in town visiting my boyfriend. I also requested they stop calling me as I no longer required their services.
She apologized & said they would not charge me for the recent missed appointment I hadn't made but that I was still responsible for the appointment that I missed in April. Again, I had forgotten about the Financial Policies Form so I requested she email a copy of the form to me and that I would take care of it from there.
Two days later, I get an email from the dentist herself subtly threatening to bill me for the appointment I never made if I did not pay for the missed appointment from April. WHY ARE THEY THREATENING TO CHARGE ME FOR AN APPOINTMENT I NEVER EVEN MADE?! HOW RUDE!
SECONDLY, why did they wait until I informed them I was no longer going to need their services (as I had moved out of the state of Illinois and have been living in another state for almost two months now) to suddenly bill me; six months after the fact?
Then I come onto Yelp and read someone else's review that says he wasn't charged for cancelling or rescheduling his appointment at the last minute. Apparently, they pick and choose who to bill for missed appointments. If you're a good patient that goes when you're beckoned, even if you didn't schedule nor confirm it, I am sure you will be one of the 'chosen'.
So I guess as long as you continue to use their services, they won't fraudulently make appointments for you and extort as much money as they can from you before you leave them completely.
I don't refute my legitimate, missed appointment nor the fee. I do hope however that six months from now I do not get another voicemail from them telling me I missed, yet again, an appointment with them and will be charged (again) another $75.00 for it.
I wouldn't refer my friends nor family here for fear if they leave for other offices they'll be subject to the same underhanded procedures and rudeness as I was. read more