I recently booked an appointment at Discovery Chiropractic, where I had been a patient several years ago. I chose to return because returning patient prices are less than new patient rates. However, only after my appointment, was I informed I would be charged as a new patient since they hadn't seen me in several years ($30 difference). For context, I had called twice because I was pretty sure I had been a patient there before, several times.
The time with the doctor was not a new patient consultation but a 10-15 minute adjustment. They did agree to take $15 off the new patient price, but I still felt it was unfair and should have been communicated upfront.
On a positive note, the adjustment was good and resolved my neck stiffness. They were also able to get me in quickly, which I appreciated.
However, the billing issue left a bad taste in my mouth, so I called them back and explained that I felt misled. Instead of addressing my concern, they defended their practice of not being transparent upfront. It would have been more honest to inform me beforehand that I'd be charged as a new patient, especially since I mentioned I was inquiring around town to find where I had been previously. It is not about the money, but instead about the principle.
This experience left a negative impression. I run a business, and I think honesty and transparency are key to good customer service. If I informed someone after the fact that I would be charging them more than they expected, I would likely have unhappy customers, and less than 5-star reviews. read more
