Whoa!! Before I launch into my tirade, it might be useful to know a few things about me: One, I am…read moreridiculously organized about signing documents and keeping records. It's October, and I have already signed every permission slip for my son's field trips with school for the entire year. Two, I NEVER pay bills late, and in fact I regularly pay earlier than I should. I overpay my estimated taxes every year, knowing it's neither legally required nor financially wise, just because it makes me feel better not to owe money. I pay my credit card bill in full every month as soon as I get the bill, well before the due date. Three, I am a working mom, so I'm super busy during the day. It is in this context that I find Dr. Sacramone's behavior even more outrageous than I otherwise might. Here's the story:
My daughter was going to get braces from Dr. Sacramone. We had several visits with him so he could review her records, decide on a treatment plan, take molds of her teeth, etc. I paid as invoiced. Once Dr. Sacramone settled on a treatment plan, my husband and I are called in for a consultation about it. (I had to work from home that day to meet with him.) At the consult, I got the sense that Dr. Sacramone was VERY money focused. It's not that I think he should work for fun. But it was weird. He is very put together and very well dressed, which makes it seem like he's more focused on how he looks at work than on the work itself. Maybe I'm out of bounds with that remark, but it seemed out of place. Anyway, the goal of the consult was to let us know how much it was going to cost: $6,500. (Is that a lot for braces? Honestly, I have no idea. We didn't shop around or talk with other orthodontists (although I guess now we will have to).)
We set up the initial appointments for my daughter. She goes to her first appointment to get spacers. All good. Soon after that (a few days? not sure) I get a fat envelope from Dr. Sacramone in the mail. I don't have a chance to open it for a few days (that working mom thing), but when I do I see that it contains a pile of invoice stubs that I am supposed to send in once a month with payments. Included is a letter than explains that I am to pay $2,200 up front, plus $240 a month. The letter is dated Sep 26. The initial payment is stated as due on Sep 26. Of course it is already at least a couple of days after that. I immediately send a check for $2,440 for the initial payment and the October 1 monthly amount due. Fatal Flaw Number One -- I fail to notice, and therefore do not sign, the acknowledgment that explains that I understand the payment plan.
Today, Oct 9. My daughter has her appointment at 1 p.m. to get the spacers removed and bands put on instead. Here's what happens:
1. I get a text from our amazingly-kind-and-easy-to-get-along-with nanny, who is taking my daughter to the appointment. She asks if I have the signed form to give to Dr. Sacramone's office. I am at work. I say I don't have it, but she can sign for me. She plans to take a photo of the form and do it in front of the secretary at Dr. Sacramone's office so they know she's signing as my agent. Should be easy enough.
2. I get a text from the nanny at 12:58 saying that they won't allow her to sign, and they want to talk to me. Still should be fairly straightforward, no? I tell her to have them call me but to please do it ASAP because I have a meeting (that working mom thing again) at 1.
3. Dr. Sacramone's secretary calls at 1 p.m. and tells me that they need to fax me the form immediately and that I need to sign it and return it before the appointment begins. I tell her that I am about to go into a meeting and that I will definitely send it back right afterward. She says she has to ask the doctor if he'll go ahead without it, and I am flabbergasted but tell her that if it's really a crisis, she should call my cell, and I'll leave my meeting to deal with it. I also point out that I have already sent them over 1/3 of the total cost of service already. She says they don't have it. (Really? I sent the check over a week ago.)
4. The secretary does not call, but she faxes the form at 1:20 p.m. I am in my meeting but I see it. I leave the meeting, sign the document and e-mail it to our nanny at 1:23, and she gives it to them. Fatal Flaw Number Two -- I only returned page 2 of the letter (with the signature page) not page 1. Not good enough.
5. It's 1:38 p.m. Apparently Dr. Sacramone takes my daughter in the back and then proceeds to come out to the front to confront our nanny. ("Is it too much to ask?" etc.) She tries telling him that she really has nothing to do with it, and he shouldn't be rude to her because it's not her fault.
6. 1:49 p.m. Again stopping work, I e-mail page 1. Hah! Too late! Dr. Sacramone has already told the nanny that he will not treat my daughter and has asked them to leave.
WHAT?!?
It seems I need to cancel my big fat check and find a new orthodontist. Ideas?
