I watched a private dental practice in Birmingham for two and a half years and signed for treatment through a Denplan payment plan, paying £ 35 a month to cover dental costs.
Very little was done in my teeth at that time.
At the end of February 2024, before moving to Somerset, I was given a certificate of departure from the dentist who said he did not require work on my teeth.
But for my horror, when I signed a new dentist a few weeks later, I was told that I needed five fills at a cost of £ 902.
I can’t afford it. I complained to the old dentist, but I have nowhere.
JT, Somerset.
Dental expenses: A reader had said that it took five new filling just a few weeks after being given all clear by the dentist for his payment plan
Sally Hamilton replies: You came to me for your complaint last August and I came into contact with Birmingham’s practice, asking the dentist to explain how he suddenly needed extensive treatment only weeks after his departure.
I suggested that an appropriate resolution would return your payments (£ 910) or to cover the cost of £ 902 of the treatment that had to be undertaken.
Denplan is a popular design for their dentists and customers. The plan not only helps patients spread the cost of treatment, but they provide a predictable income for dentists who have registered.
A patient pays monthly charges based on treatment that a dentist expects that a patient will require during the year.
It took a week or two to receive an answer from Birmingham’s practice, but eventually your old dentist agreed to review your files, including those of your new practice, as soon as they were forwarded and returned.
At the end of October he responded, in his clinical view, your X -rays did not suggest that the fills required the moment he saw you for the last time.
He agreed that a tooth seemed as if he could require further attention in due time. His defense was “different dentists have different clinical views”.
But he added that he did not want any patient to be “frustrated or disadvantaged” and offered you a return of £ 500 for Denplan payments as a gesture of goodwill.
You were not happy, as this would still leave you about £ 400 to meet the new accounts, which you said you couldn’t afford.
Put it in £ 766. You just agreed and requested payment by check but not implemented.
Become more and more anxious, it did not help from recovering from breast cancer and only wanted to start treatment with your new dentist when I knew the funds were coming.
By February, the money had not yet arrived. With your complaint unresolved, I contacted Denplan.
Given that you had surpassed the payment plan all the time you had with Birmingham’s practice and apparently received little care in return, I was optimistic that it would have a view on the subject. Also called Denplan to explain your concerns.
These actions seemed to eventually do the trick. Denplan investigated and, in early March, came some good news.
Thank you for bringing your case to her attention and to “ensure a quick resolution” she insisted that proceed with the necessary treatment to make you match your new practice and that she would pay these bills on your behalf.
He said he worked with your old dentist to recover the £ 766 he previously promised you.
On March 15, an anonymous person from the reception to my previous dentist sent me an email to say: “We came to a resolution with JT, I hope he has contacted you.”
Although it took a painful time to export the payment, you have relieved that the battle with your old dentist finally ended.
I agreed that I would not write your case until your treatment is complete, which I am glad to say that happened when the last tooth was filled on June 3.
My phone credit £ 120 fell under the toilet
I am 87 years old and I had an accident with my simple mobile phone pay-as-you-go when it slipped out of my pocket and toilet.
Was destroyed. It had £ 120.46 credit to it with my provider Vodafone I had bought by cash through a top card in my mail.
I have been on the phone with Vodafone trying to get a refund, but they continue to ask for a bank card number.
We paid in cash, so I asked for a check. Refused. This is more unfair.
Bl, Lincoln.
Sally Hamilton replies: You told me that this incident happened as you had to keep your phone to you all day longing for a call from social services.
You were in the garden that admire the environment when the nature of a different kind called.
This was when the phone slipped out of your pocket and in the toilet bowl. You caught it and tried to work it, but all the efforts failed.
Although the amount of credit is controlled and verified by Vodafone and spends a long time on the phone on them, they will not send you a check.
You asked me right why it was no easier for the vulnerable, the elderly like you, who pay in cash to complete their phones to resolve the situation.
You felt that you hadn’t resigned from your “20 -year -old friend” – a phone that was easy to use with just a few buttons – and worsened you couldn’t get back the money you owe.
Cash users often feel like second -class citizens in such conditions. I asked Vodafone to call her efforts to help you, something she has done now.
Customer Service Team comes in contact directly with you – asking for more information and photos of yourself – before finally sending a check.
Obviously, refunds are not usually done by inspection of non-registered pay-as-you-go accounts due to strict revenue of money laundering policies.
This looks a little heavy hand for such a small amount, but the rules are rules, I guess. You have purchased a new phone that you find more complicated than your reliable old device.
You say that your daughter, who works for Age UK, organizes some lessons for you with charity on how to use it.
- Write to Sally Hamilton in Sally Classifies it, Money Mail, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT or email sally@dailymail.co.uk – Include the phone number, the address and a note addressed to the offender giving them the permission to speak to Sally Hamilton. Do not send original documents, as we cannot take responsibility for them. No legal liability can be accepted by the Daily Mail for answers given.
