Missed Appt Due To Stomach Flu, Therapist Charged Me

[canucklady]

I had terrible stomach flu last night, I called Therapist in morning to cancel appointment. Her office manager called saying that I will be charged for missed appointment because was less than 24 hours notice.

I understand cancellation policy, I know therapists need to get paid.

But I haven't missed an appointment in 4 years. Just was hoping she would take it on case by case basis and give me a break.

Logical part understands, but the more immature part wants to cancel all appointment because Therapist doesn't really care about us, just sees us as a paycheque.

Should have gone in a puked all over her office.

 

[Leah123]

I would be frustrated about this too, spending money for nothing. I understand how the therapist loses money if they don't enforce the policy, but I too would want a little consideration if it was such a very rare occurrence.

Have you thought about asking the therapist for a one time waiver, given your track record. Other service providers will sometimes reconsider when asked, so if it's important to you, I don't think you'd lose anything by sending an email request about it.

If that doesn't work out, perhaps you could at least tell your t your feelings- maybe she could help reassure you that she sees you as a lot more than a paycheck, but just doesn't have the ability to manage exceptions well or something. Also, I hope you feel better soon!!

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I'd be a little ticked off.

My last therapist let a lot of things slide. I'd cancel if I had an episode or was too anxious or didn't sleep. Heck, even regular doctors are pretty forgiving if you call and say you're sick and can't make it to an appointment.

The truth is that people get sick. If she ever cancels on you the morning of an appointment, send her a bill for wasting your time because she didn't give you 24 hours notice.

And, even if you had a PTSD moment and couldn't make it to an appointment, I'd expect a little flexibility! I mean C'MON, PTSD is a serious disorder that interferes with daily functioning (per DSM criteria). A therapist who isn't at the very least a little flexible should stick to "easy" therapy....like, uhm, couples counseling? (I mean those people don't automatically come with a diagnosable mental disorder).

 

[amcen]

Canucklady, from your thread I understand that you were dealing with the office manager and not directly with your T during the cancellation. That may mean that your T was not even aware at the moment you cancelled. The office manager probably has strict rules and it is not hers to decide what to do.

I would suggest that you talk with your T, then you may have a refund or the next appointment free or so :)

That is of course only an idea coming from what I feel after reading your post.

Wishing you the very best :)

 

[canucklady]

I left message with therapist to call me back to discuss charge. She had office manager call me again and tell me I will be charged only half session, which is $90, but I think she is missing the point.

Part of me is so angry, part of me just wants to give up and logical art thinks whatever suck it up. Such simple things throw me for a loop. I don't want to waste therapy time discussing this, but seems she won't call me back so will have to. Kind of ironic, so will spend $180 to talk about not wanting to spend $90 on cancellation fee for being sick which was out of my control

Maybe I am making too much a big deal. Thing is, I cancelled other appts that day, swimming classes, and chiropractor and neither place charged me even though they also have cancellation policy, so I guess that doesn't help

 

[Leah123]

Ouch, $180? My therapist seems like a bargain at $80/h. No wonder you're upset. I'm glad they were willing to meet in the middle, glad that you raised the issue. I too absolutely hate to discuss issues like this in paid time. I don't ever like to pay for discussing things beside my primary/presenting issues, but I know the therapeutic relationship is part of therapy, and is critical to work though, sigh.

 

[cherryblossom]

For your own health, I think you just need to accept this payment and move on.

The office manager clearly has rules that probably aren't worth arguing about. Your therapist probably has little say in these 'rules', but presumably accepted that when they took an office there.

If I were you, I would double check their cancellation policy, and then decide whether or not you want to continue with your therapist.

My therapist was always very clear. If you cancel within 24 hours of your appointment you will still be charged the full fee. I accepted this as part of our agreement. I know that's tough when occasionally we all succumb to a sudden illness. But I guess if it only happens once ever four years, its a small price to pay.

I think therapists have to have something in place, just because of the nature of their work. Lots of people can't face going to their therapy appointment, and probably simply don't turn up. From a business point of view either they charge the individual for not turning up, or they charge every client more to account for their substantial losses.

I can see things from both points of view. Either you accept their cancellation policy, and pay up when it affects you, or you don't. In which case you would have to find a new therapist.

Unfortunately, I think it's a sad fact of the financially tough world that we live in, that businesses have solid rules for gaining revenue. It's tough fact but we all have to live with it - while your therapist probably only wants to help people, it's still a business. As such it has to be viable.

While there are rogues out there trying to make a cheap dollar, many businesses are just trying to provide their services and earn a living.

 

[Err0r]

I'm really sorry this happened to you, I understand how frustrating it is (especially $90!!). I don't know what kind of T you're going to, but I know that my former T, they had no choice in their cancellation policies because it was all up to their office managers or companies.

I can see things from both points of view. Either you accept their cancellation policy, and pay up when it affects you, or you don't. In which case you would have to find a new therapist.

I have to agree that this is really the only options you have. :/

I hope your stomach flu gets better.

 

[Loloma]

I think this is unfair as you have never cancelled in 4 years and you were genuinely sick. Even if you have to pay the $90 I think you should express your feelings to your Therapist, you have the right to.

I have cancelled on my therapist 2 or three times due to illness and have never had to pay. Been seeing him for 22 years. They generally ring someone else and say there was a cancellation and it gives someone else a chance for an earlier appointment. That way they are not out of pocket.

 

[The Albatross]

I might be inclined to write it down and give it to my shrink on my next visit in lieu of spending another session fee, to express my consternation at being charged by the office manager. Save yourself $180 bucks and vent here... use your next session for your real problematic issues.

 

[canucklady]

Thanks everyone for your responses, working it through here has helped.

Not sure why this has upset me so much. The mature side of me thinks just pay it and move on, yet I received the bill in mail yesterday and the immature inner teen took over and shredded it right away before I realized what I was doing.

I guess that is why I am in therapy to prevent stuff like this from happening and to get inner alignment.

 

[Abstract]

I think your response is one hundred percent natural and normal and yes, you should not be charged.

Your therapist probably has little say in these 'rules', but presumably accepted that when they took an office there.

they had no choice in their cancellation policies because it was all up to their office managers or companies.

Sadly though I think this is what it is about. I doubt it is in your therapists control at all. I know a couple of therapists, socially, who work for organisations and they are strictly controlled in many respects.

There are advantages in that for us as there are strict ethical and safety controls but the down side is something like this. She probably managed to convince the manager to halve it.

I know its more than irksome and offensive but maybe it will help to focus on the advantages of having therapy in a strictly controlled environment. I also think its fine to speak to your therapist about how you feel.

The other thing they probably do (and excuse policies like this) is see it as boundary placement. Money tends to be lumped under boundary issues in therapy terms.

The other thing I would probably do if I had the energy was to write a letter of complaint in to management. Stating how long you have had therapy and how it isn't possible to know one is ill 24 hrs before for something like this.

I would say something about having therapy partly to see the world as a fairer place and that their policy does the opposite. I doubt it will change anything but it would make me feel more powerful and that I had had my say.