Guideline 8: Fees
- 8.1
- Fee disputes can often lead to complaints of professional misconduct. The Office of the Professions does not negotiate or resolve fee disputes. However, other claims of professional misconduct may arise as a result. When investigated, many times these complaints are found to originate in disputes over fees, but the veterinarian as well as the Department will have had the burden of the investigation. To avoid these complaints, veterinarians should:
- clarify the billing and payment conditions with clients at the outset of evaluation and treatment, and specify the financial arrangements in terms that the client can understand;
- make the client aware of the cost involved for the recommended treatments so the client can make informed choices and not incur excessive expense.