Avalon Dental of Christiana

I have. Even going to them since 2013 I just recently setup appointment asked them if take my coverage said yes than wanted me to give them $50 deposit when got there said we no longer take your insurance you have to pay $209 & because I did not pay the deposit they cancelled my appointment they have made a lot of upgrades to office bypass this dentist working to keep the extravagant business now not there for patient service

Revdex.com: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] , and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me Regards,

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ***, and find that this resolution is
satisfactory to me.
Regards,

The issue has been resolved and the patient is happy.

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. 
 
Regards,

Review: In August 2012, I received a flyer in the mail about Avalon Dental's Dental Savings Plan, indicating that for $30 you can join and receive $129 cleanings and 15% off all dental work. I called in August and made myself an appointment for a cleaning. The lady on the phone indicated that AS LONG AS I KEPT $30 on file, I could enjoy the discounts. At no time was I told that the program fee was nonrefundable. In fact, no where on their website does it indicate it is nonrefundable. I had a cavity filled in November 2012 and I asked if I could use the $30 on file toward my appointment. I was told I could but I would have to pay $50 (the new price for the savings plan) to join. So, I kept the $30 on file. I called on May 21, 2013 and made an appointment for my son, Andrew. Once again, I paid $50 over the phone for this savings plan. In November 2013, I went for a 2nd cleaning at Avalon and was advised I needed several fillings ($900 for three fillings - after discount $750). I went to another dentist for a 2nd opinion (which was $650 for 3 fillings). I called Avalon on December 12, 2013 and advised the receptionist that I wanted to cancel my savings membership, no longer be a patient, nor did I want my son to be a patient. I wanted my $80 refunded to my card. I was told this was not possible and that once you use the services it is non refundable. I was told I could get my money refunded ($30 for me) if I paid the full price difference for the services I had done, which would be $114.25. I voiced my displeasure and dissatisfaction and said I was told to keep the money on file to get the discount. Dr. Farhi got on the phone and he argued with me that people love his savings plan, it is like a Costco card and I cannot go to Costco and use the card and then ask for a refund. He also said they do very good work and insinuated I chose another cheap dentist with poor quality work. He offered a $100 discount on his doing the fillings. I adamentally refused and he refuses to refund me.Desired Settlement: I would like $80 refunded to me - $30 for myself and $50 for my son. I would like my files with Avalon to be mailed to me in paper format and the electronic copies destroyed. I had a cavity filled in 11/2012 that is rough and needs filed down. Despite the "2 year guarantee" on dental work - he refuses to file it down unless I Have other cavities filled with him. The policy of "non refundable" simply does not exist on his website. I came out and asked him to refund me - and he refused.

Business

Response:

To Whom it may conern,

We have been offering the Avalon Dental Savings Plan to our uninsured patients for many years with overwhelming patient satisfaction. For a one time non-refundable fee of $50 our patients recieve exam, cleaning and x-rays for $129 (a savings of $189) as well as 15% off of all services. This has been a significant help to our patients and we are happy to provide this for them.

We are dedicated to providing the best service and experience for our patients. Our patients can see that we take their best interest to heart and they continue to refer thier friends and family. That is why our practice has grown so quickly.

As to the specifics of the claim, this patient wanted her enrollment fee back after she recieved the discounts that it provided. She wanted to go somewhere with lower fees. We offered to refund her enrollment fee only if she paid back the discounts she recieved from the plan. It is unreasonable to expect the enrollment fee back and recieve the discounts. We have never before encountered a patient asking for this.

If a patient needs a filling smoothed, we smooth it. In this case, the patient needed to be numbed to smooth the filling. Since she would need to be numb in this area at her next visit for different fillings, we suggested to smooth the tooth at this time. In no way was smoothing the filling contingent on her having more fillings done.

This accusation is against our very principle of taking our patients best interest to heart. We offered this solution for her benefit so that she would not need to be numbed twice. It was merely a suggestion and one that our patients normally appreciate.

So in conclusion, we stand by our Savings Plan as a means for our unisured patients to recieve some benefits. We do our best to make sure our patients recieve the best care possible and we are happy to have some of the best patients around. Thank you for your continued referrals.

Consumer

Response:

Review: My initial call to Avalon Dental was to find out if they are covered under my dental insurance plan. When I spoke to someone and gave my insurance information they told me they accepted that insurance so I proceeded to make an appointment for my teeth cleaning. They found two cavities that needed to be filled. I went and spoke to the person in billing and she told me my two yearly visits are covered and that I have a $100 detectible for each filling. I then proceeded to make my appointment for my filings. When I went to get my fillings I paid the fee they asked ($158). After I paid I specifically asked that I has a zero balance and they said yes. A few weeks later I got a bill in the mail for $213 from them. I was totally confused by it and felt blindsided. When I called they told me that my insurance didn't cover as much as they thought it would. So I decided to call my insurance company, [redacted] Dental to find out more. When I talked to [redacted] Dental they told me that Avalon Dental was in fact not in my PPO plan like I was originally told by Avalon. They also told me that my yearly visits with Avalon were not covered 100% and that silver fillings were only covered, not white ones. I was extremely upset when I found this out because I was never told any of this even when I specifically asked, and I was never offered a silver filling or not that white is not covered. After I called Avalon for the second time, I talked to the same person who basically told me yes all of that was true and because they are a new business they are just working things out and they are accepting all insurances and writing off what they can just to get clients. This statement made me even more upset - they basically kept information from me to get me as a client! I have insurance, why would I chose not to use it to the fullest extent? I was lied to and misinformed by Avalon Dental and now I have to pay for it, which it just not fair in my opinion. I cancelled my next appointment with them and I will not recommend them to anyone. Misinforming and lying to customers is not a good way to run a business, I hope this situation can be addressed and corrected so that no one else has to deal with a situation like this in the future.Desired Settlement: $213, the amount I was additionally billed with warning or notice.

Business

Response:

The issue has been resolved and the patient is happy.

Business

Response:

The issue has been resolved and the patient is happy.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.