Changes to Our Deposit Payment Policy
At Bishop’s Stortford Veterinary Hospital, we are committed to providing the highest standard of care
for every patient. To help us continue delivering efficient and sustainable veterinary services, we are
introducing an updated deposit payment policy.
Planned Procedures
A 50% deposit of the estimated treatment cost will be required when your pet is admitted for any
planned procedure or surgery.
Hospital Admissions for Investigations
If your pet is admitted for medical investigations or hospitalisation, we will ask for a 50% deposit based
on the estimated cost of the first 24 hours of care.
New Clients
For clients who are new to the practice, full payment (100% of the estimate) will be required before
any diagnostic tests or treatment are carried out.
Why are we introducing this policy?
These changes help us to:
- Continue providing the highest level of patient care.
- Reduce missed payments and unpaid accounts.
- Ensure we can dedicate our resources to treating our patients promptly and efficiently.
- Maintain a fair and consistent payment process for all clients.
Deposits paid will be deducted from your final invoice and are not an additional charge.
Should your pet require treatment beyond the original estimate, we will discuss any additional costs
with you before proceeding wherever possible.
If, for whatever reason, the treatment plan changes and much treatment than originally estimated is needed, resulting in a total bill of less than the deposit paid, the difference will be refunded on collection of your pet from the Hospital.
If you have any questions about our payment policy, please speak to a member of our reception team,
who will be happy to help.
Changes to Our Insurance Claims Process
To help us continue providing efficient care while managing insurance claims promptly, we have
updated our insurance payment process.
- All accounts must be settled before leaving the practice unless a direct insurance claim has been
agreed. - Direct insurance claims are only available for invoices over £250 and are subject to your insurer’s terms.
- A £35 direct claim administration fee applies each time a direct claim is submitted.
Clients are responsible for paying their policy excess and any percentage co-payment at the time of treatment. - Please ensure we have your up-to-date insurance details before your appointment, as
incomplete information may delay your claim. - If you are unsure of your policy excess, we will ask for a deposit, administration fee and
contribution towards the estimated treatment cost until your insurer confirms your policy
details.
These changes are designed to ensure claims are processed as quickly as possible while allowing us to
continue providing the highest standard of care to all our patients.
If you have any questions about your insurance cover or how direct claims work, please speak to a
member of our reception team, who will be happy to help.