Debtors

Re: Debtors

Bob Russell — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:11:14 GMT

[quote user="Clive Ansell"]

I sometimes wonder why practices and some practices owners don't sack some clients, or take so long to do it?

At a recent locum we had a client who was obnoxious and abusive as well as a bad payer. At his last visit he reduced 2 young girls on reception to tears as well as calling one of them a 4 letter swear word beginning with a c. I have refused to deal with him in future, but the practice owner will still see him at another branch instead of growing a pair of cojones and telling him to **** off.

[/quote]

It is an employers responsibility to ensure staff are not subjected to this sort of abuse. The last time someone came in really pushing his weight around and upsetting a nurse and receptionist, I reported the matter to the Police on my return (I was not on the premises at the time).

They took the matter seriously and read the riot act to him. He did not darken our doors again!

These people are bullies and should receive the type of response that they deserve.

Re: Debtors

Clive Ansell — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 15:41:16 GMT

I sometimes wonder why practices and some practices owners don't sack some clients, or take so long to do it?

Re: Debtors

Hannah Wynne Richards — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 09:38:06 GMT

Sack them -as of yesterday

Wynne

Re: Debtors

Ian Mostyn — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 08:21:14 GMT

We have a pink coloured record for slow payers who we need to be careful with and a bright red coloured record for bad debts. There have been a couple who have paid in full BEFORE any further treatment but most of them never come back once you send red ink on the invoice. I don't tend to send "sacking" letters but all staff know about any debts when they look at the records. I have a suspicion that 80% of these bad debts have either moved or it was a false address to start with. I have sent sacking letters to obnoxious and aggressive clients as I have a duty to protect my staff.

Ian

Re: Debtors

J G Wray — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 07:22:43 GMT

[quote user="nobbygonzo"] I am 100% certain this client will do the dirty on me next time-they have form. I think the answer is the latter & I have to fire but can anyone confirm this?[/quote]

You are articulating a lack of trust. This is your justification. You write to this client declaring that lack of trust. You limit your liability for the next fortnight or so to services for cash at the time. You move on.

What's the worst that can happen doing this, whch might happen anyway if you continue to have this client? They might shout at you or threaten you - your judgement on lack of trust is evidenced. They might complain to the RCVS, in which case a process would have to be gone through, but VDS will support you and no one has been disciplined on this basis.

JGW

PS If your PMS has the required features, don't forget to mark the client's account inactive and stop any future appointments in your PMS. It also does no harm to tell all staff, especially front desk, what you have done and how any contact should be directed to you immediately. It's not on to take action like this and expect staff to field an unpleasant response without your support.

Re: Debtors

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 01:32:11 GMT

[quote user="nobbygonzo"]can I warn a client that I will not provide futher treatment if they will not clear a debt (in this case a very small amount of a late payment surcharge that they were aware of but omitted to settle)[/quote]

If that's what you wish to do, why not? It's not what I would do from your description of the circumstances, but it's your business not mine.

I'd guess he'd take that as a "firing" anyway.

But if you wish to "fire" him, do that. Why not?

[quote user="nobbygonzo"]I have fired before with great satisfaction but I don't think this one gives me enough reason for it to appear valid.[/quote]

I don't understand. Valid? If you don't wish him to be a client, for any reason, you don't have to have him as a client. You don't have to give a reason.

It's a free country, you are not obliged to enter into a contract with anybody. Your professional obligation is only to provide immediately-necessary treatment and pain relief, in an emergency.