My visit to Lakeside Dental was anything but pleasant.
When I called Lakeside Dental, I asked the receptionist who answered the phone if they arranged payment plans for patients who needed it. I was told they did and that it was just a matter of my working something out with their office manager. I was delighted by this news since I wasn't able to do that at Monarch Dental. I needed a root canal and everyone knows how costly those can be! I had recently become a single mother and the help was very much needed!
Long story short, I went to my appointment and was lead back for X-Rays. When the technician was done, she told me that she was going to alert the office manager to come see me. I thought, oh great I can discuss my payment plan with her! The office manager came back to go over the work I needed to have done. She was robotic and sounded rehearsed almost as though she was reading from a script. When she went line item after line item showing me the cost, I told her how relieved I was that they'd be arranging a payment plan for me ...
AND THAT'S WHEN EVERYTHING WENT SOUTH!
She seemed flustered and immediately asked me who told me that. I explained that their receptionist did the day that I called. I asked her if that was true or not and she said, ""well ... ummmm ... ummmmm .... it's something we used to do but don't do anymore."" She insisted on pressing me for the name of the girl who told me, but I couldn't remember her name. But even if I did, would I want to throw her under the bus? It was as though she wanted her head on a plate!!! She told me she needed to discuss this with the dentist and disappeared for a good thirty minutes. The next thing I know, a dentist by the name of REBECCA REYES entered the room with the office manager and looked at me with disgust in her eyes. She talked down to me and didn't give me a word in edgewise! All she said was, ""there's no way we're putting you on a payment plan, ok?"" Her tone was harsh and meant to humiliate me. Then her office manager interjected with, ""We're sorry, but do you know how many people promise to pay us and never do?"" I was floored. I just sat there like a small child who was just told that she wouldn't be getting anything for Christmas this year. My eyes welled up with tears and I just wanted to leave. There was no compassion for my situation AT ALL! The dentist asked me when I could have the money and I told her it would be a while since I was a single mother struggling to make ends meet. She quickly wrapped up by telling me to give them a call when I had the money and left the room.
It's been weeks since that day and I'm sitting here in excruciating pain from a tooth that is so badly decayed I don't know what to do. I only hope that REBECCA REYES is never in a position like mine. I once had it all too, but I never lost my compassion for human kind. When I called their offices to obtain my file today, I was asked if there was anything they could do to keep me as a patient. SERIOUSLY??? Whoa!!!
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