This paper has spoken to seven people who received an email from Tavern Street Dental Practice in Stowmarket titled “FINAL DEMAND – IMMEDIATE PAYMENT REQUIRED” .
Overall, this paper is aware of nearly £1,000 in debt demands that the practice has sent out to customers.
The email says that the patients have unpaid debt and reads: “If you fail to pay within the timeframe given, your account will be immediately referred to a debt collection agency.
“This will result in additional recovery fees being added to your debt, it may severely affect your credit rating, and could lead to legal action through the Small Claims Court.”
Nicole Noble, 52, cancelled her appointment on April 11, 2022, due to a positive Covid test and says she sent proof to the practice.
However, she received the email last week, some three years later, demanding £150, putting her in a state of “shock”.
“I was really scared”, she said.
“Originally, I thought about paying it, but I thought, I’m an honest working person, and this is not fair. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
The government guidance at the time was to avoid contact with people if you tested positive with covid 19.
This paper is aware of two other patients who were removed from the practice’s NHS list due to the cancellation of appointments due to Covid-19.
Meanwhile, Catherine Nock, 25, cancelled her appointment in November due to pregnancy complications.
She let the business know, but was later told she had been taken off the NHS register due to the missed appointment.
“I thought I was losing my baby”, said Mrs Nock.
“But they said I was no longer under their care as I did not give them 48 hours’ notice.
“So now, I no longer have a dentist.”
Meanwhile, Brigette Garrod, 61, who remembers her stepchildren using the practice for emergency services, also says she received the message for a Botox appointment she “never even knew existed”.
“I didn’t even know they did Botox”, said Mrs Garrod.
“I just feel very angry about it.”
Samantha Seaman also says she was charged £180 for a failed root canal treatment, which she had to get fixed privately.
She then requested that she and her husband be taken off its register, but later received a £50 fine for a missed appointment.
“I have no intention of paying any money to them,” she said.
Sophie Buckingham, 32, who also lives in the town, also received the email after she was told she had cancelled an appointment in 2022, which she says never happened.
After complaining, she then received another stating, “We strongly suggest you settle the outstanding payment”.
She said: “This experience has really shaken my trust.
“I suffer with anxiety anyway, and it’s made it ten times worse.”
Another patient, who asked not to be named, said they “caved in to the pressure” and paid up £150 for an appointment cancelled in 2022 due to their son being ill.
Tim Weller, Mid Suffolk Council cabinet member for environment, culture and wellbeing, says he has written to the registered manager of the dental practice requesting an urgent meeting.
He said: “Whilst I am aware of many other anxious residents in receipt of these demands, I think it is only fair that the practice exercises their right to respond to the related questions I’d like to put to them.
“The Department of Health and Social Care’s guidelines for dentists changed several times during the pandemic, as did the ‘rules’ for patients attending healthcare appointments.
“I am hopeful that a constructive meeting with the practice might bring some positive news for residents in the run-up to the festive season.”
The Tavern Street Dental Practice was approached for comment.
