Anyone Know Much About The Pdsa?

Eriathwen

Eriathwen

Senior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jan 11, 2016
Messages
5,217
Reaction score
26,247
Points
1,875
Location
West midlands
I wasnt sure where to ask this so stuck it here, hope thats ok!

Right, ive tried contacting the PDSA but by email ive had no response and on facebook they dont seem to understand what I'm actually asking...

But basically, if in reciept of housing benefit, am I entitled to assistance with the financial cost of Leonards emergency treatment on Monday night? Because the vet told us the smallest animal they help with costs are rabbits. Ive since been informed by several people this isnt the case as their own guinea pig has been given treatment by them with financial help/free treatment with donation.

So now I'm confused. Did the vet lie to us? Do only certain clinics in certain areas help with financial costs of smaller animals' vets fees?

Thanks for any light anyone can shed on the matter! X
 
You'd probably be best to call them up on 0800 731 2502, Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm. You can review the eligibility criteria here: Eligibility
I tried to get assistance when Binky's fortnightly medication hit £200 for a couple of months as I am disabled and therefore qualify for Personal Independence Payment but unfortunately they deemed that to be the "wrong benefit".
 
Thankyou for that! Looks like i'll have to get Mum to call them..I'm rubbish on the phone. But yeah I also get pip as well as esa, Mum gets housing benefit, and according to that site they treat small furries 'such as rabbits and hamsters' so only offering the reduced cost service to animals larger than rabbits was clearly not the case..

Thanks for the help! :)
 
Eriathwen said:
Thankyou for that! Looks like i'll have to get Mum to call them..I'm rubbish on the phone. But yeah I also get pip as well as esa, Mum gets housing benefit, and according to that site they treat small furries 'such as rabbits and hamsters' so only offering the reduced cost service to animals larger than rabbits was clearly not the case..

Thanks for the help! :)
Click to expand...

ESA and PIP don't qualify but Housing Benefit does so get your mum to say they're her pets!
 
Aw damn, I thought they did on the eligibility thing. I dont mind paying some of it at reduced cost, but damn, it wasnt cheap. Worth every penny to still have him with us obviously but if I hadnt needed to pay it and they lied, then thats a bit different :/
Luckily its all in Mums name anyway as she phoned up to find an emergency vet and book the appointment. The only thing in my name is the credit card we paid with but I assume that doesnt matter.
 
ive taken my guinea pigs to PDSA.You are only allowed to register one pet for free treatment if you get council tax relief etc,ESA and PIPS allow reduced cost care.but my experience has not been good ! i save money into a vet fund and take them to a cavy savvy vet.pet insurance for my cat.
 
I put away money every month for my pigs I call it 'the hip and knee fund' as that is what my late Mum and Dad called their savings just in case they needed a new hip or a knee in their old age!
 
Does all this still count for emergency visits? We're not registered with them, we only went there because our normal one was closed, being out of hours. Its more the principle of it thats frustrating as vets fees usually just get stuck on my credit card anyway (although it looks like I'm going to have to start a 'hip and knee' jar for any future emergency vets lol!) But if it was a couple hundred quid I didnt have to pay that could be used at our own vets with better value for money then..I dunno, I guess id like it back. Especially seeing as they only gave him first aid really to keep him alive until morning, they couldnt even diagnose that he had a UTI! Plus for some reason she needed a second person to hold him...while he was already immobile.

I mean, I just dont want to seem ungrateful that they helped him. I'm just not exactly thrilled with the experience we had.

Sorry, I'm just waffling now!
 
if you are registered with the PDSA it would count.i would ring and provide proof that you are eligible for reduced costs.i was able to claim back any costs as i got my paperwork in order.ive found the treatment was not very knowledgable,and have tendency to PTS if costly treatment is needed.
 
When I was younger we got pdsa care for my hamster though it was only with their vets
 
Quick update, I got an email from pdsa a few days back saying they had passed my complaint up to Vets Now as thats who theyre operating under at the practice..or something. Anyway, got a letter from Vets Now today saying theyre conducting an investigation into the complaint and will be sending a full written response within the next 28 days. So I guess what the vet told me about not offering reduced cost services to guinea pigs was indeed a load of rubbish, otherwise they would have just contacted me telling me she was correct and apologised or something.
 
Well done for following it up - I would be interested to hear the final outcome, and hopefully you will get some money back.
 
Hopefully! Although I'm not holding my breath..if at the very least it will stop them lying to other people and potentially putting animals at risk then thats something. They wonder why people dont take small animals to the vets when they try to charge almost £500 to treat a UTI that they couldnt even diagnose!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top