Discussion of the Day
Should veterinarians charge for appointments where the animal is not treated for anything
Jan 05, 23
Should people have to pay to have their animal checked if they are just worried about a weird behaviour of their animal, if the animal isn t treated.
Comments
  • That is still a 'treatment' per se, so yes they should be charged. No-one wants to work for nothing?
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    • Depending on the time taken yes, however it shouldn’t be proportionate to the time you’ve used.
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      • Of course - you are using their time and that costs something
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        • No
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          • the time they give the pet and pet owner is lost for another appointement where treatement could have been given to another pet ....time is money !
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            • No they should not be paid to have a check up, but us humans have to pay so I think it is far ,
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              • Absolutely they should. They are still using their time and expertise to examine the animal to put our minds at ease. They may also use resources, such as gloves, covers for scopes for ear examination, swabs for disinfection etc. I know it seems hard to have to pay when a pet is not treated, but I would rather pay and have my mind put at ease.
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                • my vet doesn't charge to cut my cat's nails, he only charges if he does a procedure, or medicine has to be administed
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                  • our vet charged $110 call out fee, and a 120 $ fee for travel...to see our old dog when it was too hot to transport her in the car....bit rich really
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                    • yes - a check up of physical and mental health still used the skills and knowledge of the vet, just like your doctor does
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                      • I don't see why not. It is their time, after all.
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                        • Why not? Isn't the vet's time worth something? Would you work for nothing? I have taken my pet to the vet on more than one occasion where they said nothing was wrong, but charged, the last time the cat didn't improve and had to be put down. I keep getting reminders that their teeth need a checkup, I guess Christmas has to be paid for, but I'm ignoring the messages and I might try cleaning their teeth myself this time.
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                          • Normally the Vet would check the dog over - so, yes a fee is applicable - but maybe not the full fee.
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                            • Yes, our vet does and there still doing a basic check up on the animals, vets should still get paid for the check up
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                              • Yes a consultation fee, we have to pay Doctors for a checkup
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                                • yes basic fee
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                                  • A basic fee for their time.
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                                    • Yes I believe Vets should charge at least a basic fee for their time.
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                                      • Unfortunately, I agree we should pay for a vets time. I think peace of mind to know your pet is ok is probably worth the fee they charge.
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                                        • Definately.
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                                          • yes, they should be paid a consult fee. you are asking for their professional opinion and expertise
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                                            • Yes the Vet should get paid. If you find you can't afford it then find them another home where they get the care they deserve. I am a pensioner and I put a few dollars away every time I get my payment so that my beautiful furry companion will never go without any treatment she may need
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                                              • If everyone who could not afford their dog, gave the dog away, we would now have maybe 1/3 left most killed. Yes, charged but perhaps in an installment plan...Same as everything else, far too expensive....I have a dog, she is 9 now, do I have her killed if she gets a bad tooth?? Because I could only pay in installments. There is enough killing of domestic animals, so easy this killing, yeah shoot it, only a dog. installments. as for insurance, I had insurance for my dog, she was run over, I had to pay, then claim insurance. I did not have that type of money. She would have been killed if my daughter had not given me the money, she was insured or so I thought like thousands of people two sides to every story, every one works hard, See what happens if all garbage men stop work. Yes pay but make thing easy for the ordinary Joe Blow, We look at two sides to everything.. Any animal has the right to live , NO !! where I am I do not pay a doctor...Every one works hard....someone buitl the house you live in A TOUGH EXPERIENCE plus dedication
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                                              • Vicki S 484904Beryl M 1009442
                                                A Veterinarian is is not a financial institution, so why expect them to accept payment in the form of installments. It is up to the pet owner to get finance elsewhere or have savings ready when needed. I can't imagine how you wouldn't know if you had insurance or not? did you not receive a policy? No animal should be subjected to hunger or pain just because their owner is poor whether the garbagemen are on strike or someone built a house. Do the humane thing and find it a suitable home. It is sad that where you live, animals are killed when surrendered. Here we have the RSPCA who will re-home them and only euthanize those that are unsuitable due to serious health/behavioural issues that make them unsuitable for adoption (RSPCA Policy A05). If a home can't be found, the animal is placed in foster homes where they are cared for until such time as the right person comes along.
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                                            • The years of study it takes to become a vet are the same as those that it take to become a doctor. Why would you expect a free medical consult with any professional? By the way, vets have the highest suicide rate of any profession. Imagine all the shit they have to see, animals they have to put down, and people who think they should get their expertise for free…
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                                              • Of course the Vet;should charge.Any advice required is a service.Time is given when the animal is checked,even if it does not require any treatment.I imagine Paige you get paid for any service you give .
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                                                • Yes they have the right to charge for their time but it should be a regulated price, it changes every time you go. I think they just play pin the tail on the donkey and picking any price the pin lands on
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                                                  • Yes - to a vet time is money - he could have been attending to a paying customer while looking at your animal.
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                                                    • Not a full consultant fee just part of it
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                                                      • ...your dog is peeing...
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                                                        • Of course. If I talk to my attorney, even about dumb stuff, I expect a bill for the time. If I'm called out to fix a roof leak, and figure out your dog is prein next to the fireplace, your still getting a bill.
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                                                          • The business cant run on thin air..
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                                                            • Yes of course
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                                                              • I agree a reasonable fee should be charged as they have tyo study for many years buty I do object to the high charges for services my cat recently became sick and I had to pay $500 for blood and urine tests and they wanted to do an ultrasound for $1,000! Much as I love my cat there is now way I can afford this, and what really annoyed me was I learnt from 2 vets that his heart murmur is likely caused by a grain free food I was feeding him yet nothing has been published about this and the products are still being sold - needless to say I threw the remaining supplies into the rubbish bin.
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                                                                • what brand was it...as this happens with dogs as well, though i can not remember which one it is....I cook up our dogs dinners, as one had epilepsy, and the canned food made it worse.
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                                                              • yes, you should pay. it is just like going to the doctor, if nothing is wrong you still pay the doctors fee, the years of training and knowledge is what you are paying for, sometimes peace of mind knowing nothing is wrong is invaluable
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                                                                • No
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                                                                  • Of course, you still should respect their time and expertise. It's not a commission based job.
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                                                                    • Of Course. It takes years of training and tons of money to become a vet. Their skills and knowledge are invaluable for the health and happiness of your pet. Yes, they may seem expensive, but have you tried to buy an X-Ray machine lately?
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                                                                      • Maybe depending on the case
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                                                                        • Maybe a very minimal fee for their time as they are using it to check what may be happening to the animal. The cost that is charged is quite high and it worries people.
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                                                                          • Yes
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                                                                            • My two cats fight and scrabble not to get into the carry cages and go to the vet but at the vet they can’t wait to get back in and go home……..lol
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                                                                              • Do you pay to ask a Solicitor a question about anything? If you consult a professional person of any description then you pay for the consultation things will always be that way.
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                                                                                • I went to the vet and he had a labrador sniff my dog, and then a cat sniff my dog, and then he charged me $1,000 because he said he’d performed a lab test and a cat scan!!!!!!
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                                                                                  • That is so clever Norman. Gave me a good laugh.
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                                                                                • I think a consultation fee is fair...
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                                                                                  • Yes, it is a consultation so there should be a fee. Just like if we have an appointment with a doctor.
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                                                                                    • Yes but also if they said they have taken an X-ray the owners should be allowed to see the Xray and then if another vet asks for them they should share the information they have on that animal. We have just been through all this with our cat and she went in 3 times and 3 times we never saw the vet just spoke to the woman on the front counter. We will never go there again now as one vet said our cat was healing well when she clearly wasn't and they didn't know what they were doing. Hard to find a good vet so when you do stick with them.
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                                                                                      • Definitely
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                                                                                        • It takes time to check the animal, so yes there should be a cost.
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                                                                                          • It is their job so of course we have to pay regardless of the outcome.
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                                                                                            • or have an appointment but don t turn up they can still charge you
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                                                                                              • You can go to the doctors and not get any treatment but you still have to pay
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                                                                                                • Yes, they are professionals and their time is valuable.
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                                                                                                  • Yes, it is call a vet visit.
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                                                                                                    • Yes pay up. You went there and no freebies unless the vet is a friend or relie
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                                                                                                      • Yes definitely. If you go to your doctor and he says nothing is wrong with you you still have to pay for the consultation.
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                                                                                                        • yes..they are there when you need them
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                                                                                                          • Yes, you are using their time
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                                                                                                            • Yeah definitely. If we are charged for doctor appointment or checkups (when nothing is wrong/just routine visit) then yes vets should be able to charge for appointments too. Makes sense doesn't it? Time is valuable after all.
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                                                                                                              • Absolutely, everyone should be paid for their time when their skills are used
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                                                                                                                • people should be expected to pay for taking up the vet's time or getting their advice.
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                                                                                                                  • The question was: If here is no treatment (clearly implying that nothing was done with / to the animal), should there be a charge? If the animal is checked / examined, that clearly is a service / treatment and it should be paid for.
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                                                                                                                    • Taking up the Vets time is money too.
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                                                                                                                      • yes a small fee to cover their time
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                                                                                                                        • No
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                                                                                                                          • The vet's time is charged for the time used as it's the same everywhere these days. You don't get anything without paying.
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                                                                                                                            • NO
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                                                                                                                              • There should be reasonable Healthcare insurance for pets that would include for your pet for if you have to take pet to vet where insurance would cover that. It dr doesn't treat pet we shouldn't pay. Insurance can pay a low fee for us taking pet to dr as preventive care fee.
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                                                                                                                                • The last few times I went to the vet the Purpose of the visits all turned out to be reccomended very expensive medications which we were forced to buy at the end of each appointment. Made it a lot more expensive. So that stoped me going back a fourth time because it was a waste of money. Still the appointment it self is standard and needs to be paid for. My dog is still sick I just know the vet can't help it. waste of money.
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                                                                                                                                  • All appointments have a fee and I am sure that they give this information at time of booking .A vet is like your own Doctor and they are now charging depending on the length of the appointment . Ring the vet centre explain the issue they can advise if the animal is required to attend .
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                                                                                                                                    • NO
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                                                                                                                                      • Yes as the animal is still seen by the Vet.
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                                                                                                                                        • Yes absolutely
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                                                                                                                                          • yes. If you went to the doctor's office you might be charged.
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                                                                                                                                            • No i do not think so. Vet bills are so expensive anyway. Just give a bit
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                                                                                                                                              • Yes a basic charge
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                                                                                                                                                • They should charge minimal. They do have to evaluate the pet.
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                                                                                                                                                  • Yes, but at a lower rate. Your GP does the same thing.
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                                                                                                                                                    • User pays
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                                                                                                                                                      • if you have a pet you take on the responsibility of care, hence you gotta do what you gotta do to care for the animal
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                                                                                                                                                        • Yes, If you go to your Doctor and he does not find anything wrong you pay!
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                                                                                                                                                          • Yes because it is the time of the professional. I also think if you are that concerned buy pet insurance that covers routine visits, It may be worth the cost.
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                                                                                                                                                            • This is like Medicare as well. You needed to pay for a doctor eve we pay tax pay each week for medicare. You pay for insurance so no. Useless do a lots or the veterinarian is making came a lots of time for nothings
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                                                                                                                                                              • Why would anyone take their pet to the vet if there isn't anything wrong with the pet. If the vet doesn't charge to say there isn't anything wrong with the pet how many times a day should that happen. If the vet is checking pets that are not unwell he/she could be treating pets that do need help. Along with that the vet still has bills to pay, rent, lights, heat, staff, supplies and more who would pay for these if the vet doesn't charge?
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                                                                                                                                                              • no they shouldnt
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                                                                                                                                                              • Same as a doctor - a consultation fee.
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                                                                                                                                                                • Yes it's there time
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                                                                                                                                                                  • I'd guess that you've made on appointment to seek a professional's opinion about your significant other, I'd have thought that the attendance of the professional and the provision of that professional opinion is what you are obligated to pay for, Should the professional recommend treatment then it is up you what extra money you spend in pursuance of that recommendation.
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                                                                                                                                                                    • Same as getting a WOF or any other consultation- like the dentist- you would still expect to pay a fee if you got seen even if nothing needed to be done.
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                                                                                                                                                                      • View all 3 replies
                                                                                                                                                                      • I miss the days when check ups at the dentist were free.
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                                                                                                                                                                      • mary cSummer H 71954
                                                                                                                                                                        I miss the days when I didn't need anything done at the dentist!! sigh- around 1990.. :(
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                                                                                                                                                                      • Lol
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                                                                                                                                                                    • As a consultation fee yes But not exboriant price
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                                                                                                                                                                      • Time is money....regardless
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                                                                                                                                                                        • Yes. Same as doctors and dentists do when you go in for a general check-up and they find nothing wrong. Mind you, if you seek a second opinion and treatment is required, you have the right to lodge a complaint and/or simply not ever go back to the first practitioner!
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                                                                                                                                                                          • I understand the frustration of having a check up to show there is no problem and then paying for this. However this is peace of mind you are paying for. In earlier times doctors were only paid while you remand healthy and you stopped paying when you were ill. This encouraged doctors to work hard to maintain your health. I feel Western medicine looks for cures rather than preventions.
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                                                                                                                                                                            • Yes. Even tho your pet may not have needed treatment the vet still has costs
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                                                                                                                                                                              • You make an appointment with your GP because you are worried there might be something wrong with you and you have to pay for it even if the doctor finds nothing wrong with you so why should the same rules not apply when you make an appointment with the Vet? Time is money and professionals are entitled to be paid for their time. Why should we expect anything to be Free?
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                                                                                                                                                                                • Of course you should be charged.
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                                                                                                                                                                                  • Yes. the vet's time is still taken up and even if they are not treated, as such, they will have been examined.
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                                                                                                                                                                                    • Well I presume it was treated as there would have been a discussion about the behaviour of the animal. You go to a GP and are quite often just given advice. Yes, it should be charged.
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                                                                                                                                                                                      • View all 4 replies
                                                                                                                                                                                      • Agree Lyn, a profession very close to home! Also an animal can't state what symptoms etc it has! Have a good rest of the week, see you around xx.
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                                                                                                                                                                                      • I agree Mopos. I don't think, no matter how smart your animal is, that they can talk to the vet. lol.. Have a great rest of the week and I shall have my long weekend. Definitely see you around my friend. Lyn. xxxx
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                                                                                                                                                                                      • MoposLyn 78550
                                                                                                                                                                                        I forgot about Mr Ed!
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                                                                                                                                                                                      • Oh I loved that show. Good one as always my friend. lol.
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                                                                                                                                                                                    • Yes. A vet's time should be paid for. Nothing in this life is free.
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                                                                                                                                                                                      • Yes you have booked an appointment to see the Vet, they have overheads to pay. Would you expect to not pay if you when to your GP and didn't treat you for anything?
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                                                                                                                                                                                        • No
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                                                                                                                                                                                          • Yes. You still revieve their valuable time and expertise/advice so of course you should have to pay still
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