Non refundable fees??

[Carol35]

My mom needs a hip replacement so we have just paid 25k to have her waiting time shortened at a government hospital ( normal waiting time is minimum 4 years however, she got her theatre date in 7 months) But, should she pass away or becomes too deteriorated that the op might no longer be possible by that time, they still keep the entire amount. I would expect a fee for admin etc etc but surely they can't keep it all as it's not like they wont be able to fill the date with another patient considering there are thousands on the waiting lists.

I suppose the hospital could use every cent it gets but it still doesnt seem right. I've read the forms and it doesn't say anything about the fee being non refundable but my husband asked at her last appointment and that's what he was told.

Naturally we want my mom to get better asap but it seems a lot of money to just write-off should she not have the op kwim? Does this sound right?

 

[Sinbad]

Sounds like you paid a bribe...

 

[Carol35]

Haha, I know but it's procedure. Apparently if you pay for the actual hip (25k) , your waiting time is shortened. I also didn't believe it at first but all was legit.

 

[Bernie]

For 25K might be worth having a single consultation with a lawyer. This also seems to fall foul of the CPA in my opinion - but could be wrong here.

Non – refundable deposit will be held to be unjust - If you have paid a deposit in advance for a holiday or flight booking – and someone has fallen ill or there is death in the family - You will be able to cancel your holiday booking and get a reasonable refund on your deposit.

Link

 

[ice_cubes]

Sounds like you paid a bribe...

From my understanding (layman's terms):
it sounds like there are 2 types of waiting lists...
one for the *free/govt subsidized body part* (which is probably the longest)
and another for the *labour (actual operation)*

Which means that you already bought the hip & are now in the queue for the *labour*... so nope, I doubt its a bribe

 

[RustyPrincess]

From my understanding (layman's terms):
it sounds like there are 2 types of waiting lists...
one for the *free/govt subsidized body part* (which is probably the longest)
and another for the *labour (actual operation)*

Which means that you already bought the hip & are now in the queue for the *labour*... so nope, I doubt its a bribe

Does this mean, that if her mother passes in the mean time, that they can get the actual fake hip, and do with it what they please?

 

[ice_cubes]

Does this mean, that if her mother passes in the mean time, that they can get the actual fake hip, and do with it what they please?

I was addressing the question of whether or not its a bribe or genuine cost... and like I said *from my understanding*

 

[Carol35]

Does this mean, that if her mother passes in the mean time, that they can get the actual fake hip, and do with it what they please?

Ice_cubes is right, thats how it works. But yes, like you say, should my mom not have the op, will we get the hip back if they refuse to refund the money? The hip was not custom made or anything like that and my guess is they should be able to just pass it onto the next person so dont understand why the fees are not refundable...and its not like we can sell the hip on gumtree to try recoup some of the loss.

Anyway, just hope it doesnt come to that and she gets the op and is running marathons next year.

 

[guest2013-1]

Ice_cubes is right, thats how it works. But yes, like you say, should my mom not have the op, will we get the hip back if they refuse to refund the money? The hip was not custom made or anything like that and my guess is they should be able to just pass it onto the next person so dont understand why the fees are not refundable...and its not like we can sell the hip on gumtree to try recoup some of the loss.

Anyway, just hope it doesnt come to that and she gets the op and is running marathons next year.

CPA. If she dies before the operation and they don't want to refund the money, hall their asses to court. Cause you can.