Banfield Pet Hospital Banfield Veterinary Hospital Banfield Petsmart Incompetency at its Highest Degree Combined Wellness Plan Scheme Nationwide

Where do I begin? Let's start from where the incompetency starts, at the Banfield Pet Hospital corporate level.  We signed our two dogs up for the first year of Banfield's Wellness Plan which seemed like a good deal for the first year.  We received no communication from them until the very last moment of the end of the first year saying the dogs were due for their shots (right before the year's term expired).  What they failed to mention is that by bringing the dogs in on the date they "recommended",  we were AUTOMATICALLY agreeing for another year of this useless plan for a second year. 

They loaded up all of these "services" including shots to the tune of $600 retail at that date. The dogs were not due for a number of the shots according to two independent vet's I spoke to in the area. Then we get a message from Banfield Pet Hospital a few months later that stated the heartworm shot the dogs were given, were ineffective and needed to be re-administered and to "bring em on in".  Uhhhh, not a chance in hell. 

I contacted PetsMart corporate office and they made it abundantly clear that "Banfield is independent from us".  Really? If so, then why do have to wait for Petsmart to open their doors before I can gain access to Banfield Pet Hospital?

No other communication from Banfield Pet Hospital has been received in the 8 months we have been "renewed". Banfield pulls their $50 out like clockwork every month but have no other reason to see the dogs since the "renewal" 8 months ago.

So here we are today, 7/23/2013 and one of my s**+-tzus is attacked by a large Labrador in our backyard resulting in 7 seven puntures to the back half of his body.  I call Banfield Pet Hospital(Concord, NC) location at 6:07pm to ask them if they can see my dog before they close at 7pm. The response I received was stunning. "I'm sorry sir, we close at 7 and don't take new customers in the last hour of the day. You are welcome to bring him back tomorrow at 9:00AM if you'd like?"  Grant you the Petsmart location that the Banfield Pet Hospital office is located in, closes at 9:00pm.

So I spoke to the dog and asked him why he couldn't have been attacked earlier in the day. The dog looked at me like "are you serious? Did you just ask me what I know I just heard?" So I rushed him to another local Vet Facility and they treated him to the tune of $300 after all was said and done. I would like to thank Banfield for one thing, kicking my dog to the curb because they didn't want to be late closing the doors.  Way to go the extra mile and serve the customer in that last hour of the day. Glad to see yet again you have my pet's wellfare in mind. I'll be kicking you guys to the curb come the contract termination in November.

Before you sign one of their so called "Banfield Wellness Plan" Contracts, take a good close look at what you are signing up for as my attorney informed me that even if my pet dies at ANYTIME during the contract term, you are liable for the monthly cost of the program long after fido is laid to rest.  Kinda like betting on a dead horse. The Banfield Wellness Plan is simply a vehicle by which to defer your basic costs across a period of time. NOTHING outside of the walking through the doors is coveredby the plan as they lead you to believe.  EVERYTHING is an additional cost over and above the contracted price.

Finally, if you are crazy enough to sign this Banfield Wellness Plan Contract, MAKE SURE you give them written notice, months in advance that you WILL NOT be renewing the contract at the terms end.  Remember, IT AUTOMATICALLY renews annually if you don't cancel it.