[Misc] I'm in the wrong job

[sydney]

Being party to business accounts for decades, I can confirm, in Sussex we're wash with:

- Millionaire vets. Who in addition, receive colossal proceeds of sale when they pass on the business to a national chain, we're talking multi £m's x a lot.
- Millionaire orthodontists in Brighton, Hove and Lewes. I saw a guy in Hove (not a client) whose annual profits were in excess of £1m and all his. Former neighbours' of ours moved from Sweden to the UK to work for an orthodondist in Lewes .... the guy was paid 6-figures for a 4 day week, just as a member of staff!
- Incredibly wealthy regular dentists and this goes back to at least the 90's. Even then, there was a husband and wife couple making £400k a year, from a mix of private and NHS work, that's £800k in real terms. And they moaned about it! Claiming that Major/Blair had screwed the income of dentists.

Going to the vets - if our cat's had a fight and is ill with an abscess and stays a night at our local vets - the bill's typically £800 (with no insurance).

orthodontists and vets , emotional blackmailers.

 

[Weststander]

orthodontists and vets , emotional blackmailers.

Thank fck I looked after my teeth.

Implants - people round here are paying £1,000's to get faux 'perfect' gnashers.

 

[BLOCK F]

Thank fck I looked after my teeth.

Implants - people round here are paying £1,000's to get faux 'perfect' gnashers.

Pity the poor hound who wants perfect teeth with which to tear the postie’s trousers.
The fees don’t bear thinking about.
Now that is something to get your teeth into.

 

[Weststander]

Pity the poor hound who wants perfect teeth with which to tear the postie’s trousers.
The fees don’t bear thinking about.
Now that is something to get your teeth into.

Plenty to chew over.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Whilst I do think that a lot of tradesmen are very expensive for their level of expertise and amount of training and qualifications they have received , it’s medicine where the big money is often made .

I accept the level of training & intellect at consultant level in medicine is a completely different level to a tradesmen and I don’t mean that in a disparaging way , it’s simply a doctorate in medicine is far harder to obtain than a plumbing qualification or a brick laying one .

I had to see a cardiologist a few months ago , privately as I didn’t want to wait over 6 months on the NHS .

The initial consultation which included an ultra sound was £250 for what took 15 mins plus a heart MRI which took 30 mins and was £500 plus a follow up consultation another 15 mins which was £200.

My cardiologist was booked solidly all day privately 9-3 so that’s approx £ 800-1000 per hour , very good money .

I don’t begrudge it though because what’s more important than your health , especially when it comes to heart issues and you want to see the best person with a lot of experience and knowledge not a junior lackey ,

I do begrudge a plumber coming round and charging £60 call out charge and still can’t fix the problem !

I’m surprised it took until post #35 before plumbers got a mention

 

[Badger]

Estate Agents.

Take a couple of photos with interior lights on, tidy up then try and flog to people on the mailing list wanting something totally different.

Then charge about 1% or whatever for doing jack.

Would have sold anyhow if it's any good, just do it yourself.

I'm currently selling my place in Toronto. They take 5% (FIVE PERCENT) here. It is split between 2 agents because you have an agent for the buyer and one for the seller. It's still an obscene amount though. Especially as most places sell within a week for way over asking price.

 

[Spiros]

I think it's the Insurance industry which, in hand with the veterinary surgeries drive the costs up. Everyone insures their pets, the veterinary services go up, the insurance premiums go up and the veterinary costs go way beyond what people would normally be prepared to pay privately.

Car Insurance is exactly the same. The charges for hire cars and body repairs from the Insurance companies 'preferred suppliers' would never be accepted by someone paying privately, but the premiums go up

*Edit* seeing [MENTION=27279]dazzer6666[/MENTION] below, also happens with dental insurance

Also regarding vets the whole industry has changed a lot over the last few years. In times of old your vet was a local guy who had set himself up in practice and all you were paying for was to cover his expenses and for him to earn a living. Over time these small practices have been merged and taken over by venture capitalists who could see the money to be made by upping the prices and getting pet insurance firms (like the one I was working for at the time) to pay the bill.

Quite a few years ago we had a cat which developed pancreatitis. The vet strung us along to believe that various treatments would be available to make her better, at a price obviously. It was only when I spoke to a consultant at work that they mentioned that this type of issue in an elderly cat is (1) painful, (2) not really treatable and (3) fatal. He said that an old school vet would have just recommended putting her down but modern vets like to prolong the treatment so they can get more money out of you/the insurer first, using your guilt as a lever.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

It is for kids though

It is, although my 'lad' is 23!

Dentist (we are NHS patients, though the place is both private and NHS) just said he didn't actually DO anything, so wouldn't charge him.

Many other healthcare professionals would have considered the inspection and definitely the writing of a prescription, as 'doing' something, so very decent of him.

 

[zefarelly]

I’m surprised it took until post #35 before plumbers got a mention

That is quite possibly an NSC record

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Forget dentists and vets, I should have been a CHIMNEY SWEEP. Had mine done before Christmas. It was £65 for no more than 30 minutes and the sweep said he had 12 jobs to do that day, so nearly £800 per day.

Also said he has 12 weeks off every summer.

£65 for 30 minutes on site, doesn't sound in the slightest bit unreasonable tbh. He's got to cover the costs and time of getting to you and back, as well as the time spent actually doing the job.

Our electric oven packed up on Sunday. As it happens I googled the likely fault (blown element), found a youtube video on how to change it, managed to get a replacement part for £30 and fitted it myself yesterday, in about half an hour. However, had I paid the £100 that the Checkatrade site suggested as a likely cost, I still don't think that would have been unreasonable - tradesmen have got to make a living.

(As an aside, tradesfolk must HATE youtube...)

 

[Me and my Monkey]

Also regarding vets the whole industry has changed a lot over the last few years. In times of old your vet was a local guy who had set himself up in practice and all you were paying for was to cover his expenses and for him to earn a living. Over time these small practices have been merged and taken over by venture capitalists who could see the money to be made by upping the prices and getting pet insurance firms (like the one I was working for at the time) to pay the bill.

Quite a few years ago we had a cat which developed pancreatitis. The vet strung us along to believe that various treatments would be available to make her better, at a price obviously. It was only when I spoke to a consultant at work that they mentioned that this type of issue in an elderly cat is (1) painful, (2) not really treatable and (3) fatal. He said that an old school vet would have just recommended putting her down but modern vets like to prolong the treatment so they can get more money out of you/the insurer first, using your guilt as a lever.

This. I've no problem with vets charging legitimate costs for legitimate treatments, but my big regret regarding our poor pussycat's final months was allowing it to drag on so long. He was a sorry sight when he eventually went, but we didn't have the emotional strength to contradict our vet and say enough is enough. I'll do better next time.

 

[Weststander]

This. I've no problem with vets charging legitimate costs for legitimate treatments, but my big regret regarding our poor pussycat's final months was allowing it to drag on so long. He was a sorry sight when he eventually went, but we didn't have the emotional strength to contradict our vet and say enough is enough. I'll do better next time.

I found the vets were okay about that (but still charged the earth later).

Steering me early doors to “I can only advise that they’re not getting much enjoyment of living just now, they’re suffering”.

It hurt so bad emotionally, but there was only one humane decision to take, there and then.

Did you later get another cat?

 

[BN9 BHA]

That is quite possibly an NSC record

I’m sure he waited until I had gone out this morning

 

[Me and my Monkey]

I found the vets were okay about that (but still charged the earth later).

Steering me early doors to “I can only advise that they’re not getting much enjoyment of living just now, they’re suffering”.

It hurt so bad emotionally, but there was only one humane decision to take, there and then.

Did you later get another cat?

No, we're not really cat people, he was inherited, but GORGEOUS and much loved. Not your average pussycat. We have a small dog now.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

It is, although my 'lad' is 23!

Dentist (we are NHS patients, though the place is both private and NHS) just said he didn't actually DO anything, so wouldn't charge him.

Many other healthcare professionals would have considered the inspection and definitely the writing of a prescription, as 'doing' something, so very decent of him.

Lol! Your dentist is very generous.

Mine spends half his time moaning about how little money he makes.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Whilst that's true as has been pointed out in the last few years the Vet business has become very corporate, and since private equity firms have become involved the prices have gone through the roof. Capitalists have realised there's a lot of money to be made from people who love their animals and the corporate Vet industry hasn't been slow to exploit this.

And pet insurance is the biggest con going. This is O/T but we've had dogs since 2000. Initially we had pet insurance, but having been caught a few times ("No, you're not covered for that any more") we decided to scrap the insurance and pay the premiums into a savings account instead, and we've used that account to pay all the medical, grooming and kennel costs that have arisen over the years. (We're also members of the Dogs' Trust which gets us 3rd party insurance if our dogs cause an accident). Also even though we agreed the account would be ring-fenced we've dipped into it for the odd grand every now and then. Despite all the withdrawals we currently we have just under £13,000 in it, so we feel quite smug that we've beaten the insurers at their own game.

We're finding out all about this right now. Dog Bobkin woke up paraplegic on Friday morning, turns out one of his discs had shattered and severely damaged his spine. Took him up to a specialist centre to get it fixed, which they were able to – fortunately – and he was back with us by Monday afternoon wobbling about on his dodgy legs (even though they said he would be in for 'about a week'). Our 'premium' insurance package covered us, but only up to £4,000 per procedure/hospital stay.

The final bill was a lot more than £4,000...

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Has a Member of Parliament been mentioned or is the thread restricted to primary job?

 

[Whoislloydy]

I locked my only set of keys in my car about 3 weeks ago, so called a number off google.

Guy shows up, puts 2 tiny air bags in the frame, slightly pumps them, inserts his little rod with hook and flicks the locks open. About 80 quid for 45 seconds work.

 

[Deleted member 2719]

Garages, the argument being if you can do it cheaper, do it yourself...

So often a false economy to DIY your motor.

The issue can quite often lie with the owner not factoring in maintenance to their vehicles, and many buying cars that are out of their league to keep up.

 

[zefarelly]

So often a false economy to DIY your motor.

The issue can quite often lie with the owner not factoring in maintenance to their vehicles, and many buying cars that are out of their league to keep up.

I give my modern (ish) car to the local garage, they always say 'but you could do this' excpet A I hate working on modern cars, they're big, heavy plastice bla bla

I happily spent Saturday in the workshop building a gearbox for a lotus cortina race car, to pay the man to do my road car . . . A far more efficient use of time for me, and I was doing something I enjoy and I'm all set up to do.