I want to WARN all my friends and family about the poor billing practices at METZGER EYE CARE in Florence. I am sorry this will be long.
In January I had my regular eye exam, as my family has done for over 20 years. I told them that my eyesight would deteriorate some due to one of the medicines I take regularly and that the last time I was in I was told i needed bifocals. I usually wear contacts but I need to adjust to wearing glasses. I specified that I did NOT want to get contacts this time nor the fitting, just the glasses. Insurance does not cover both.
So as I was looking at glasses the employee told me that the copay AND the scratch proof coating came to $33. Awesome, set me up.
When I went to the front to pay for that i was informed that my total was $78. WHAT?? I asked what happened to the $33 and they informed me that they did the contact fitting and it is $45. I reminded them that I specified that I did NOT want contacts just glass but they told me I was responsible because it was already done. I reiterated that I did not want contacts but they said they could not change it. So I paid $40 down and was to pay the rest when I picked up my glasses.
The next week I got a phone call that the $33 DID NOT INCLUDE the $25 copay, and it would be added to my total. Again I disagreed with them and that that was not my fault that their employee screwed up because I questioned her several times when I chose my glasses and chose against the bifocals which isn't covered by my insurance.
Three days later I received YET ANOTHER call that there was an additional fee of $35 for processing the glasses because they did not have the color I wanted in stock. I again argued that this fee was not mentioned at the time of the order and I should not be responsible for this fee. It was their employee's mistake not mine. Again I was told they could not change policy or the insurance would not pay and I would be responsible for the eye exam and the full amount of the glasses.
I picked up my glasses yesterday, 5 months after ordering them. Petty? Yes. I also let them know that they just lost a family that had been coming to them for over 20 years because of their poor customer service and sketchy billing policies. ONLY THEN did they offer to remove the fee for the contact fitting, nothing else. Of course I had already paid for the balance of everythiing. I told them to shove it and give me my copy of the contact fitting and glasses information. AGAIN they argued with me stating that since I did not get the contacts from them I could not have the information. I then lost it and begain raising my voice in front of all the other patients and said since they did it, charged me, and it was paid for, they would give me the information or my lawyer was the next call. By the way, I do not have a lawyer on retainer LOL.
Rant over, but I hope I have helped just one friend chose another eye care provider!