Dentists are using debt collectors to chase down patients who refuse to settle bills – after non-payment surged by 25 per cent post-Covid.
Unpaid fees run into millions of pounds, according to one collections expert. They also warn the soaring cost of unpaid bills poses a threat to the future of the industry.
It is believed the problem grew after Covid, with the availability of Government support in the pandemic leaving some feeling they did not have to pay for such services.
One dentist in an affluent part of Purley, south London, said: “Non-payment has always been a problem, but we have definitely experienced a surge post-Covid. People simply walk out of the surgery without paying. It’s a real problem for us.”
Frontline Collections, which has bases in London, Manchester and Scotland, warned the surge in non-payment actually threatened the sustainability of the dental industry.
Operations Manager Chris Spencer said: “Post-Covid there was a spike. It was around the time the Government was running a rent-relief scheme for those affected by the pandemic. A small minority of society thought they didn’t have to pay for anything and dentists were one of those hit. It caused a rise in unpaid fees of 20 to 25 per cent compared with a few years ago.
“This is a long-term threat to the sustainability of the industry if the trend continues. We deal with thousands of cases a year for unpaid dental fees. We have hundreds of clients, including three or four on Harley Street and dental groups with 50 practices under one banner.
“We have collected millions of pounds to help keep dental practices financially sustainable.
“We aim to go after patients who have the money but blatantly don’t want to pay. They will say, ‘Do what you want, I have a lawyer’. We get that pompous nonsense every day.
“Those that genuinely can’t pay – in a poorer area – will normally be able to set up a payment plan with their dentist.
“We do not go after those people – there is a market for it but that does not fit our mantra.”
He continued: “People come in for treatment and then make all kinds of excuses – like they need to nip out to the car to get a purse or wallet.
“Then they do a flit.
“The mentality seems to be – I have been through a lot of pain and I still have to pay? Or they find some spurious reason why they should not have to pay for treatment.
“Sometimes they threaten to ‘expose’ the dentist on social media. Blackmail effectively. That’s the way some people are unfortunately.”
