VCA Aacacia Animal Hospital

Beware

I'd be highly suspicious of any positive reviews. My experience mirrors the many recent negative reviews. They make a practice of upcharging people for unnecessary services, taking advantage of people's weakened states and their ignorance to charge three times as much as comparable service.

We had a 3:00 appointment and didn't see a vet for close to an hour after even though we arrived early. Then they consistently overcharge for services. Consult another veterinarian to learn what are standard necessary procedures and their costs. You will find extra procedures added to your bill at greatly inflated cost. Your estimate will contain lots of vague language about things like "Professional Services Other" and there will be an extended range given for the possible costs of services. Don't assume that you will be contacted before they add extra expenses to your initial estimate. You will likely find your final bill will be at the very top of that "possible" range rather than what you originally agree to pay, or else the cost will be well beyond what the estimate was. Also be careful what you initial. It will lock you into paying for those services that you didn't approve. We found that they gave us a bait and switch. They said they had not performed x-rays and that they wanted x-rays to be performed. They said they would call with a revised estimate for approval. We waited all day for the revised estimate, which gave us time to consult another vet. The other vet made it clear x-rays were unnecessary because the complication that they were looking for is "extremely rare," so we did not approve x-rays. We decided to transfer the animal to Animal Emergency in Grand Terrace (a much better and reasonable hospital). So when we went to pick up the animal, they tried to bill us for those exact services we had not approved. When we pointed this out, they used the sneaky language of the initial estimate to raise the price from what we had already agreed on. We wanted to see an itemized list of services rendered with their actual costs before we would pay the extra money. This is basic. I wanted to know exactly what we were paying for. They printed out a list that did not have prices. They blamed the computers. Now after two hours of this, we had to get our cat to the other hospital. We finally agreed to pay the higher price, but get this, the final bill had an itemized list of services rendered with their prices, exactly like I had requested. Here's the kicker: it was different from the list I had just been shown. I didn't notice this until I was in the car, hurrying to the other hospital. It turns out they actually went ahead and took x-rays and charged them to me for them without my approval. They actually prey on people's fears and assume people's ignorance at reading lists of services rendered (stated in medical jargon) to get away with charging people for stuff that they didn't need or ask for.

To top it off, they have the gall to pretend that their services are better than anyone else's to try to get you to pay the inflated prices. Don't fall for it. Judging from the actual care my pet received, they appear to me much worse than places that cost less then a third their price. This is confirmed by many other reviews online. They will even imply that other vets are offering substandard or less advanced care to scare you into paying their inflated prices. If you are forced to use them, be really suspicious of anything they do. If at all possible, for emergency and after-hour services, go to Animal Emergency in Grand Terrace. At first they may seem pricey, but they are really quite reasonable for the after-hour service they offer. Animal Emergency actually charges more for initial services, but you will save money because they will not charge you for procedures you don't want, need or approve. VCA Aacacia is clearly gouging people of money by taking advantage of people's ignorance and fears.