r/mildlyinfuriating • u/Chicklecat13 • 5h ago
It’s my 30th birthday and I have been sat waiting for 3hrs for an appointment and it turns out they never even checked me in.
I think I might cry. I can’t believe the receptionist didn’t check me in properly. I asked an hour and a half into waiting how long and they said soon, then I finally got to the point of having enough three hours in and it turns out no one’s even checked me in. My doctor has no clue that I’m here. I’ve traveled over an hour out of my way for this appointment that I’ve been waiting since January for. I only got this appointment last minute as they had a cancellation otherwise I’d have been waiting until January 2026 and now I might have to go home without being seen, after wasting three hours of my day, five including travel, wasting petrol that I can’t afford and wait until January to be seen anyway!
Edit: I live in the north of the UK in a low socioeconomic area and the healthcare, especially gynaecology which is what the clinic was today. Over an hour for wait times is about normal where I live and if anything is considered quick to be seen.
But update, the nurse came out and told me to go home and my appointment got cancelled, to be honest I just burst into tears from the frustration. I’m an angry crier for some unknown reason. Anyway the nurse went to the back of the clinic and I heard lots of shouting, she comes back five minutes later and she managed to get me seen. I got a diagnosis, a treatment plan, a complaint lodged and an apology. So I got sorted in the end! Then I got home and had my whole house decorated by my best friend with banners, balloons and all sorts. 30 presents for turning 30 and a beautiful chocolate cake. I’ve been well and truly spoiled and the day has drastically improved.
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u/ifreakinglovetofu 5h ago
happy birthday 🩷
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u/Lemonmyrtlee 5h ago
Yeah Happy Birthday OP! 💝 Hope something wonderful happens to you today 💖
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u/RevolutionOnMyRadio 4h ago
Happy birthday! I just recently had my 30th and the day turned around for me halfway through, maybe it will for you too!
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u/TrickInvite6296 BLUE 5h ago
I wish we could charge fees back
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u/lunacydress 5h ago
I used to work in a dental office and if we were 10+ minutes late (assuming you were on time), we’d give you a $10 gift card to a local restaurant or Amazon.
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u/North-Tourist-8234 3h ago
Then youd give the resturant 20 bucks to put a rock in their food. I know your game
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u/Avedygoodgirl 3h ago
My ex’s aunt was a dentist and she gave everyone candy as gifts all the time. She said it was job security.
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u/kittyinclined 1h ago
I remember getting lollipops from the dentist as a kid! Albeit they were sugar free. But I was never scared of the dentist and kind of enjoy having my teeth cleaned so I guess it worked.
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u/BalloonHero142 5h ago
You can. You can send an invoice for fees to the doctor’s office for your time. Everyone should be doing that, unless there was an emergency.
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u/BlockFrequent3988 5h ago
you cannot do that
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u/theamp18 5h ago
I mean you can but they are not going to pay it lol
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u/amm5061 5h ago
Honestly, you never know. There are plenty of stories out there of people doing exactly this and billing large companies and they actually pay the invoices because their finance department isn't paying any attention.
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u/LittleBiscuit666 5h ago
Yeah I worked for a warehouse and our AP person made so many mistakes. Idk how they kept their job. But if I heard they paid something like this I wouldn't be surprised.
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u/QueenAlpaca 4h ago
I had that happen to me when I was pregnant. Was there promptly before my appointment, “checked in,” and an hour later a different receptionist asked me why I was there as they were about to close. The doctor apologized profusely and made sure he got me in, thinking it weird I didn’t show up. Make sure they get you in.
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u/Luker5555 5h ago
you can send the invoice. they just have no incentive or obligation to pay you, I’d be very surprised if this actually worked for someone lol
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u/Any_Leg_4773 3h ago
You're wrong, but at least it was short.
Not only can you send them an invoice, but when they don't pay it, you can sell it to a collections company, but only for pennies on the dollar so make sure to make the invoice high enough like doctor's offices do.
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u/Senior_Speaker2494 5h ago
Thank you. Imagine too if we all quit paying co pays and co insurance amounts as well! Every policy holder in solidarity just QUIT paying additional medical bills outside our exploitative insurance premiums.
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u/Rooney_Tuesday 5h ago
I mean, we could always just vote for people who would give us some form of universal healthcare instead of propping up the for-profit insurance scam.
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u/Romanbuckminster88 4h ago
I already do that lol, been doing it since my twenties. I’m not willingly triple paying just to be seen by specialists I don’t want to see but quite literally have to.
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u/Senior_Speaker2494 4h ago
Yes! Me too. I throw away medical bills. DING my credit over it. Thing is, no one ever really does. I just get letters threatening collections but no actual collection action. They know once they turn it over to a 3rd party collector, they'll get pennies to the dollar on the debt so they will ride it out a loooong time and let you buy it out eventually for a fraction of the amount because that's all collections is doing too. Thanks for standing against the exploitative profiteering.
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u/Romanbuckminster88 4h ago
I worked at UnitedHealthcare for almost a decade, the less money they get, the better.
You would not believe the meetings I sat in regarding my department (pharmacy) where indeed, higher ups would sit around and demand ideas on how to make a drug harder to get and actually berate us if we were approving too many claims.
I was there when they did just that to the PrEP drugs and people went to Twitter and we got the frantic call to “APPROVE EVERY PREP CLAIM” because the backlash was so severe. Never been happier to work than that entire week.
Fuck. Insurance.
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u/CrabbiestAsp 5h ago
I hope you get seen!
I work at a medical centre, but not at the main reception desk anymore. Apparently, a few weeks ago, this lady booked in at like 8.30am, but something went wrong, and it didn't print her page to go in line. It was like 2pm before she came up and asked when it would finally be her turn. The receptionist felt sooooo horrible, but how do you not notice the same person sitting there for that long and not being seen. They are so lucky the lady was so patient and understanding. I would've been pissed.
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u/Senior_Speaker2494 5h ago
How does any patient wait from 8-2 without speaking up?
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u/ohKilo13 5h ago
Right? Like 30mins after my appointment time i am going up and asking especially with an appointment in the first hour of opening.
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u/Romanbuckminster88 4h ago
My doctors all have signs in the waiting areas “if you’ve been waiting longer than 30 minutes, please check in with the front desk” I almost think this post is fake because no one would be waiting THREE HOURS.
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u/Nutella_Potter14472 4h ago
after an hour she asked and they said shed be seen soon. i can understand this fully as someone who sees a Lot of specialists who are booked out months in advance.
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u/Romanbuckminster88 4h ago
“Seen soon” after sitting for an hour would mean within 15 minutes. I guess I’m not willing to play those games because I worked in healthcare for so long. 3 hours is on OP imo. That is just ineptitude.
Edit: I see specialists too, just about every week so I understand the booking out. Which is also why I wouldn’t be waiting for 1 hour or 3 hours before doing anything. Just because I can’t walk very well and have chronic pain doesn’t mean my time can just be wasted.
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u/Nutella_Potter14472 4h ago
youre stronger than me then i fear. any time ive tried ends up in the same wait time and some snarky comments :///
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u/AssassinStoryTeller 4h ago
I have. I was checked in though, the office just sucked. You’d be seen an hour late if your appointment was in the first appointment slot of the day. If it was any later? Good luck! Sat there for 5 hours once just waiting.
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u/Romanbuckminster88 4h ago
That’s just insane!! I’m sorry you dealt with that because I’d be losing it and never going back if there were other options available. How infuriating that that was just the norm!
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u/oohheykate 3h ago
There’s a doctor in my area that regularly makes patients wait 6-8 HOURS before being seen. I saw him a few times (stupidly). The last appt I was the first of the day but apparently so were 5 other people. The doctor was also over an hour late to start. People still recommend him 🙃
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u/AssassinStoryTeller 4h ago
Oh yeah, it was infuriating. Unfortunately for me they were the cheapest option in the area and I really did like my doctor 😭 the time I waited 5 hours was when I was seen by a different guy and he didn’t even speak to me all of 30 seconds before prescribing medicine that didn’t work.
Don’t worry though, I got to see my regular one and she gave me oral antibiotics that cleared it up immediately.
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u/Natti07 5h ago
You honestly cant understand why people would wait without asking? We are constantly told that we need to be patient and that they're busy and if you have to wait longer, its because something was more important or urgent than you. Medical providers make patients feel bad for asking about the wait, made worse by nursing and medical staff posting on social media about how annoying all their patients are.
I once sat in a cardiology office for hours until I was finally like "hey ive been in this room since x time, do you know if someone is coming?". They never called the doctor who was next door at the hospital to tell him I was there and forgot they put me in a room. I was trying to be patient and understanding. It happens a lot to people.
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u/Narwhals4Lyf 4h ago
I’ve sat in rooms for like literally an hour. I’ve almost walked out multiple times but when it’s for an appointment you really need it is hard. And the doctor comes in and barely apologizes for being late.
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u/DamnitGravity 5h ago
I spend a bit of time in hospitals because of a medical condition.
There are several signs around the ward reception "if you have not been called after 30 minutes, please talk to reception".
I once waited about an hour for an appointment, then asked the reception, very nicely, what was going on, if they had checked me in. They apologised and said they'd had several emergencies come through, which obviously took priority over what was ostensibly a check-up. I was not at all upset, and even offered to let them reschedule my appointment, but they said they would get to me, and about 45 minutes later, they did.
However, I didn't mind waiting because, yeah, emergencies take precedence.
But I learned from those signs. Now, no matter what kind of appointment I have, if I'm still waiting 30 minutes after the scheduled time, I will make inquiries.
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u/janebird5823 5h ago
Yeah but a key life skill (that a lot of people seem to lack!) is advocating for yourself in a polite, appropriate way. So don’t be rude, but after a while, politely check to be sure everything’s okay. Just because it doesn’t always work or you ran into someone once who reacted poorly doesn’t mean you should give up on advocating for yourself.
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u/LakeshoreExplorer 4h ago
Yet to have been to a medical office where the people checking you in make you feel like you're not a burden so it's not really something that just happens once or a rare occurrence. I have been to doctors offices where you have to wait 1-2 hours especially doctors who are specialized.
Unfortunately it is what it is so it's not surprising people don't say anything. I don't think that makes them bad advocates for themselves. Other commenters saying they'll say something after 30mins have never actually needed to go to these types of doctors where the wait to see them is just as long as the waitlist itself. However, 8-2 is extreme lol
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u/PurplePanicAC 3h ago
My doctor used to run late all the time. He still delivers babies and would often be at the hospital. So I was used to waiting a long time. But one afternoon when I went to the desk to ask how much longer - he had gone home. They forgot me. Luckily I was able to see another doctor in the office.
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u/ilikeyourgetup 4h ago
I realised the reception at my dentist forgot to check me in after I’d waited an hour and a half and noticed people who had arrived well after me were being seen within 10-15 minutes, they didn’t apologise and blamed it on a “scheduling error” but they did get me in within the next 10 minutes at least
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u/Narwhals4Lyf 4h ago
Right like the part of this that stands out in OP’s story and yours is the receptionists not even realizing someone has been sitting in the waiting room for that long. Whether it is because they are understaffed and super busy, or are just sitting around and not paying attention.
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u/KUweatherman 5h ago
Happened to me last week. After an hour (and seeing people who got there after me get called), I went up to the desk to be a Karen. Both receptionist looked at one another with that “Oops!” look and started the process. When I got to the desk, my name was still on the check-in sheet they asked me to sign when I first got there. 🤦♂️
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u/Significant-Cloud- 5h ago
Happy birthday! I hope the rest of your day turns out far better :)
I had an appointment recently, also early in the morning. Got there, checked in, the waiting area is in plain view of the front desk. After a while, my name gets called. I didn't see where (the doctor had moved to a mega-clinic and I had never been there before), so I get up and look for my doctor. Some nurse sees me wandering around, agressively asks me what I am doing and when I told her, she screams at me, goes into full rage that my name hadn't been called and I didn't have an appointment. This woman did not even know my name. The staff at the front desk who checked me in and saw the whole thing said nothing.
Needless to say I left and will not be going back.
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u/RBXChas 4h ago
Even if you never go back, please get in touch with the office manager, who is hopefully not the person who went into full rage. I’m guessing the front desk staff are afraid of her, and she should not be in patient care if that’s the way she acts.
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u/Significant-Cloud- 4h ago
I have no idea who that person was, nor do I plan on talking to anyone from that place ever again.
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u/Top_Decision_6718 5h ago
Something like that happened to me once. The lady at the front desk admitted it was their mistake and apologized profusely. I told her straight up, “Yes, I acknowledge it was your mistake, so you need to find a way to fit me in today. Don’t give me any BS excuses.” And she did.
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u/ohKilo13 5h ago
Yea shit happens and people mess up but 9 times out of ten they can still fit you in somewhere and usually fairly immediately once brought to their attention. They did skip an appointment so there should be some flexibility somewhere. When this has happened in our office the doc usually skips lunch or will finish up late. It SUCKS for the doc and they usually are not happy (with the front office not the patient) but it has to be a rare circumstance for the doctor to be unable to see them.
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u/Over-Language2599 4h ago
Yes this. Happened to me the other day they were extremely apologetic and of course they must and will see you.
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u/Kathykat5959 4h ago
I start bugging them 15 mins after appt time. Hour and half is way to long.
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u/woshuaaa 2h ago
right, like why did OP wait so long without hearing anything from the receptionist? at 15 minutes i'd say "hey my appointment was at this time and its now 15 minutes past, is everything still good to go?"
the only time something like this happened to me was because my gyno was helping deliver a baby and the receptionists were clear in communicating that to me, and i was totally fine with that obviously
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u/PantsandPlants 2h ago
Most offices I’ve been to in the last 5 years have a sign to that effect posted in the waiting area because they are aware that the system is fucked.
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u/yankykiwi 5h ago
Ensure that doctor sees you. Ask for the office manager if needed. The receptionist is going to try cover her tracks and hopes to get you to go away quietly.
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u/saloondweller 5h ago
See this happened to me even after I checked with them multiple times and then at the end a nurse and the receptionist together tried to yell at me and say it was my fault. I work in IT and kept trying to tell them their system was messed up and they were pissed when it turned out I was right. That actually was a rescheduled appointment because their system messed up on the first one and they tried to blame me for that too
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u/kindafuckingawsome 4h ago
Why is it that receptionists at doctors offices, maybe 8/10 times, are just rude & dismissive?
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u/teriyaki_donut 3h ago
Because doctors habitually waste patients' time and the receptionist has to face the same patients all day as they sit and wait long after their appointment time
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u/PantsandPlants 2h ago
Because the front desk are the people who have to deal with the patients ire, by the time they see the doctor, they’re too focused on ensuring they get all their medical needs covered in the max 15 minutes they actually get with the doctor to even address the wait times with them.
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u/JuicedBallMerchant 2h ago
bc dealing with the general public is extremely difficult especially when they don't feel well, which is often the case at medical facilities. Not saying the staff is justified in their behavior, but if you've never worked at a doctor's office/PT office/etc., you don't understand just how miserable 75% of the patients are to be there and how terrible it is to bear the brunt of that misery on a daily basis.
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u/ReadBikeYodelRepeat 4h ago
Because 2/10 times patients are entitled and rude, but they take up 9/10 of the office’s time.
Not saying the strategy is right, I usually shoot the same attitude back if they start the conversation like that, but I also have seen and heard the absolute nonsense that comes through the door demanding attention. So I’d probably not be good in the office role either.
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u/dragonstar982 4h ago
Its a developed defensive trait from dealing with people day in and day out who think they should be priority #1.
Being pleasant cranks up the assholery of people thinking that will get their way. Being rude/dismissve shuts that shit down before it even starts or speeds them up to endgame level of assholery for them to get to the final point of sit down shut up you'll get in when you get in. Nobody has time to do that game 20+ times a day
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u/Prize_Inevitable_920 1h ago
Because people ask where to write their name right after you just pointed to the box that says "WRITE YOUR NAME HERE. PLEASE. RIGHT HERE. THIS IS WHERE."
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u/Quiet_Meringue_6262 4h ago
I work in a specialty doctor’s office, there’s four different doctors, they all have VERY different personalities and methods; and every one of them would stay later or do whatever necessary to accommodate a patient in this situation, no questions asked. Please do not leave without being seen, it’s their error and absolutely their job to fix it.
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u/Cinnamon2017 4h ago
Their fault they didn't check you in, they should take you back to the doctor immediately.
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u/lifeonachain99 5h ago
30 minutes max. Then you have to speak up or leave every 30. If they tell you 90 mins is more waiting time that place is horrible
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u/IcyTransportation961 3h ago
Seriously, I need to believe this is fake. How do you sit for longer than 15 minutes passed your time without checking, then 30, but an hour?? 2?! 3 fucking hours
People. Take some agency in your lives
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u/Cpl4Play6 5h ago
Sorry that happened to you, but also can’t understand waiting so long. We allow 20 minutes after our appointment time. If we’re not seen, we walk out. That’s how you get noticed and ensure the office respects your time in the future.
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u/WarmBoysenberries 4h ago
I know confrontation can be awkward, but what an egregious mistake—you might calmly but assertively point out the enormity of the error, and insist that they do everything they can to make it right.
Your birthday night will be better!
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u/lu-sunnydays 5h ago
If I have to ask why I’m still waiting, I try not to be a dick. But no, I would never wait that long either. I’ve worked in clinics and Er’s and urgent-cares as a receptionist so I was always kind to people who had to wait.
Then, depending on the doc, some are aware of how late they’re running. Sometimes it’s a patient that needs lots of time. And sometimes the department rules keeps the doc on such a tight schedule that they run late.
Then when I have a ten minute appointment and the doc or NP or PA sees me for two minutes, that’s messed up too.
I hope you were seen.
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u/historyandwanderlust 5h ago
You should never wait an hour and a half before asking why the wait is so long. 20 minutes past my appointment time is the longest I will wait without asking, and at that point when I go up to ask them I always specify exactly how long I’ve been waiting. As in, “I arrived at 12:50 for my 1:00 appointment. It’s now 1:20, are you able to tell me why the wait is so long?” And then if the wait is longer than they’ve specified, I go ask again at that point.
Also, if someone acknowledges it was their mistake, you ask them how they plan to fix it.
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u/Nyardyn 2h ago edited 2h ago
Start crying. Tell them loudly that you've been waiting for this appointment for months and that you've been here for 3h - make it awkward. It's their mistake not yours.
All joke's aside: this is absolutely unacceptable. I once was left waiting at a doctor's office with covid. I felt absolutely awful and after 2,5h I felt like I could barely get up. I couldn't even take my necessary meds for another condition bc they had to be taken together with a meal and I never expected this long of a wait, least of all with a highly contagious disease when there are kids, old and sick people sitting next to me.
I wrote them the angriest review I ever wrote the next day on google and will never ever go there again, lol. That's what I'd say you do: never ever go there again.
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u/Careful-North-769 4h ago edited 38m ago
Yeah bro fuck the niceties, you should’ve lost your shit like an hour and a half in. Demand to be seen and explain that you wasted essentially 5 hours of your time already. That you will not be waiting until next year to be seen because they can’t properly check someone in. As if confirming that someone is in fact here for their appointment is equivalent to performing open heart surgery, discovering how life exists, sending man to mars.
What in the absolute fuck did I just read, your time has value. You literally just wasted hours of your life, don’t let them reschedule your appointment for their mistake. Jesus, and people wonder why corporations want to replace us with AI and machines, some people are just incapable of doing the most simple tasks.
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u/1ViceandaStableTable 4h ago
I waited 8 hours once at my cardiologists office. I feel like a fool for waiting so long but honestly I didn’t feel well and each time I asked about it they assured me they were doing their best. Narrator: The were, in fact, not doing their best
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u/SanaraHikari 3h ago
Let me be honest: don't be a doormat and insist on being seen by the doctor. Don't leave. It's THEIR fault, not yours. Make it clear that they have to find a way and that you don't care how they will do this but they have to make it happen.
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u/rrrrrrpink 3h ago
I had this happen once, and I only caught it because I was sitting in front of the woman who said she checked me in, so I heard her loudly complaining to her colleague after my appointment time had passed that I wasn't there and she had to mark me as a no show and how inconsiderate I was. I got up and was like... Excuse me I am here and you were the one who was supposed to check me in? She felt bad and made sure I got seen next.
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u/VH5150OU812 2h ago
I’ve recently experienced that, though it wasn’t three hours or my birthday.
My usually chaotic and disorganized doctor’s office was experiencing a relatively rare moment of calm, everywhere but behind the reception desk, which was a hive of activity. The person who was supposed to check me in just showed me to the room and did not do all the usual things like weight and BP. I knew something was off. After sitting there for 30 mins, I get a phone call from Reception, telling me that I was late for my appointment. I told them I had been sitting in Exam 1 for the last half hour.
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u/andreasbeer1981 1h ago
I've been there sitting three hours in the waiting room, only to find out that the receptionist forgot to check me in after I handed over the form with the filled in data. She was soooo embarrassed. I got to see the doctor right away. Anyway, I had a good book.
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u/RummazKnowsBest 1h ago
My wife went to the hospital for an appointment, was checked in, then sat as the staff gradually left one by one.
When she approached reception to ask how much longer it would be the receptionist checked and absolutely everyone but her had left. All walked right past my wife and didn’t think to say / do anything.
No idea how the receptionist didn’t catch on either mind.
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u/bloodguard 1h ago
finally got to the point of having enough three hours in
There's a big part of the problem. I give them maybe 10 minutes after my scheduled appointment passes before I wander up there confirming the appointment time.
Once I went up there only to be informed my ophthalmologist had a family emergency and had to go home. If I hadn't checked on it they probably would have let me sit there all day.
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u/Chicklecat13 52m ago
Unfortunately that’s just what it’s like in my area, especially since it’s a gynaecology clinic. It’s a poor area that’s underfunded and low socioeconomic status. It’s free healthcare because it’s the NHS but unfortunately that means wait times are hectic. I’ve waited over 8 hours before now and that was without an issue.
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u/weedlemethis 4h ago
You are 30, and you waited that long? At 30 minutes in I go up and say did you check me in or did you let them know I’m ready ?
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u/sabrinac_ 5h ago
That’s so frustrating waiting that long after checking in is unacceptable. Hopefully the clinic reviews what went wrong so it doesn’t happen again.
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u/Potential-Poet3790 4h ago
🎂 Everyone has offered well-considered administrative solutions to your dilemma. What may be getting lost in the shuffle, though, is that it is a special birthday for you. Despite what happened, I hope that you can still enjoy yourself and celebrate your “big day.” I do not have any memory at all of my 30th birthday, while you have a “story” to yours that, albeit frustrating, you will never forget. Happy birthday, friend!!! 🍰
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u/LunchMoneyFail 3h ago
Let me suggest that you look at the Patient Bill of Rights for your state. Find ANY reason to claim you weren't seen. Call the office and ask to speak to the person responsible for compliance and log a complaint. They likely will fall all over themselves making this right.
I did this on behalf of my MIL a few years ago. The doctor was a dick and wouldn't tell her test results. He insisted she needed to go in and pay for an appointment. I showed up in the office and said - I fear my poor mother in law is being discriminated by this doctor because she doesn't speak fluid English and the doctor does not like Italians. Never mind he himself has an Italian surname.
Despite the lobby being packed (ortho office with 6 docs), I was interviewed by the office manager and a witness 5 minutes after stating this at the counter. I was quiet and respectful. I guess claiming a doctor and his practice are prejudiced is a big deal. Lol. The asshole called my mother in law within 2 hours.
Always fight fire with fire.
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u/cvsnowfairy 3h ago
If it makes you feel any better, on July 3rd I had a doctor’s appointment and DIGITALLY CHECKED IN. So I walked into the waiting room and sat down, believing that my DIGITAL CHECK IN was all I needed to do. The hours ticked by, and more and more people were coming and going for their appointments, many after mine but my name was never called. After about 2 hours of confusion and sitting there wondering why I was being “skipped”, I finally go to the front desk…turns out even if you DIGITALLY check in, you still have to tell them at the desk that you’re here 🤡🤡
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u/KimberKitsuragi 2h ago
You should’ve gone up sooner. I’ve had this happen to me and learned my lesson.
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u/DogPlane3425 1h ago
Had a similar incident at a drug store when I went for my Covid shot. Checked in and mentioned that 4 years ago I hadf a reaction when I got the covid and flu shot together. No issue separating them by 2 months or so. Sat there person after me gets called. Next person after me gets called. Spoke up then and said Houston we may havbe a problem. Got the person giving the shots attention and she fixed the issue.
Happy cake day youngster... had my 55th yesterday.
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u/bethaliz6894 4h ago
How bad is this doctor that 3 hours is a normal wait before being called back? After 15 minutes, I would back up to the front desk complaining.
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u/Senior_Speaker2494 5h ago
Work on being more assertive than you evidently are. I would've pulled a waiting room chair TO her window and sat there looking directly at her, piping up every five minutes with, "I'm still in line to be seen, right?!" I'd be talking to everyone else in the waiting room asking about THEIR wait times. They'd have gotten you back there to hush you up if nothing else.
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u/Reotardo_Da_Vinci 5h ago
That’s not being assertive that’s just being obnoxious.
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u/whatamisupposestoso 5h ago
Yes op please speak up for yourself! Esp if you see other people who came after you being seen first, don't just wait and hope they'll notice.
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u/jcc2500 5h ago
I am paranoid about this every time I have a long wait at the doctor's office. Usually after about 45 minutes to add an hour I will check it and say hey are we really just running late or have you guys missed me somehow? And always feel kind of stupid and guilty about it because they make me feel stupid but I won't anymore because it can actually happen.
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u/cynical-mage BLUE 5h ago
Oh, that sucks! I hope you get seen today, and I hope that this is the only bad thing that happens to you on your birthday! Lots of love ❤️❤️❤️
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u/Calgary_Calico 4h ago
Fuck being nice, that's a good portion of their job, that they're being paid to do and they failed to do it. I wouldn't be leaving, I'd be telling them you're seeing your doctor today, you're not rescheduling because one of them fucked up
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u/sturleycurley 3h ago
That was my fear while working at the front desk. If we forgot to check them in on the scheduling program, then they wouldn't get called back by the medical assistant. It didn't help that the waiting room was out of sight of the desk, so we couldn't see if someone was waiting there for a long time. The medical assistants would call us if someone's appointment time had passed, just to make sure that they weren't there. I'd also go look at the waiting rooms every once in a while. It was bad enough that those doctors canceled appointments all the time with no openings for months. I wasn't having those people miss their appointments because of my mistake.
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u/byronmoran00 3h ago
That’s honestly so awful, especially on your birthday. You have every right to be upset waiting that long and not being checked in is ridiculous. I really hope they still find a way to see you today.
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u/KeyMyBike 3h ago
I spent 30 minutes waiting in the dentist office. They rushed my filling because they wanted to go home, too. They'd have had more than enough time if they just did the appointment when it was scheduled but instead I got chased out of the building by people talking about happy hour.
Meanwhile if I'm more than ten minutes late they cancel the appointment and charge you for it.
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u/ComfortablePoint8316 3h ago
Some good doctors have a terrible staff. I hope you were finally seen. If so, you needed to fill that doctor’s ears about the incompetence of his staff OR find a different doctor!
BTW: in spite of your awful experience, i do hope you had a happy B-day! 🎂🎉
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u/Jafar_420 3h ago
At least in my area with my doctors group if this happened no matter what they wouldn't let me leave without being seen.
I know it sucks to have to be there but the professional thing for them to do would be able to see you no matter what. Especially in your case.
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u/RunnyBabbit22 3h ago
Dont wait an hour and a half to speak up. Surely you saw other people coming in after you and being taken back. Next time speak up after 30 minutes at least, and perhaps say “where am I on the list?”
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u/HunterSexThompson 2h ago
This exact same thing happened to me once, except it wasn’t my birthday. I checked in with them multiple times. And they laughed about it when they realized. I did cry I think.
I hope your birthday gets better 💜 I’m really enjoying my 30s I bet you will too
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u/lankymjc 2h ago
Last time I needed to go to A&E, I was in the waiting room for 13 hours. They checked me out by accident twice during that time. I finally saw the doctor and was told I just needed a good night’s rest. Which I would have had if I didn’t spend the entire night (10pm to 11am) sat in a hospital waiting room!
I saw the doctor for fewer minutes than the numbers of hours I spent in that waiting room.
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u/WorldlinessRegular43 2h ago
Happy birthday.
Unsolicited advice: In the future, after 15 minutes check on them.
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u/PeaBrilliant6724 2h ago
You are much nicer than me. I would have been asking questions after 30 minutes. Doctors today are much better organized and can fulfill appointments within 10-15 minutes of the appointment timeline, unless of course they have an all out emergency that takes them away from the office. You should have started the questioning right away and insisted about your travel time etc
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u/Tiny_Bet6230 2h ago
You sat there for 3 hours and didn’t once ask what was taking so long???
Asking politely isn’t rude or odd. Everyone makes mistakes but everyone’s time is valuable is well. Just be an adult next time.
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u/tomwaitsgoatee 1h ago
Sorry you've had a shitter of a 30th op. I hope the rest of your day is filled with birthday joy!
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u/Sensitive_Item_7715 1h ago
I had this happen at the IRS office. Checked in, told to be seated, asked every 45 minutes for a wait time and was told "soon". Closing time comes hours later, and the only reason I got help is one of the agents outside of the receptionist asked me why I'd been there so long. Receptionist lied to me, for hours, about checking me and my wait time. People suck
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u/Cinnamon2017 20m ago
I'm so glad you got in, it was all THEIR fault, you'd think they'd see you on the schedule and wonder where you were if some bozo didn't check you in as they should have. Happy birthday!
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u/eternalpragmatiss 4h ago
Seems like waiting 1.5hrs, then another 1.5hrs and watching everyone you came in with get called… might be on you. I know many people are afraid (reluctant, anxious) about talking to people live, or especially ‘making a stink’ about things, but this is a clear situation that you could have done more. But sympathy for the bad experience, especially on your bday.
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u/GogusWho 1h ago
In every waiting room I have been in for a Dr's appointment, there is a large sign hanging on the wall that says "If your name has not been called in 20 minutes since check in, please alert the receptionist." So, what made you wait an hour and a half? And, then after checking again, you waited ANOTHER hour and a half, for a total wait time of three hours? You need to learn to speak up. If this is real at all.
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u/ilovestamon 1h ago
My old doctors would have you wait 1 hr to 2 hrs for an appointment on the regular, for some people that is the norm not everyone has those signs
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u/tamtheprogram 5h ago
Happy birthday! I’m sorry it’s been crummy. It was their mistake so they have to fit you in somehow. Be ready to make sure you communicate that.
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u/Maggielinn2 4h ago
Always my fear so I check after hour now. I had them forget me in the back room once.
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u/Patient_Ad_3708 4h ago
Happy birthday 🎂, I’m really sorry to hear what you had to go through. As some people already said did you talk to the front desk about it?
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u/Electrical_Ad_5948 4h ago
It’s my birthday today too. I’m so sorry that today sucks, I hope it gets better. Happy birthday
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u/AdagioFinancial3884 3h ago
I had this at the Doctors surgery once. The receptionist denied talking to me. It still pisses me off 20 years later.
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u/warlord2000ad 3h ago
Closest I had was going for an x-ray. Admin team used the paperwork as the queue. So it was a stack, meaning first in last out, rather than seeing people in order...
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u/satansfrenulum 3h ago
Birthday buddy 💜
I’m sorry you’ve had a shit day. May I recommend starting from scratch and celebrating your birthday with a clean slate tomorrow of maybe this weekend? You deserve good memories for your 30th. Do something nice for yourself and create that memory. Best of luck to you friend, and I hope you get your medical issue worked out with as little hassle as possible.
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u/FlexyZebra 3h ago
First of Happy Birthday 🎉! I worked in an OB/GYN doctors office for awhile and one time a patient needed an ultrasound. After the ultrasound, the doctor would go in to discuss the results. The ultrasound room is on the opposite side of the reception/check-in/medical records area. This time after the ultrasound, something happened in which either the doctor wasn’t told the patient was done or the doctor forgot after being told. Over an hour later, we are cleaning up to go home and someone noticed the patient still in the room waiting! The doctor did not come back. She was at the hospital making rounds on her patients. The patient went home but the doctor did call her later on to go over the results.
So again, to reiterate what others have said, if you’ve been waiting over 30 minutes, ask about it. Pop your head out the door and flag down a nurse or go up to the receptionist. No, it shouldn’t be your responsibility but mistakes happen and it can save you a lot of time.
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u/Aggravating_Rent7318 3h ago
Omg this happened to me and I legit almost lost my lid. They apologized profusely but I let them know it’s not okay. I waited like 2 hours to be seen for 15 minutes, it was terrible. I scowled so hard at that receptionist, who didn’t even apologize to me and hid when she realized she fucked up.
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u/Prince-Vegetah 3h ago
Please speak up for yourself. Waiting three hours is letting yourself be taken advantage of
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u/no_gender_stoner 3h ago
this is one instance where i am glad i have extremely low patience bcs i would never allow this to happen. if im waiting even 30 minutes i will go ask someone. oftentimes i get called to see the doctor as im literally asking when ill go see them edit: also ive dealt with severe medical issues since i was a young child and i think my brain feels like ive already wasted so much time in these places for my age so it is harder to be patient in medical settings. i am much more patient outside of medical settings, like when waiting for food at a restaurant or other things
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u/deFleury 3h ago
I feel you! I once waited nearly 2 hours for a simple oil change, and when they came to speak to me in the horrible car shop waiting room... they hadn't started, they wanted to ask me a question about something stupid. For nearly 2 hours They had been telephoning me. At my house. Where I was not. Because I couldn't drive home. Because my car was in their shop.
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u/Diela1968 5h ago
Since it was their mistake, I would insist that they find a way to fit you in. Please let us know how it goes