BEDFORD GARDENS LIFE CLINIC: NOT REFUNDING A 100% OVERCHARGE!

April 2020. 25-year-old Tania is sick. Recently-employed Tania is in the final days of a 90-day waiting period with Discovery. (That means, Discovery collects premiums, but provides no cover.)

As Tania’s condition deteriorates, her alarmed Gran drives her to the nearest hospital, Bedford Gardens Life Clinic.

Bedford Gardens Life liaises with Discovery. The outcome: Either cough up from your own pocket or make your way to the nearest government slaughterhouse.

How much?

Twenty one thousand rand. Cash, up front. And until we get our hands on the money, Tania can die in your car for all we care.

Pistol to her head, 70-year-old Grandmother maxes out her credit card.

Then, and only then, does the actual patient begin to warrant any attention whatsoever.

A month passes. Tania gets an automated message. We covered ourselves by charging your 70-year-old grandmother MORE THAN DOUBLE the necessary amount. But Gran is due for a refund for the R11 679 we overcharged her.

Which comes as no small relief for 70-year old Gran.

That is, until Gran eventually has the temerity to trouble the mighty Bedford Gardens Life for this refund of the overcharge.

In Week 1, Bedford Gardens Life is “offline”. No refunds.

Two weeks pass. Bedford Gardens Life is “offline”. No refunds.

Three weeks turn into a month. Bedford Gardens Life is “offline”. No refunds.

Six weeks. Bedford Gardens Life is “offline”. No refunds.

Two months. Bedford Gardens Life is “offline”. No refunds.

Tania went in before Easter. By late June Bedford Gardens Life, despite admitting the extent of their overcharge, continue to hang on to Gran’s money. Gran remains R11 679 (plus credit card interest) out of pocket.

And every single time they are asked, they are conveniently “offline”. (They weren't too “offline” to collect, mind.)

If you are considering Bedford Gardens Life, know what kind of institution you are dealing with. This is a monolith that has zero qualms about double-charging a 70-year-old grandmother, then regurgitating the same excuse time and again when asked to refund the overcharge. Why wouldn't they wouldn't do the same to you?