Owing money for someone else's pet - can we be forced to pay?

[Liv'n'Dai]

Re: Owing money for someone else's pet - can we be forced to pay?

Today we received a short letter from the vet stating that the evidence we requested is that my partner is the registered keeper of the animal and that the insurance policy is in her name. He says that this means we have taken responsibility for the animal and the debt that he is chasing and threatens court action if we don't pay within 7 days.

We've read the Animals Act and the bit about being a keeper has totally confused us. Yes we were looking after the animal but not until several weeks after the operation. The owner didn't update the microchip and called petlog claiming ownership when we tried to rehome the animal and a second vet when we were discussing euthanising her. Does any of this matter, or does the insurance claim make my partner liable after all? What should we do? The vet still hasn't provided any bills or a consent form for the surgery....

[astraldream]

Re: Owing money for someone else's pet - can we be forced to pay?

If this is something that is worrying you i would strongly suggest ringing Trevor Cooper the dog law specialist i mentioned earlier in the thread. He does a phone line on certain nights of the week where you can get advice over the phone from him. Proof of ownership is indeed very complicated so it may be quicker just to give Trevor Cooper a call.

[enquirer]

Re: Owing money for someone else's pet - can we be forced to pay?

... my partner is the registered keeper of the animal and that the insurance policy is in her name.

Registered with whom? There is no 'dog authority', just the commercial companies that run the microchip registries. A collar and ID tag are compulsory, not microchipping.

He says that this means we have taken responsibility for the animal and the debt that he is chasing ...

No, it means that you are the point of contact.

... and threatens court action if we don't pay within 7 days.

As the Duke of Wellington put it ... "Publish and be damned". If he is unwise enough to issue a County Court claim, then he will have an awful lot of explaining to do.

[alham]

Re: Owing money for someone else's pet - can we be forced to pay?

I notice that they've dropped DCA and replying directly. Enquirer is right, your earlier messages clearly demonstrate that you are NOT responsible for the bill. Furthermore, your post mentions owners as available and in contact with you. Give the vet the contact details for them and let them argue between themselves.

[Liv'n'Dai]

Re: Owing money for someone else's pet - can we be forced to pay?

Hi Alham,

Thanks for your response. Unfortunately we have had no contact with the owners since June when the animal was euthanised. We have previously provided the vet with email, phone numbers, parents address etc for them but they haven't responded to any of his attempts to contact them (why would they, they're off sunning themselves somewhere while we are being harrased for their bill!) so he has given up on them and set the DCA on us.

The letter came across as very confused in that it responded to our letter to the DCA and not the vet (got the date wrong as well) and then suggested we pay the DCA rather than him... . We are tempted to call his bluff and just sit tight...

[alham]

Re: Owing money for someone else's pet - can we be forced to pay?

I would be reluctant to sit tight. Write another letter, stating the facts as above and suggest that DCA and the vet take up the matter with owners as instructed previously. Make sure that you clearly and explicitly deny any responsibility and mention that any further contact from either the vet or DCA will be treated as harassment, etc... and that you will have no option but to take this matter further which may involve police, RCVS and courts. You will also report DCA to the relevant authorities.

[Liv'n'Dai]

Re: Owing money for someone else's pet - can we be forced to pay?

Ok, so we sent a letter to the vet as above on 30th Nov recorded delivery. It still hasn't arrived according to Royal Mail and this morning the DCA sent several threatening texts to my phone (my partner who is the person they are chasing has had nothing from them...) The texts say the vet will now either bankrupt us or take us to court and bailiffs will be sent to our address. They say that the court case should be ready by christmas but their client wants to write to us one last time so we should call the DCA before all this happens.... Should we just wait for our letter to arrive or try to contact the vet..? This just won't go away.

[alham]

Re: Owing money for someone else's pet - can we be forced to pay?

Get in touch with post office and get your money back. Re-send the letter attaching a copy of "proof of postage" for the previous letter. Send a copy of the letter to the DCA. Do NOT contact the vet directly except through he post. Maybe an emailed copy of the letter to the vet as well with an automated "read" receipt.

[Liv'n'Dai]

Re: Owing money for someone else's pet - can we be forced to pay?

Hi Alham, thanks for the reply.

We sent a new copy recorded yesterday and emailed him a copy too. He emailed straight back to say he had it on Tuesday so these texts from the DCA are his response. Can they actually send bailiffs to our house? This is so ridiculous, he's never even sent us a bill but doesn't seem to be giving up

[alham]

Re: Owing money for someone else's pet - can we be forced to pay?

They can assign the bill to a DCA but unless they have been through the court it will be a bit like me turning up on your doorstep and demanding money. You may have to apply for an injunction to stop them harassing you.

[Liv'n'Dai]

Re: Owing money for someone else's pet - can we be forced to pay?

Oh lord. Should we just wait and see if he actually files with the court before we do anything else? It doesn't make sense for him to take it that far but he doesn't seem to be backing off at all. We are worried that if it does go to court the insurance claim form will be the only thing that matters

[alham]

Re: Owing money for someone else's pet - can we be forced to pay?

Oh lord. Should we just wait and see if he actually files with the court before we do anything else? It doesn't make sense for him to take it that far but he doesn't seem to be backing off at all. We are worried that if it does go to court the insurance claim form will be the only thing that matters

What insurance form?

[enquirer]

Re: Owing money for someone else's pet - can we be forced to pay?

... he's never even sent us a bill ...

No formal demand? Just thugs on the doorstep? That would go down very badly in court.

[Liv'n'Dai]

Re: Owing money for someone else's pet - can we be forced to pay?

What insurance form?

Hi Alham, the claim form which went in and didn't pay out. The policy was paid for by the owner but was in my partners name for convienience as she was going to be out of the country in the new year.

[alham]

Re: Owing money for someone else's pet - can we be forced to pay?

Ok, I've re-read the thread. Your opening statement summarised the issue very well. Your final letter should state that: the vet was aware of the "ownership" arrangements before his ex-employee went away, that the decision to operate was reached by the vet and his ex-employee WITH NO involvement from you; that although you agreed to look after the animal the financial responsibility remained with its owners AND the vet knew about this arrangement; previous steps taken by the vet to contact previous owners, even going as far as traveling to his/hers parents; and as far as you are concerned this problem with the bill remains previous owner's responsibility and the vet and his agents should stop harassing you. BTW, what was the reason for refusal of a payout by the insurance company?