€560 for a psychologist report, is this correct?

EamoS

This seems a bit steep to me? First, in the psychologist's defense I should say that the price was never discussed beforehand, and that the psychologist was able to meet the person(a family member) at late notice.

However, we were told that they usually take 2 hours + to "test". I use inverted comments because all the psychologist did was ask some general questions about education etc., and ask the person to fill out a questionnaire. In total, 1 hour and 10 minutes. The psychologist was aware that the report was needed 10 days later, it was FAXED the morning of the tenth day. With no time to do anything about the recommendations of it. To put it simply, we were unsatisfied.

I received an invoice this morning for €560. Does anyone have any experience of these things, does this sound like an inflated price? Is there anything I can do, perhaps mention the fact that the interview was rushed? Or will we just have to pay it?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

muppet26

check with a few other psychologists what it would cost.

Miaireland

I would think that you would have to pay. You never agreed a price at the start. He did provide the report within the time-frame (by the skin of his teeth I agree). Medical/legal reports are very expensive and to be honest that sounds like a standard fee.

Was he on stand by for court if required?

partyguinness

They can charge what they want.

ejmaztec

From my work in accountancy and taxation, I know one couple that were charged €300 by one psychologist, and I also know a psychologist who charges €350 for a report.

ttm

Depends on the report but we paid €600 for a full report on our son. Previously we had been paying €120 for yearly tests but when a particular government funded body demanded a full report we had to get one. Psychologist word that our son had XXXX wasn't good enough so we had to pay up for the tests and the report. So for €600 we did get a full set of recognised tests done and the report.

tommy21

I had to pay €300 for a doctor's report after car accident (which I'll get back) but I have it on good authority they can go as high as 500€ so for a specialist it doesn't sounds too outlandish. That said I would bring up with them the fact that you are unsatisfied with the time frame leaving you no room to respond, there is surely a body the psychologist is affiliated with you can appeal too. That said depending on the reports objective, it might be best left alone.

goat2

muppet26 wrote: »

check with a few other psychologists what it would cost.

this psychologists needs to see a shrink, if he think he can charge that huge senseless amount for a piece of paper really

ejmaztec

goat2 wrote: »

this psychologists needs to see a shrink, if he think he can charge that huge senseless amount for a piece of paper really

He'd only get a more expensive taste of his own medicine if he were to see a shrink.

BurnsCarpenter

Sounds a bit steep but I'd suggest checking in the Psychology board for feedback. My wife was doing assessments not so long ago and was charging somewhere between 300 and 400.

The area is needs a bit more regulation as far as I can see. There are people doing assessments with little or no work experience - just a degree to their name. Some psychologists are putting very little effort in also - carrying out a test and basically giving an IQ result with no other advice or feedback. Apparently.

BurnsCarpenter

In terms of what you should do, no harm in trying to negotiate.
Should really have raised the question of fees in advance though...

ttm

BurnsCarpenter wrote: »

In terms of what you should do, no harm in trying to negotiate.
Should really have raised the question of fees in advance though...

I think we must have been lucky as every time we have used a psychologist we've know exactly in advance how much the cost would be.

Concerning the OP's issue I would get a friend to phone up the psychologist and ask how much for a consultation and a report for a similar issue and see what the reply is.

Miaireland

Bear in mind if the report was for the courts the amount charged can depend on what court it is being held in.

For example if the report was for the circuit court or high court it would be a lot more expensive than if it was for the district court.

JD24

partyguinness wrote: »

They can charge what they want.

I agree. There is no standard fee or regulation for this. They can charge €100 or €1,000. If you did not receive or did not ask about the fees before hand, you could try use this in an argument, however if you need the report, your going to have to pay it.

Elenxor

partyguinness wrote: »

They can charge what they want.

As far as I know., there is an IMO guideline.,
but they can charge what they like and if you pay that kind of money.,

You ARE crazy!!!!

goat2

Elenxor wrote: »

As far as I know., there is an IMO guideline.,
but they can charge what they like and if you pay that kind of money.,

You ARE crazy!!!![/QUOTE]

we just found a psychologist here, how much do you charge

ttm

goat2 wrote: »

we just found a psychologist here, how much do you charge

depends how crazy you are :P

delllat

unfortunately the elite from any field can charge as much as they like,i had emergency surgery abroad and im told it lasted 1hr 20 minutes

i was given a bill for around €2K

BurnsCarpenter

delllat wrote: »

unfortunately the elite from any field can charge as much as they like,i had emergency surgery abroad and im told it lasted 1hr 20 minutes

i was given a bill for around €2K

Surgery isn't really comparable to this. If this was one doctor carrying out the surgery on his own, in his own premises, then maybe.

I don't think the expense here comes from having to deal with the 'elite' of the field. It's more that there isn't much choice out there. People often have to take what they can get and it seems that Psychologists can charge what they want.

vodafoneproblem

Michael O'Leary probably would have done it for 99c + baggage.



...seriously, though, it sounds like overpaid people charging overpaid people too much.

You'd probably pay as much or more in the US.

delllat

BurnsCarpenter wrote: »

Surgery isn't really comparable to this. If this was one doctor carrying out the surgery on his own, in his own premises, then maybe.

I don't think the expense here comes from having to deal with the 'elite' of the field. It's more that there isn't much choice out there. People often have to take what they can get and it seems that Psychologists can charge what they want.

i can see what u mean but whos to say a psychologist should charge less than a surgeon ?
they probably both studied for equal amount of years (just guessing) b4 they were allowed to wreak havoc on the public

one can fcuk u up on the operating table ,the other cn fcuk u up mentally

BurnsCarpenter

delllat wrote: »

i can see what u mean but whos to say a psychologist should charge less than a surgeon ?

I'm married to a psychologist so I ain't arguing.

I meant that I don't think it's the case that the "elite" psychologists charge more than other psychologists. Bad psychologists can charge as much or even more than good psychologists.

Butch Cassidy

Sorry for another bad pun but €560 is very depressing indeed. Dangers of private healthcare. Is psychology even classed as such in this country? It's next to impossible to see a psychologist through our semi-bogus-dodgy-pretend-free-publicly funded healthcare system.

Was it a psychologist or a psychiatrist? Psychologists seem to be unregulated anyway. The other one is a doctor.