Expat Community > Costa Rica

Johnem
Joined 2022
Posts: 0

Does Dishonesty in Business Encourage Distrust?

2 years ago

I went to a dentist in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, a lovely town and was surprised at the deception in pricing and diagnosises of my condition by Dentist Margorie Castro and her specialist.

I needed a root canal. The dentist asked through an interpreter if I wanted x-rays; I said yes, how much are they? She gave me a price and then took two.

When we were finished she charged me double, “Oh the price was only for one x-ray”.

She said I didn’t need more; she could just look at my mouth and then see where the cavities were. I said ok. Her diagnosis was different from the one I had in the U.S. from a chain dental clinic, so I began to distrust her! Incompetent!

We arranged an appointment with a specialist who traveled to her office to do the root canal. He was friendly and spoke English, and so I began to trust him from the beginning.

However half way through the 45 minute process, he said, “this doesn’t include a filling; you’ll have to arrange and pay for that on another day!” I was astounded. I had asked for and gotten three estimates on the root canal from her. All the same price, like most services, you expect the estimate to include the completed job.

If you get go into a beauty salon or barber shop, to get a hair cut, you expect it to be complete; not a stylist that says, “I didn’t cut the hair on the back of your head”. And if you have a should or knee operation, you don’t expect the doctor to tell you during the operation; “I won’t be able to sew up the incision today; you’ll have to set another appointment for another day for that!”

So I complained and told the specialist I HAD GOTTEN THE THREE ESTIMATES AND EXPECTED THE TOOTH TO BE FILLED AND SEALED.
He did fill the cavity; when I further complained to the dentist and interpreter, they acted as if they did me a favor; filling the tooth when the estimate didn’t include it.

After this experience, I completely mistrustful this dental clinic and its professionals. I ASKED MYSELF; DID HE REALLY FILL THE TOOTH AND SEAL IT? OR DID HE RUSH THROUGH THE PROCESS AND DO IT INCOMPLETELY? I’m going to find another dentist to do the rest of the work.

What do you think? Would you trust dentists like this? Dishonestly simple encourages mistrust!

William Russell

Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
Get Quote

William Russell

Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
Get Quote

Living in Costa Rica Guide

Our Living in Costa Rica Guide is a primer on everything about living in Costa Rica: best places to live, cost of living, pros and cons, healthcare and insurance, and more.

Costa Rica Forum
Join our Costa Rica forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Costa Rica.

Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Costa Rica.

Best Places to Live in Costa Rica

If you're dreaming about living in Costa Rica, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Costa Rica in 2023.

Healthcare in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has both public and private healthcare systems. When you become a resident, you must enroll in the public healthcare system (CAJA). Many expats use the public system for routine healthcare and have private expat health insurance for specialists, surgeries and emergencies.

Cost of Living in Costa Rica

If you're moving to Costa Rica, you'll want to understand the cost of living in Costa Rica. Lifestyle, location and health insurance are part of the formula.

Moving to Costa Rica Guide

Moving to Costa Rica has become more popular among expats. Making this choice requires a lot of research to ensure the expat experience you hope for will be realized.

Real Estate in Costa Rica

Real estate listings in popular cities and towns in Costa Rica.

Pros & Cons of Living in Costa Rica

Take off your rose-colored glasses and learn what expats have to say about the biggest challenges and the greatest rewards of living in Costa Rica.

Retiring in Costa Rica

Advice for people retiring in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Visa & Residency Guide

Applying for residency in Costa Rica can be a daunting process. Which type of residency is right for me? Do I need an attorney? Do I have to leave the country every 90 days? What is a cedula? This article answers these and many other questions.

10 Tips for Living in Costa Rica

If you've recently arrived in Costa Rica, here are 10 tips for digital nomads living in Costa Rica.

Additional Information:

Visit our Costa Rica Index for a Full List

William Russell

Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
Get Quote

William Russell

Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
Get Quote

Contribute
Help others in Costa Rica by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Costa Rica.

Login

Or, Send Login Link

Expat Community > Costa Rica

Does Dishonesty in Business Encourage Distrust?

Login