Companioncare Reviews 

Companion Care - Salford M5 3TP

My visit to this vet was one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had.

I needed a health certificate to take my dog abroad. Cost was meant to be £320.

I sent them all my dogs documents a long time prior, specifying my situation multiple times, making sure everything was in order. “No need to bring anything” as it was all in their system.

They rescheduled my appointment to 30 minutes earlier but the vet was over 40 minutes late on the day.

The vet, Elena Cortese, was completely unaware of my case. I felt uncomfortable as she admitted to never having seen a form like mine before and almost made me feel guilty to put her through such task (a 3 page document to read and sign).

She was asking for assistance to multiple people on the phone about pretty much anything. Her insecurity led her to even ask whether to tick "dog" or "cat" on the file, despite my dog being right in front of her.

At some point, I was being asked to translate parts of the certificate and help her understand English words, which was shocking to me. I was fortunate to be an Italian speaker; communication would've been impossible otherwise.

The medicine she wanted for the dog was not available so she had me rush out to find it at the store as if it was my fault. 
Chemicals, by the way, that my dog already had in his system but she discredited everything, including the proof previously accepted by the clinic. It didn’t make any sense.

Everything was disorganised and lacked coherence. Her closing the wrong tabs on the computer, not hearing my answers, misplacing objects and medicine, asking other vets to intervene, making me leave and come back. My dog was becoming increasingly anxious as 5 hours passed by and she just couldn’t wrap the visit up.

For the vaccine, she called my old vet to double check. They were about to send her proof electronically, but after getting all the info she needed (a long time on the phone for no reason) she told me she wanted the physical copy. It was frustrating since I don't have a car and that clinic was in another town. If I had known earlier, I could have taken care of it without all the anxiety as she kept talking about closing soon.

There I go rushing WITH my dog (which is huge) on public transport. Luckily my old vet was exceptionally available and signed the paper for me very promptly.

After all the trouble, I finally got back in time with the document she wanted. But guess what? She still gave me a hard time, arguing about missing details she forgot to mention earlier!

There was also another family leaving her office disappointed because of the same miscommunications. I was in shambles.
The time was over and I had already booked the trip and paid for everything (over 2k). The people at the reception always said I didn't need anything else to prove my dog's vaccination, the copies were enough and they had all the information needed.

After arguing in different languages at the front they agreed to let me go with the certificate but she didn’t even know how to print it correctly! She had to call someone, again, to use the printer. An absolute incompetent till the end.

Cherry on top: they wanted to charge me £600!!!
Had to spend another half-hour arguing to prove that it was not my estimate.

And after I left it wasn't over. The Salford vet4pets kept contacting me about a document they had forgotten to keep. This ongoing communication left me with the impression that something was faulty and the documents they had just provided could be rejected at the airport. It was a disaster through and through.

The registered owners Shola and Nikki Idowu will pay lip service to CompanionCare’s complaints policy and procedure - but have absolutely no intention of listening to or addressing concerns over their practice’s shockingly poor customer service. If you value your pets’ wellbeing - please go elsewhere. Please note this is the emergency hospital for Vets4Pets/ CompanionCare in South East Essex - consider moving your pets to another vets. I wouldn’t rely on them in an emergency.

Rang the branch to get a price for an adult dog vaccination booster, was given a price of £70! This place is a rip off, and charges excessive prices, been quoted around £45-£55 for the same vaccination by other vets in the area, ONE TO AVOID PEOPLE

Best way to describe the this company is fast no caring and 0 Compassion. They don't appreciate loyalty or the customers. All they care is how to get money from you they are very crafty and dishonest. I had 4 pets with this company 2cats 2dogs. And took out care plan all totaling up 800 a year. I would say I'm a good customer. They are crafty, I had a dog that we didn't want to castrate him. So I read up online that there is chemical castration that is temporary. I asked this company do they provide this service they said yes they do. I asked how much is this service was they said they didn't know. I booked and arrived for that appointment. The Vet explained how it works but still no price I don't know how she done her sale on me. Next thing I know without giving me the price she went and injected my dog, them told me it's 300😳. They are professional sales people and not Vets. That left bitter taste in my mouth. I been with the Vets nearly 4year 800 a year that's 3200 and how it ended is disgusting. I booked for my dog yearly injection couldn't make it then booked again then called to cancel ad they do not give weekend appointments, its very difficult with trafic or finding time to get there as i work full time, i did ask them please can i have weekend appointment, they said No as they only do emergency. I know now why i looked and they get more money for emergency apoinments, makes sence now😒 So the next one I came in they told me I will lose one perk from my plan the nail clipping. I said that's fine as I have don't live close. Yet again after my two dog clipping and one dog yearly injection the Vet talked me into Kennal cought, I asked is it part of my plan she said yes so I said go ahead. After procedure the receptionist said OK now pay for nail clippings and Injections. I was is shock yet again they tell after procedure I have to pay. They charged me 120. The plan is the worst they give the tablets for my dog that they hate and can't get them down. I was so stupid to stay with this company. 4 times a year have to go get pet weight and checked to get the treatments I pay for 800 a year. The care is not good there at all its all money they have no care for your pet or customers mMoney come first.

If i could leave a zero stars i would.
My dog was at the vets in Huddersfield for nearly 10 hours, over 7 of these just waiting to be treated. The full treatment did not take place due to my ringing reception to find out what was happening and the receptionist having to keep me on hold to go and check. During this time the vet attempted to ring me and the call went straight to answer phone. As he couldn't reach me, and i did not know he had tried to as i was already on the phone to the practice, he aborted the procedure. My dog was subsequently forgotten about and no one rung me to let me know to collect her. I went to the practice at 6.30pm to find out what was going on, only to be told that she would need to return to complete the treatment at a further cost of over £400 on top of the £200 which i had already paid.
This is the second time that a complete breakdown in communication has happened, and i stressed that i did not want another when i booked her in and also when i handed my dog over. I also said that should further treatment be required to please go ahead and do it as my dogs well being was of paramount importance.
It is clear to me that no one actually listens to what is being said, no one cares about the well being of the pet, there is no communication between the vets, nurses or receptionists, and there is certainly no communication with the customer. In fact the only communication is to ask for payment.
I have subsequently sought another vet practice to finish the treatment as i could not subject my dearest companion to yet another complete farce at Companion Care Vets Huddersfield.

Some time ago a female vet at the Basingstoke branch led me completely the wrong way saying my dog had a sore elbow. Now convinced it was blackheads as he had quite greasy skin. They seem uninterested in skin conditions, though we have had advice on this before from vets.

Never got an appointment and met the vets so cannot review that. But after realising how incompetent and rude reception staff are, I walked away and registered with another practice. Make sure you double check everything they tell you. I registered and paid for Health care plan as they advised. I had a coupon for discount from Pets ah Home, 1st staff member told me I can use it. Then 2nd staff member refused to accept it when I wanted to pay through direct debit instead of 1 payment, even though the coupon very clearly states it is accepted for either payment methods. To resolve, had to speak to 3rd staff member. All this trouble, just to be told I don't have right to use the services within the first month although you prepay the first two months. 5/6 staff members came out to tell me that I am not allowed the services because of the Terms and Conditions, none of them had read them and had any idea where the information actually is. After waiting 3 days for them to read Terms and Conditions and sent me where it states I cannot use the service, they still had no evidence, so they just cancelled my plan. Considering, the reception staff cannot even read, I'm glad my pet's wellbeing doesn't depend on this practice.

Please just look at the reviews they speak for themselves. I've been a loyal customer of the Portsmouth branch for twelve years and this is how I've been treated in the last week. I missed my cats booster jab appointment through unforseen circumstances (grandson emergency) I rang as soon as I could and apologised profusely. I asked to rebook and they said they would need £55 upfront before they would rebook my cat in, the next appointment would be four week later so by the time I would get my money back would be a minimum of five weeks, that's disgusting. My dentist takes £25 for a missed appointment and that's only after the first one, so a warning first. This leads me to think like some of the others on this site, they are only interested in making money out of people who love their pets. I did explain that my situation was an emergency and I have never missed a appointment in 12 years, they didn't care and said its company policy, so it's one of those ( computer says know) syndromes. They just DON'T CARE. So be warned, don't use this company they are just trying to make money out of pet lovers they give no consession for loyal membership.

Companion Don’t Care
I don’t really know where to start, but the service here at salford was shocking. It’s just like a pet factory production line. They really don’t seem to care. After having to have my cat put to sleep, we were made to stand at the reception, waiting for calls to be answered and then staff to type notes up. I could see my cat through the window lying there alone no one did anything and we just presented with a PDQ machine and told how much it was and we could pick him up next week. After complaining to companion care, their response was that these are all independent veterinary practices. I then got a letter from salford, fairly standard reply, not really interested. They did say they were sorry as they did have a card to give us, but they forgot, and it never arrived in the post either, they really don’t care so I would avoid them, but if you look at these reviews it speaks for itself you are far better going to an independent veterinary practice that isn’t having to pay franchise fees to companion don’t care

Awfull place. Vet Graeme McKeown did xray for our dog. Which I wasn't even able to see. He refused to send me them by email or even I wasn't aloud to do a picture of my dog xray by my phone. He just said "check my LinkedIn I'm the best Vet around you need to trust me the operation is need it" like really??? Xray £900 which i wasn't aloud to have plus the "operation" another £2.5k without me even see or have the xray?? Is he really need the operation or they need the money??? Is this even legal? I'm taking legal action atm. And for everyone who love their pets STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE

Salisbury Branch - Thank you. Having received appalling treatment from two vet practices in Southampton I moved to Salisbury Companion Care and wow what a difference in customer & pet care; they ACTUALLY ask my opinion on my cats health and behaviour and what my concerns are AND give me options AND respected my decisions.
I’m blown away. I thought all vets were like the vets at Vet4Pets in Bitterne.
- thank goodness I was wrong and I’ve finally found a good bunch of veterinarians.
Thank you for looking after Rabbees xxx

Our beloved doggie received an appalling service at our local Companioncare vet practice. Important symptomatic information provided over the course of a year was continuously overlooked which in our opinion is serious malpractice. No consistency of service and annual health check by vet extremely basic and took no more than five minutes and due to their negligence we lost our beloved pet in a matter of days and under very traumatic conditions. We feel very let down by the very professionals we put our trust in.

Ashford Kent
Appalling service. Avoid at all costs. Go somewhere else. Change milestones for any enquiry. Refused appointment when required. Their plans are for annual flee and worm yet only recieved 9 months and refusing to give our entitled amount because we were too late to pick up meds, due to illness and work commitments. This vet is just there to get as much money as they can. They do not record their calls so can not verify when different information is given. I wished I had looked at their reviews before as it seems that they offer an appalling service to many.

After trying to arrange a meeting with a practice manager (on behalf of my friend) at the Filton branch in Bristol, I was horrified and disappointed by the lack of care I received. I explained that the evening before, my friend had come into the practice and was questioning whether she had to a) pay her bill of £171.00 to the vet or b) whether her insurance company would be paying it. My friend was unsure of the procedure as this was the third bill in a matter of days or weeks. It was a very simple question that was put to a young male colleague at the practice, to which he responded: 'If you don't pay the bill, your credit will be bad and someone will come knocking on your door.' After leaving the practice, my friend came over to my house for help. I explained to her that no one is going to be knocking on her door asking for money, as the company would have a proper credit control team that deals with non-payments. In the first instance, they would have to write a letter and follow it up with a series of letters before it went to debt collection, and then, a payment plan would be put in place. I advised her that the employee who had said this to her was factually incorrect and clearly had no idea how debt collection works. That said, she was still unnerved by the comment and was non the wiser about whether she had to pay this bill upfront, whether or not she had to make a claim for the bills, or if it was the vet that had to make the claim. I assured my friend that I would telephone the practice to have a meeting so that the practice could explain things to her and hopefully get an apology for the young man's behaviour. In the first instance, I spoke to a lady who seemed very pleasant. She then went and got the practice manager (a female). I asked if I could pop over after 4 p.m. so that she could help my friend understand. The manager confirmed that she was finishing work at 3.45 p.m. and would not be there. She made no attempt to reschedule a meeting. I then proceeded to tell her of my friend's experience and what the male colleague had told her, to which the manager replied, 'He wouldn't have said that'. I challenged her on this and asked if she was present at the time this was happening, and she said no. Although it makes no difference as to whether she was not there or not, the crux of the matter is that the manager made no attempt to say she would investigate the incident but instead assumed that her colleague could not have possibly said this. While I was not present when my friend and the colleague had a conversation, the gravitas on my account is more credible considering my friend came to me quite distressed after the event. There is no gravitas to be seen in failing to investigate a matter and acting totally presumptuous! I then told the manager that a complaint does not need to go to the practice and that because a member of staff had used draconian scare tactics in order to intimidate a customer, this was not acceptable and broke the very ethics of debt collection—not that this was a debt collection situation. It is most concerning because a company as large as this would have its own in-house credit controllers, and therefore a receptionist would not be obliged to comment on anything of a financial nature and most certainly not be permitted to provide unethical false information. I set out to get help for my friend from the organisation that was supposed to have shown a duty of care towards her. Instead, I encountered a brazen and defensive woman who simply didn't care. If this is what Companion Care and Vets 4 Pets portray to the public, then it is a sorry state of affairs. It clearly highlights a case of misplaced management, poor management, and customer care skills, and highlights that the best she could do was argue with me and point me in the direction of making a complaint via their branch email. This was nothing more than a pointless exercise, considering that it would have been the practice manager (she) that would have most likely answered the email. While the situation has not been resolved, my friend is going to take advice from the insurer, and if need be, she will pay the £171.00 and claim it back. In the meantime, she will not be supplying Companion Care with any future business and will be using a new vet practice (their competitor). Also, we have let Head Office know of the experience. What could have been an easily resolved solution turned out to be an unpleasant experience. I would not recommend this company to anyone. Furthermore, judging by the overall star-rated experience on Trustpilot, it would appear that Companion Care is not very credible, and I will most definitely not be recommending them on the basis of this experience.

Companion Care - Huddersfield.
I would give this practice a wide berth. The receptionists are rude and ignorant, and the ambience portrays exactly this!!
They are only interested in increasing their bottom line, and could not be anymore interested in your pet even if they tried.
Take your pet elsewhere…….

I am very disappointed in the service and lack of care shown at this vets.

I was unable to get an appointment at my usual vets but got help locating an alternative vets nearby with the help of a vet on facetime which is included in my pet policy.

Upon contacting the vets 4 days ago they got me in for an appointment to see my dog. My dog had previously suffered with diarrhoea a few days prior and now had trouble sitting down as it seemed painful.

I met with the vet who expressed the anal glands and sent me on my way £96 later with some Hibiscrub. I raised my concern to the vet that my dog was in pain and we needed some pain medication but was told to monitor the condition and hopefully all will now be ok. No temperature check or overall wellness check was carried out.

After bathing my dog in the luxury overpriced soap and his condition worsening i called the vet again the next day and begged for medication. I said the vet on facetime said he needed metacam due to inflammation and pain.

The receptionist took notes and left them on the system, when i arrived to collect the medication it was dog paracetamol which is not what i asked for. I informed the lady on reception and she said she will leave notes for the vet to change the medication and call me back as i was desperate to help the dog i paid again and took the medication.

After another restless night (my dog can no longer walk) i called back this morning (Friday) and was told she will inform the vet as there are no notes on the system again. I called again two hours later and was told the medication has been approved and i can come pick it up.

I asked on the phone if i can just exchange the medication as i never wanted these tablets and have asked for meticam for days now. I was told yes they will exchange and i wont have to pay just bring the other medication.

I arrived (now my fourth visit) they charged me for the medication and somehow are unable to trace the call which is recorded. After speaking with the branch manager she agreed there was notes stating i originally asked for meticam but they have to charge as they could not prove what was said on the phone and how the medication had been stored while in my possession.

On the same day my dog was seen i was told if im not happy i can book a follow up consultation ( chargeable) and again today i can book another appointment.

My dog walked into that clinic on Wednesday and now two days later is unable to walk and it has taken this long and £150+ to get some medication which is for sale online for £9 but you need a prescription.

Anyway here i am with my dog still unwell looking for another vet and an email address from Companion care to send my complaint to which will be responded to in 21 working days.

Do not go near this vet

Companion Care Cannock used to be a good vets but since they have changed owners is has gone downhill.

My dog went in to be spayed in February 23 and I was told the op went well. She had a nasty infection afterwards, which I don't know was down to them or not.

At the end of July, my dog appeared to go into season…

I took her back to Companion Care to be checked and I asked if this could be down to something being left behind in her previous operation.

I was told no chance. I had to pay over £100 for meds because they thought it was some sort of infection. This was despite the nurse agreeing that she looked in season.

They also tried to sell me an expensive scan which I declined.

I was asked to go back to see the vet a week later.

The vet we saw (who we later found out did the operation) tried to fob us off to say there was a third ovary. We knew this was unlikely and that it was likely caused by previous surgical error. We asked the opinion of another practice and they agreed.

I asked to see the head vet, and this appointment was arranged for the following Tuesday. By this point our dog was out of season.

He refused to admit there was any likelihood of surgical error. He said another procedure is required and that it would normally cost £800 but he'd only charge for the medication, which is only £250…

It took a good ten minutes of arguing my case but in the end the vet agreed to operate and only charge if there was a third ovary.

When I received the call from the nurse to advise the surgery had been successful and that another ovary had been found.

When I met with the head vet to pick up my dog he admitted it wasn't another ovary.

He admitted that the surgery was provided by their junior vet who'd apparently had no issues previously. The vet hadn't told anyone that there were issues with the previous operation.

He said he ovary was very close to the kidney which made the operation difficult. I said if this is the case, why didn't the junior vet flag they'd had issues and why did they tell us the first operation was a success with no issues?

He did not have an answer for that other than a 'I'm sorry about that'…. I also said had we know the first op was going to be carried out by a junior unsupervised vet we would have gone elsewhere.

He agreed to waive the cost of the 2nd procedure and the meds which were wrongly prescribed.

I have tried to move to another vets but they do not apparently have any prior medical notes for my dog, just a list of dates and invoices…. Strange that.

Avoid and find a proper vet.

Unfriendly and extremely expensive!!
£200/hr to clip my dog whilst he was sedated!
Not happy!!

I have been using this vets for years for my pets but over the last few years the service at the Tamworth branch has declined. Every time I visit I see a different vet, and on one occasion I saw a vet that didn’t know rats cannot be sick.
The last time I visited which was 29/08/23 and I saw a newly qualified vet that was unable to recognised and diagnose mites without discussing it with a colleague first. She was very inexperienced and lacking knowledge thinking rats were still young at 2 years old. The practice room was filthy, the table was covered in hair from previous pets.
This does not fill me with confidence and to be told if the treatment of £142 doesn’t work to go back for a scrape and further treatment. Why is this not done in the first place? We are not made of money or like watching our pets suffer?
I will be looking for a new vet and my advice to others find yourself a local independent vet to build up a relationship with so that your pets do not get stressed. If this is not possible pay £17.50 for the prescription and buy the medication online which will save your pocket a lot of money. This company is all about profit not our pets.

Took my elderly sick cat to the Brentford branch. He sadly had to be put down. Was shocked when. they asked me for £216.. I had to use my benefit money to pay the bill.. it's not the first time they have took a huge sum off me. 4yrs ago had to have our dog put down. They had around £300 off me then they billed me for over £40 because there was 3mths still left on their pet plan program that we had our dog on for 10yrs... con artists.