LOS ANGELES, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- A Chicago woman is upset she's on the hook to pay monthly bills for a veterinary "wellness plan" for her cat months after the animal died.
Sarah Harper, 29, told the Los Angeles Times she paid an enrollment fee last year of $69.95 and agreed to $16.95 monthly payments to Banfield, the Pet Hospital, for her cat to receive regular vaccinations, exams and discounts on a variety of veterinary services.
Her cat died in October, and when she contacted Banfield, was told she's locked into a one-year contract regardless.
"Charging for his healthcare after he's dead? That's just evil," she said.
Banfield spokeswoman Kathy Baumgardner said the company doesn't sell the packages as insurance, the Times said.
"This is an issue we run into once in a while, when a client hasn't read the contract," Baumgardner said.
Banfield is the largest chain of veterinarian operators with 655 facilities nationwide, mostly attached to PetSmart pet-supply stores, the Times said.
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