Owen
Harris Hill & Gibbons would like you to think it is a quaint and intimate country veterinary practice. It is, of course, nothing of the sort. HHG was acquired in 2006 by the fast growing corporate beast CVS, which has since floated on the London stock exchange. It employs nine thousand people across several countries. The veterinary sector is about as regulated as Dodge City. Its complaints and redress procedures are virtually non-existent, and the mediation provision is toothless. It is in this lawless environment that big fish such as CVS thrive and grow, swallowing up small practices at a rate which has attracted the attention (albeit to no avail) of the CMA. CVS’ ruthlessness will become clear to anyone finding themselves at loggerheads with the business. For example, if your insurance company finds a way to reject claims for several thousand pounds on a technicality for which you believe the practice is responsible (as was my experience), you will soon find that the interests of customers, staff and pets all come a distant second to those of CVS’ shareholders. The corporate leviathan is intransigent, inflexible and dogged. It knows you have nowhere else to turn. So do yourself a favour. Say no to the rapacious Goliath of pet care, and find yourself an independent vet. Two stars for occasional excellent work by individuals, and some care by some staff which was somewhat good, some of the time.
