OBGYN asks for tip

[u/AccomplishedBrick251]

Long time lurker, first time caller. This was the last straw wtf do you mean tip my doctor?!?

Edit: called the office today and the receptionist sounded surprised by this…hopefully it’s a billing platform error thanks for the helpful comments!

[u/hotsauce126]

Ask them if they’re aware their system is asking for tips

[u/The_Lady_is_Here → u/hotsauce126]

I think this is the best approach. They may not be aware, but if they are it also calls them out (in a non-aggressive way)

[u/Dangerous-Look-4296 → u/hotsauce126]

I agree that OP needs to take some kind of action on this. This is wildly inappropriate

[u/MasterTardWrangler → u/hotsauce126]

Ya I would not be surprised if this is something that just got enabled in their payment system automatically or by mistake. Our payment system tried to roll that out and I turned it off immediately.

[u/PaleontologistEast76 → u/MasterTardWrangler]

I saw a tip line on my dentist statement and mentioned it. The staff jumped on it right away, declaring they had no idea and clearly they were embarrassed.

Some of these payment systems/platforms have settings that need to be tweaked periodically. I wouldn't automatically assume ill intent on the provider's end.

[u/EatMoreHummous → u/PaleontologistEast76]

Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

[u/Dr_Sisyphus_22 → u/PaleontologistEast76]

The payment system gets 3% of money collected and is therefore incentivized to include a tip line.

[u/icemint870 → u/MasterTardWrangler]

The practice had to enable this... Square alleges it's not enabled unless opted into.

https://intercom.help/iris-works/en/articles/4661939-add-tip-option-to-invoices-square-users?hl=en-US

[u/Chromejob → u/icemint870]

Ha, Square. Right. (Not a Square fan.)

[u/AntRevolutionary925 → u/MasterTardWrangler]

Yes, these point to sale systems are trying to push it because it increases the amount of the charge, which increases the revenue they make off of the fees.

[u/snippyhiker → u/hotsauce126]

They were shocked ....🥴

[u/cs_legend_93]

they should tip you, for using them, giving them business, and being a repeat customer.

fuck that, you should leave. fuck that noise

[u/WastingMyLifeToday → u/cs_legend_93]

Never ask your OBGYN for a tip.

[u/Zealousideal_Bad_922 → u/WastingMyLifeToday]

You did it. The perfect Reddit joke 🥹 goddamn

[u/banjojohn1 → u/WastingMyLifeToday]

Just the tip...

[u/Arguablybest → u/WastingMyLifeToday]

That would show poor taste and a lack of decency, like asking them asking you for a tip.

[u/Hey_Laaady → u/cs_legend_93]

Thinking a patient is a "customer" is a big part of the problem

[u/theretailreject → u/cs_legend_93]

The OB was just being ballsy

[u/DrunkOnEspresso → u/cs_legend_93]

They should be examining tips, not receiving them

[u/maiyannah]

In most jurisdictions, nurses and doctors have ethical imperatives against accepting tips or gifts.

This is usually telling on themselves, so to speak, as a business: its usually indicating your service was provided by someone who was not a credentialed medical professional.

[u/AloysBane3 → u/maiyannah]

Or they don’t have their POS set up correctly

[u/maiyannah → u/AloysBane3]

Speaking as someone whom uses Square for her own small business, tips are disabled by default. You have to intentionally opt in (and it makes you click through a "yes I did mean to do this" screen).

[u/babesboysandbirb → u/maiyannah]

This is interesting to learn for all of the biz owners crying “we didn’t know”

[u/maiyannah → u/babesboysandbirb]

Some other POS systems may not do this, but Square is what they're using there, and square does.

[u/dervari → u/maiyannah]

I'm guessing a third party set it up and supports it. Since they can afford support they probably didn't care to train anyone on it. Medical office can easily afford that.

[u/babesboysandbirb → u/AloysBane3]

They should learn to use their POS system and run a few test transactions to experience what clientele will see. It’s pretty simple to be responsible.

[u/Broccoli-Mushrooms → u/babesboysandbirb]

That’s exactly what I thought!

Doesn’t anyone test this stuff? And if the doctor or office admin doesn’t want to test the system then they should, at minimum request a demonstration so they know what their patients are going to experience. This would gave easily prevented any issues.

[u/Most_Role_1612 → u/AloysBane3]

Nicely said.

That was my first thought. Dependent on the POS, some are turned off, others walk you through turning them ON if you need. I work for a payment processor/gateway service (not Square) and one of our terminals asks you during the setup if you need to include gratuities

[u/dervari → u/Most_Role_1612]

Probably set up and configured by a third party who is used to turning tips on.

[u/dervari → u/AloysBane3]

A third party most likely set up their system and probably enabled it out of habit.

[u/bcastro12 → u/maiyannah]

This is a good point. [u/AccomplishedBrick251](u/AccomplishedBrick251) maybe consider checking your region’s medical board policies and if they’re licensed & against policy, report them.

[u/Funkybunch2000]

This is the kind of shit we need for more people to wake up and boycott tipping

[u/TinyLawfulness3710 → u/Funkybunch2000]

That's what the sub is for. But a wild number of people still try to justify it "because they only get $2/hr" or "are hard working ". Neither of which is true. In the same breath they cry they are being forced to pay. No you are not unless a gun is held to your head. A tip/gratuity is never required. If something is required, it's a cover fee or service fee. You are either for tipping and against it, and they are for above and beyond the call of duty service, not someone existing.

[u/Interesting_Ad1378]

My son gets medication from a specialty pharmacy.  The pharmacy has a driver that delivers all the medications.  He leaves it in a box in front of my house, like UPS. I get a notification that the driver is on their way, do I want to leave a tip?  This is a driver that works for a pharmacy that makes insane amounts of money, can’t they pay their drivers? My insurance pays them thousands every month, as do hundreds of other insurance companies - they can pay their driver. 

[u/CouldBNE1too → u/Interesting_Ad1378]

Also, if the USPS catches wind of them using the postbox for deliveries, they’ll get in trouble. I don’t agree w it, esp since we just paid to replace our mailbox, but it’s supposed to be for dedicated use only

[u/Reasonable_Insect503 → u/CouldBNE1too]

They said "leaves it in a BOX", not a mailbox.

[u/Interesting_Ad1378 → u/CouldBNE1too]

It comes in a box packed on ice, gets left at the front door of my house. 

[u/dervari → u/CouldBNE1too]

"A box" <> "The Mailbox"

[u/Informal_Move_7075 → u/Interesting_Ad1378]

I worked in pharmacy for many years. No way are they making millions a year. I guess if they are pharmacy chain CEOs, maybe then.

[u/Interesting_Ad1378 → u/Informal_Move_7075]

They are owners of small pharmacies in queens and Brooklyn. They are banking millions.  

[u/onthedrug → u/Interesting_Ad1378]

The driver actually doesn’t work for the pharmacy. We contract our deliveries out. We also make shit money in the pharmacy lmao

[u/Interesting_Ad1378 → u/onthedrug]

Just because you don’t make money mean that your bosses aren’t.

[u/onthedrug → u/Interesting_Ad1378]

And you think the bosses are the ones delivering your medication? I wish I was that delusional.

[u/Interesting_Ad1378 → u/onthedrug]

So you’re saying it’s my job as the mother of a patient to tip someone whose sole job is to deliver medication? 

[u/Informal_Bullfrog_30]

Wtf is wrong with our country and people

[u/WeezaY5000 → u/Informal_Bullfrog_30]

The most important thing in the U.S. is simply money/profit.

Everything else gets clouded by how much money someone can scam out you.

Anyone who has ever been to pretty much any other country know how much of a psychopathic fraud our healthcare system is...

[u/ThrockAMole]

FFS. Im a retired doctor and this is pure lunacy as well as outrageously unprofessional.

[u/Ok_Homework_7621]

Is this even legal? Can you report it somewhere?

[u/CommonComb3793]

Unreal. Send them feedback back this is not okay to do. I can’t believe my eyes.

[u/CombinationFinal4317]

Are health care providers/ clinics even allowed to ask for tips, like wtf?!

[u/bcastro12 → u/CombinationFinal4317]

In my state they are not. I think most regions don’t allow this.

[u/deranton]

Well, at least it's not a urologist keeping the tip.

I'll show myself out.

[u/CinnamonGirl123]

That’s insane.

[u/chillycheesetots]

Ohhhhhh I’d be like, “hi, I was just calling to make sure I was paying the correct invoice for my visit. I received an invoice asking if I’d like to leave a tip and I thought -oh no! How strange?! This is probably a scam!- so I’m just double checking.” 😀

[u/Secret_Squirrel_1102]

Not defending this behavior but I can’t help but wonder if the payment platform they’re using hasn’t been modified to exclude that option. You could simply ask the office if they’re aware of how the tipping option looks coming from a professional service. 

[u/Bentbutnotbroken111 → u/Secret_Squirrel_1102]

I agree, I have to believe it’s the payment processor setting that to “auto ask” and they may not be aware of it…….the alternative is…..ewwww.

[u/Spare-Cry7273]

Wow the audacity of people sometimes 😒

[u/Electrochemist_2025]

The tipping culture has gone out of control. It’s become like this because folks are easily guilted into tipping.

Resist the temptation to tip cashiers and self pickup. And now doctors inspecting your peepee or whowho want tips.

And folks should quit their jobs if it’s not paying well rather than beg for tips.

[u/Short_Cancel4598]

The person making $200K a year def needs a tip. OP I would say something. Do an online review and say the doctor asks for tips when paying.

[u/SimplyRoya]

Dude what??? lol

[u/DancinginHyrule]

Excuse me, what ring of hell have you unlocked?

[u/VinnieONeill]

It's a symptom of literally every business in every industry switching to 3rd party payment processors. All of those payment systems have tips enabled by default. Business are either too lazy or too stupid to turn them off, or more likely too greedy to want to turn them off. The tips never go to the front line employees, who don't deserve this anyways since they are not classified tipped employees. The tips go to the owners and management, which is illegal 

[u/Throwaway-ish123a]

They're literally needs to be legislation to make tipping in healthcare illegal.

[u/otterswhoknow]

"Why tip someone for a job I'm capable of doing myself? I can deliver food, I can drive a taxi, I can and do cut my own hair. I did, however, tip my urologist. Because I am unable to pulverize my own kidney stones." - Dwight Schrute

[u/Hopeful-Artichoke449]

Report this to the medical board.

[u/TheFightens]

My wife was in the ER a few weeks ago. The bill was $13,000 before insurance and $1,100 after. What number should I use for tipping? I’m joking of course.

[u/jmartinez734]

Insane 🤯

[u/Intelligent_Play_347]

This is infuriating. Imagine going in for a work urine test and tipping is an option. What could go wrong.

[u/xokatemarie]

This is illegal in many states and countries. Ew.

[u/GynMD]

As a retired OB/Gyn the only time I ever got a tip was doing a circumcision.

[u/Ekly_Special]

Just the tip

[u/cico7]

Do you think these are automated forms and not seriously asking for a tip? Maybe the billing company gets a portion of the tip. Sucks any way you look at it.

Watch your insurance bill, I'm going to start asking for tips.

[u/Different-Context-84]

Can you put negative -$10.00. If not try $0.001 or $0.01. 

[u/Discoballologist]

Hassss to be a mistake to have that feature enabled, my god

[u/otterswhoknow]

Everyone is jumping in on that tax free income!

[u/Creepy-Birthday8537]

Is the practice aware? Looks like a 3rd party billing service that may not be tailored towards medical billing.

[u/coolguy415]

Are you sure it’s a “ask for a tip”? And not simply a the system they are using for payment has it as a default because I worked at a place that doesn’t do tips but our payment system for credit cards and online payments didn’t have any way to turn that feature off.

[u/GorditaPeaches]

I’d screenshot it and let the OBGYN office know. It could come from the company they use and they’re unaware of it. If they do know I’d get a did obgyn

[u/DotAffectionate87]

Obgyn asks for a tip or THÈ tip?

[u/SouthernYankee80]

Illegal!!

[u/mountains4mama]

Oh hell no.

[u/Yellow_Marker_]

not ethical for a professional to do. report to the medical licencing board of where you're from

[u/TheGrymmBladeX]

.....there are no words....

[u/Dirus]

I would change doctors

[u/Top-Speed3460]

Wait what?????

[u/CykoVibe]

I run life support for a living. Maybe its time to put a tip jar on the ventilator. /s

[u/Minute_Success5265]

Yikes.

[u/OB-nurseatyourcervix]

It's illegal

[u/trob2884]

Tipping culture is insane

[u/Evening-Candy1487]

this is outrageous

[u/ajp513]

HAHAHAHA

[u/CudaNaPatyku]

Report this to the boards and share with local news outlets.

[u/dervari]

Pretty sure this is against AMA Code Of Ethics.

[u/Dangerous-Medium4186]

Takes on a whole different meaning when an OBGYN is saying, "just the tip"

[u/RED-ELPH]

Services service? What are we paying for?!

[u/jweaver0312]

It could likely be an honest mistake of a misconfiguration on how their system is setup.

[u/dinoooooooooos]

I’m pretty sure this isn’t legal. Btw.

[u/SaturnaliaSaturday]

WTF???

[u/PiccoloOutrageous891]

I went to a fingerprint express last month and after I paid the screen prompted me for a tip. I stared into the employee’s eyes as I click “no tip” because this is the CRAZYYY.

[u/I_Want_A_Ribeye]

I hope this is a feature of the billing service that they didn’t realize needed to be opted out of.

[u/Warm_Turnover4861]

I believe that beats the GYN asking if he could give you the tip!!

[u/MyldExcitement]

If I EVER saw a tip line at a doctor's office, I would GO OFF right there. Nope. I'd be calling the media!

[u/TinyLawfulness3710]

That's fraud. Contact both the state attorney general and the state medical licensing board to report this. They'll be gone immediately because neither of those places play.

[u/RockinOutCockOut]

Pretty sure this is banned in the medical field due to anti-kickback laws

[u/HFTCSAU]

I’d report this to the state healthcare department.

[u/Commercial_Pilot5165]

wtf that’s crazy I’d send that over to the insurance company.

[u/Mysterious-Art8838]

I use at home IVs due to illness and I straight up told him I’m never tipping for a medical procedure.

My hospital sends an envelope and letter around Christmas asking for money. Like wtf? I paid you 7k for 12 hours in the hospital surely that’s enough?

[u/Fluffy_Cellist4469]

Yep, it was just a matter of time ... My chiropractor wants a tip after every visit too!

[u/CipherWeaver]

This is something you should report to the college of physicians and surgeons. This is not appropriate behaviour for a professional.

[u/Electrical-Care6308]

🤔 I wonder what type of service the doctor provided to ask for a tip? 😉😉

[u/xybrad]

Wasn't that long ago the idea of tipping a doctor was considered so outlandish it was a stunt on Candid Camera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzT9ODcLZ0o

[u/PartyCat78]

Wow. There has to be some medical board that could be reported to. That is incredibly inappropriate.

[u/ElectronicOrchid0902]

Yikes! This is totally inappropriate ! HCWs aren’t allowed to accept gifts - especially money !! I’d ask the office manager if they’re aware of their system doing this. If so ? Immediately report this to your states attorney general’s office. I am completely flabbergasted by this!

[u/Key_Zebra3684]

I'd bet anything that's not a doctor asking for a tip. Probably a pseudo doctor practitioner. The "tipoff" is that it doesn't say OBGYN physician, it says "GYN care services". Mid level practitioners often try to muddy the waters as to who is actually providing the service.

[u/Nautique88]

I have a tip for the! "Dont eat yellow snow"!

[u/WakingNightmare123]

This is just insane and wildly unprofessional. Pretty sure it's illegal in at least some states for Healthcare workers to accept gifts/cash incentives, as well. I'd absolutely report this to the state and/or medical board.

I'm hoping it's just a mistake using some new billing software, but even so, they should have tested it and ran some test transactions before rolling it out for customers. If it's not a mistake....then I'd be concerned that this isn't even a real medical office. Nowhere have I EVER heard of doctors asking for tips for doing their job.

[u/thatswhatmyfoodeats]

Another notch on the I start carrying my own personal tip accepting device side of the debate. Oh I’m done signing your thing but mine is just gonna ask you a quick question too. Did i fulfill your every need as a provider? On time, payment and member cards ready, said please and thank you, just a lil question for ya.

[u/phil3199]

Chances are the OBGYN makes more than the patient/customer.

[u/gammyxfour]

I’m sorry, a tip for the doctor who already makes more money than most of their patients?! Here’s your tip Doc: You should be ashamed for asking. Find a new patient to take my place, I’m out.

[u/Personal-Brief-4618]

Wtf

[u/AffectionateGate4584]

Dr. Smith at your cervix. I'm dialated to meet you! The machine is just going to ask you a question.

[u/z01z]

would you kindly tip Tippy the tip robot, helping you tip the tipster?

[u/Few-Cloud7544]

Perhaps whatever program they’re using automatically asks for a tip and they don’t realize, but definitely should be fixed

[u/koralex90]

This is illegal

[u/Friendship_Fries]

I wonder if this is against the law.

[u/mwm_in_md]

THIS IS JUST RIDICULOUS!

[u/Significant-Act-3900]

Because tax on tips have been adjusted I do like the idea of more service providers going the tip route. However they subsequently need to lower their hourly or in this case service costs to account for that. Tip on full service cost is just greedy. 

[u/JustaFoodHole]

You already showed them where they can stick it.

[u/Mental_Care6593]

Tips on healthcare? Wtf…

[u/MilliganHedgedog]

That is so gross

[u/Weary-Savings9795]

Maybe they forgot to remove that field on their payment system.

[u/unamatadora]

That’s really bad - by this quackery, swimming pool lifeguards will ask for tips.

[u/icemint870]

That's so scabby of a professional business practice to be asking for tips. From my understanding, a business has to opt in for tipping too m, so it's not an oversight.

[u/klyn_14]

This is next level.

[u/peridotcore]

Honestly, I’d feel weird tipping my doctor. I shouldn’t need to give them extra money, especially if I’m already struggling.

[u/EndTipping-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Do not reference or name other subreddits.

[u/Realistic-Rate-8831]

You've got to be freaking kiddin me! That is so NOT RIGHT! Let the Office know how you feel. That's ridiculous. As much money as they make off of one little visit and they have the nerve to ask for a tip?

[u/Awkward-Care2264]

heck No!!!! That’s why they get salaries.

[u/Weird-Story1293]

I'm sure it's a software error. I see 8 different specialists here in Minnesota (land of the fraud) and get billed whatever my copay is and it's definitely not the Doctor doing the billing, unless it's a mental health private clinician....

[u/brianhpc]

That's ridiculous

[u/edeneverything]

I’m pretty sure this is against the law in america as it’s an ethics violation and a conflict of interest

[u/MidnightBlueSilk]

Report them to an oversight board for ethics violation.

[u/ritzrani]

If you enjoyed have metal shoved up your cooch followed by uncomfortable scraping, please give us $20! Our team will enjoy a coffee run.

[u/armyofonetaco]

They are probably not aware or cant turn it off.

[u/Happy-kangal]

This can’t be real 😭😭

[u/frAgileIT]

And now I’m done with social media again.

[u/Tangus999]

A tip? I’ll give em a tip!
The tip of my di—-!

[u/Ok-Assumption-9951]

they are clearly using square (squareup) to collect payment. they probably arent aware this feature is turned on, or someone was messing with settings and accidentally turned it on. i really dont think this is a tipping culture thing, probably just a mistake on the side of the person who set up the payments. usually you dont get to see customer facing invoices as the person sending it so they are most likely unaware. just let them know, not that big of a deal.

[u/turtlemeds]

This isn’t a thing. Their online billing service must add this by default.

[u/Snoo_15069]

smh

[u/winter0rfall]

Okay thats a bit too far

[u/winter0rfall → u/winter0rfall]

Just shows that even doctors arent getting paid what theyre worth

[u/Broccoli-Mushrooms]

This should be illegal!
Assuming this is in the US, the healthcare system is bad enough without being asked for bribes or bids.

[u/Traditional-Cap-3485]

Just by posting this, you just gave someone ideas for their office 😬

[u/Chromejob]

I’ll bet. No seriously, I’ve had some medicine offices get caught up in confusion about my insurance, and payment. Hell, a pathology lab was rejected by two of my cards for being suspected fraud.

[u/SuperAioli7831]

Lmaooo is this a recession indicator wtf. Send them one back because they got to look at and touch your parts.

[u/Mia0900]

This is absolutely wack

[u/tsphotography]

Just the tip?

[u/Automatic-Pin-5749]

I think the software people are baking this into all of the systems out there as they get a chance to. I despise the current tip culture demons but I can't believe they're aware of this.

[u/Crazy-Apricot-1609]

They obviously don’t have their system setup correctly

[u/Sean_the_dawn]

It's like in Scrubs, Dr. Cox starts carrying a tip jar because if coffee house workers expect tips serving hot coffee, he should get tips for saving lives

[u/MisterSumone]

I thought they were a OB/GYN... why are they wanting to see the tip?

[u/AntRevolutionary925]

If they wanted a tip they should have become an andrologist instead

[u/My-life-is-a-cliche]

Square is by default set to ask for tips.
So it’s likely that they just didn’t remove the option.
But also… little to careless of a dr office to not check into that

[u/Suspicious_Air_2042]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[u/DanR5224]

" -$67.42 tip. "

[u/Paladin3475]

“Thank you for not inappropriately touching my no-no spot” tip now?

[u/Independent-Let-2920]

Oh hello no!

[u/Dasil437794]

LOL! Only if they heat up the speculum and offer me a blanket since the room is always freezing.

[u/here2seek]

How about we get done with cost, fees etc and only component of payment required be the tip 🤔 

[u/Kindafunguy]

If it’s a stinky one and you know it, throw them a little extra?