Helotes Appliance Repair

I should have learned the first time my son was a patient there, and the terrible service I received, that nothing was ever going to improve. Dr. Gideon is a fantastic pediatrician. One of the best. But her staff is terrible. Years ago, when they first opened, I took my son to see her. Each time I needed to schedule an appointment or needed something from the receptionist, they were rude, cold, and couldn't care less that they were in the field of pediatric health. So I left. But then, last year in October, I decided to start seeing her again because the staff was different. Unfortunately, they are the typical example of smart, educated people with lazy, rude employees. Don't they want people representing them who match their level of professionalism? One would think. The receptionist at the entrance is disinterested in anyone waiting, and always looks as if she rolled out of bed 2 seconds before going to work. Their management is rude and completely non customer service oriented. They sent me a copay bill for a wellness-which should have been a $0 copay. Then threatened to send me to collections--over $30! Never once calling to explain to me that it didn't fall under the wellness. I still have no idea why. I mailed a check, asking for it to be held a few days before depositing, and the check was cashed anyway, resulting in an NSF fee for me. Yes, maybe I shouldn't have sent the check. But I wrote a letter explaining the situation and wasn't given the courtesy of a phone call explaining to me 1) why I was charged a copay and 2) that they couldn't hold the check. All they care about is their bottom line. Which is apparent by the new office they're building. I don't even live near their office anymore, but I liked Dr. Gideon and wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt on another chance. I will not be going back and will get my records from them. Don't waste your time on this practice. There are plenty other small pediatric offices that would treat you and your child as if they really matter and aren't just another chart in their system.

My children all have birthdays in the spring; March, April, May. When I called the office to schedule the appt, the receptionist making my appt told me she would schedule 2 children to go for 1 appt and the last one for another appt time. When I stopped her and said, I really would like to make it for one appt, it would be easier for me since I bring them all in every time anyway. She snapped, "ma'am, this is our policy and this is how I am going to schedule it". I was thrown off. I said, "well, I would like to talk to Dr Tamayo about scheduling them all at once. She took down my number and name to have her call me back.

After 4 hours passed, I hadn't heard from Dr Tamayo. So, I called the office back. As soon as the receptionist heard my name, she told me to hold on (never telling me I was going to be transferred) and a man's voice came on the line. He told me that he was the office manager and began blasting me about how they are not going to schedule an appt for all 3 because it is against their policy. He never took a breath long enough for me to talk. He began telling me that the rooms were the size of phone booths (which they aren't, as I have waited for a VERY long period of time to be seen w ALL three of my children), blasted me as a mother asking me "you are really going to make all of your children sit and wait that long?". I was so flustered at this point, I did not know what to say. All that I could say was, "I want to talk to Dr Tamayo, that is who I called to speak to". He told me that he refused to let me talk to Dr Tamayo about an admin issue. I told him that I could come to the office and speak to her and he told me that he would refuse to let me speak to her and kept yelling at me. I had nothing left in me and could not tolerate another second of it, so I hung up (which I am deeply sorry for).

;people don't care what you know, unless they know that you care". They did not care about my feelings, my thoughts, my concerns, or certainly not my family.

If I had been allowed, I would have said the following:

1) I could understand your policy if I had a special needs child who required more attention and care

2) I could understand if I had 3 very young children that it would be hard for them to sit still. But, I don't. I have a 10 and 7 y/o who bring a book or gaming device or keep their 2 year old brother entertained. Not to mention, they are all extremely WELL behaved.

3) I could understand your policy if I was a parent who had lots of questions, concerns or called your office all of the time. But, we are not those parents either.

This is why I wanted to speak to Dr Tamayo in the first place. I thought maybe she would reconsider, knowing our family the best out of all of the people in the office. But, she was more concerned about her "policy" at that point than her "patients".I wanted to give her and her office the benefit of the doubt. I figured that I could tolerate a rude staff for a great physician for my children. I made the wrong choice. the office manager I found out later, was her father.





If this office has taken their time to find out my perspective, my thoughts and concerns, or cared about me and my family in any way, all of that could have been avoided. It's called customer service, which is what every other reviewer has said this office is lacking. I said that I was going to talk to Dr Tamayo and was refused the opportunity to do so, so maybe she will read this review, maybe she won't.