Q: Can my vet add to my invoice from something in 2020, 4 years ago and add interest fee and late charges all in one day.

A: This is a complex situation that raises several legal and ethical questions about veterinary billing practices. Here's a breakdown of the key issues:

1. Adding charges from 2020:

Generally, a business can bill for services rendered, even if there was an initial oversight. However, the significant delay (4 years) in billing could be problematic, especially if there was no prior communication about these charges.

2. Late fees and interest charges:

The legality of adding these depends on the terms of service you agreed to when you first became a client. If these fees were not part of your agreement, adding them retroactively might not be legal.

3. Statute of limitations:

In California, the statute of limitations for written contracts is 4 years, and for oral contracts, it's 2 years. Depending on the nature of your agreement with the vet, some of these old charges might no longer be legally enforceable.

4. Refusing partial payment:

While a business can set its own payment policies, refusing a good-faith partial payment in a situation where payment plans were previously discussed could be seen as unreasonable.

5. Ethical considerations:

The sudden addition of significant charges from years ago, especially given your recent loss and current financial situation, raises questions about the ethical practices of this veterinary clinic.

Given the complexity of this situation, you may want to consider the following steps:

1. Request a detailed, itemized bill showing all charges, including dates of service and when each charge was added to your account.

2. Review any contracts or agreements you signed with the vet clinic regarding payment terms and late fees.

3. If you believe the charges are unfair or illegal, you could file a complaint with the California Veterinary Medical Board or seek legal advice from a consumer protection attorney.

4. Consider discussing the situation with the clinic owner or manager, explaining your situation and attempting to negotiate a fair resolution.

5. If the clinic is part of a larger company or chain, you might want to escalate your complaint to their corporate office.

Remember, while vets are entitled to fair compensation for their services, they also have ethical obligations to their clients and patients. The sudden addition of significant charges from years ago, combined with inflexible payment terms, may not align with these obligations.