Rx Rant

We get 3 medications compounded.
For those who don't know what that is, I will try to explain.

These medications are made by hand. They are not poured out of a bottle of tablets or pills and counted by the pharmacist and handed to you. 
They must be compounded (homemade) with all the separate ingredients to make this Rx. 
I currently go to a special compounding pharmacy we will refer to as Pharmacy A.

Pharmacy A has been horrific. 
There is always something incorrect. 
Sometimes it is billing, shipping, filling of the RX or picking it up.  
I have had so many issues that when a survey was sent to me, I was honest and I laid it all out in a linear fashion. 
The owner then wrote to me with a seemingly sincere apology. 
I was also given 3 free shipping on my Rx's as an apology for what I had been through.

Recently I called a week in advance, which you must do to give them time to make it. Normally 3 days is enough but I give them a week just in case.
After a week I called because I did not get a message that it was ready.
They said it wasn't ready but it would be by the next day after 4pm. 
I went there the next day and it wasn't made. 
Now I have one day left of the pills. (thyroid) 
They again tell me it will be ready. Guess what? It wasn't. 
My doctor called and spoke to someone to get a fire under someone's ass. I got my Rx.  If they were short on an ingredient and were waiting for it to arrive then tell me. They have in the past. But to just leave me hanging with no medication to take was wrong in my eyes.

Another incident was when they charged my debit card on file for drugs I didn't receive or order. I had to prove it. 
I had to bring them my banks statements. I kept saying, did you fill it? 
No, they would say. Okay, then why did you charge me? 
I had to jump through hoops. They insisted they did not charge me. 
I was right they indeed charged me for several medications and they refunded me and apologized profusely. 
You know it is nice when you get an apology but when it keeps happening I find it hollow.

When my doctor calls in a new script I ask them to hold it until I need it refilled. 
This is not an issue at my regular pharmacy but for some reason, this makes them confused or so it appears.
When I see my dr I will get a new script for my drugs but I still have a refill left so I don't need to rush and fill it. They can't seem to get this.
They call me to say my dr called it in and they are filling it. 
I say, No please don't. I will call when I need it. 
Yet I still will get an email, a text and a call. Overkill to me.

There are so many examples that I just can't list them all.
Back to the survey, they sent me. I was honest.
They promised things were changing, new computers etc.
But it all keeps happening.

Earlier this week I called about my new Rx. It is for estradiol cream.
They text me that it is completed. I call and say since I have free shipping can you just ship this to me? 
No, You don't have free shipping. I suggest to Sebastian that he look again, I was given three and I have not used them. 
He says louder, You don't have any!
So I pick them up on my lunch break.

When I got home I found the email giving me the free shipping and I wrote back and said this is the 3rd time I've tried to use them but I am being told I don't have them. 
Do you see the issue you have in the customer service department? 
I am only sharing this because you asked me to.

I got a call immediately. She said it is there in big red letters.
I laughed and said you don't need to tell me, I suggest you share that with the people up front. I have picked it up and I don't need it shipped now.
She apologized. She told me to ask for her. I am not doing that every time I call. And what about if she isn't working that day or shift? Been there done that and not again.

This morning I called a compounding pharmacy that is much further away. (Pharmacy B)
I told them I was unhappy with the current compounding pharmacy and wanted to know the cost they would charge for these. (insurance does not cover compounding, only pharmaceuticals) 

Rick's Rx is 1/2 the price here. Yeah. One of mine is $4 more and the other is $9 more. But it still is cheaper on the whole with the 1/2 price for Rick.  But if I were to do a 3 months supply at one time they only charge for 2 months. SOLD.
They also ship for free. It's only 10 miles away but as I have mentioned before that takes an hour one way. So shipping is a big deal. I am thrilled.

I gave Pharmacy B's pharmacist all the Rx numbers this morning and he will call Pharmacy A. I am just tired of the issues. I just once would like to call in for a refill and there not be an issue or I don't have to call 3 x to get it right.

The bad pharmacy is 3 miles away and so convenient and I think I hung in there too long for this convenience. But in the end how convenient was it really?
So now I can save money and hopefully get my Rx in a timely manner with great service.
Hey, a gal can hope can't she?