I'll make my story brief:

Called Western Dental's 800 # to see if I could get in to have an impacted wisdom tooth extracted.

My main concern was whether or not they accept Medi-Cal because that's what I have.

The lady told me over the phone that they do, but that it would be best to enroll in the Western Dental program for $90, which would entitle me to an exam, and then I could get my tooth extracted. And if the final cost exceeded $200, I could pay in installments.

Otherwise, if I were to use my Medi-Cal, I would have to pay a $630 copayment.

The former option, obviously, was the wiser choice.

So I go in, to the 24th street location.

Fill out all the papers, jump through some hoops.

And then I get called up to the front desk.

Regardless of whether or not I intend to use it, they say, they will not see me with my type of Medi-Cal. And on top of that, they will not let me enter into the program that their corporate office told me about. When I asked why, all I got was the old "it's just the policy" routine.

So... apparently front desk clerks are setting the regulations for Western Dental.

I raised a fuss, of course, and they supposedly called the regional manager... but still came back with the same story.

Class discrimination?

I'm poor as hell right now... I'm a college student with a wife and a kid.

All I want is a damn tooth pulled!!!

Just out of curiosity, I checked the Better Business Bureau's website to see if Western Dental  had any complaints against them, and HOLY CRAP!

The BBB's Fresno office alone showed 200 DIFFERENT COMPLAINTS!

In addition to that, the company's GRADE, as designated by the BBB, is a fat F!

Also, they are not BBB accredited, and so far as I can see on the BBB's website, the company rarely if ever makes any attempt to correct any complaints filed against it.

Also, if you want to see how loathed Western Dental is for their standards of cleanliness, their dentist's lack of training, and more... just do a google search for "complaints against Western Dental." You will have plenty of reading material.

Now, I don't have anything against Western Dental other than how they treated me today. I've never thought twice about them.

But after all the stuff I've read today, on top of my own experience, I just felt like I had to share this information with some people.

By the way, if anyone can recommend a dentist who does extractions, and accepts cash as payment (you'd be surprised at how many don't anymore), please let me know.

james

Sure, you'll deny it, Mr. or Mrs. Prop 8 supporter, but it's the truth.

You are segregationists.

You don't mind if gays exist, so long as they exist on your terms.

Years from now, you will be looked back upon for your anti-gay views just as we now look back on those who were opposed to equal rights for African Americans during our country's darkest chapters.

Your hate and your intolerance mirror the same types of sentiments.

Why can't you live and let live?

Why must you push your twisted religious ideas on others?

Why do you deny (by failing to mention it in your ridiculous Prop 8 tv ads) that religion is what this is really all about?

Do you think gays should dictate what you should and should not be able to legally do in your lives?

If not, why not?

And why do you think you should be entitled to dictate what they do in their lives, or don't do?

Do you believe you are superior simply because you are heterosexual?

And what is this "sanctity of marriage" nonsense?

The "sanctity" of marriage has been spoiled countless times over by heterosexuals.

Or do you really want us to believe that no Christians have ever messed up their marriages or have been divorced? Is that the kind of sanctity you're preaching?

What makes your hate so passionate?

Why?

Why not live and let live?

Do you really think the gay community is rotting our society?

Funny, that's what Hitler believed about the Jews and other minorities.

It's also what the KKK believes.

It's the exact same thing Castro believed.

And countless other dictators and oft-cited "evil-doers" of world history.

If you want to be lumped with those types, then by all means... continue to sharpen your swords and carry your torches and pitchforks, and march into the voting booths and cast your votes the same way Hitler would have.

But some day, when gays have finally achieved the equal rights that ALL HUMANS truly deserve, don't be a coward and hide from your past like many segregationists did.

Because us free thinkers will be there to remind you.