receptionists at dentist don't have a problem asking, no, not asking but demanding you pay first before you see the dentist, for many years they always asked after they had treated you, maybe some people didn't pay

i hurt my ankle once before i went to the phils, after limping around for a few days, the misses took me to a hospital in the phils, they did an x-ray etc, i paid, i wasn't expecting treatment for nothing after all there is no thing as a 'free lunch' someone, somewhere pays in the end and that's why your suppose to have health\travel insurance if you visit the UK.

as for your one reply to your post doc alan, its had 200+ views. i've made many posts that i thought were important and didn't get any replies, maybe people just don't have anything to reply with it doesn't mean they don't appreciate the time and effort you took