Payment & Finance Options
How payment works, what we accept, how to spread the cost, and exactly what happens if you need to cancel. Everything in one place, before you commit to anything.
High-value dental treatment is not a small purchase. The payment process — how much is due when, what methods are accepted, what protections you have — deserves a clear, plain-English explanation before you make any decision.
This page provides that. No buried terms. No surprises after booking.
The Payment Structure — Step by Step
Step 1 — Free Assessment (No Payment)
Your assessment, treatment plan and itemised cost are all produced before any payment is required. You review the plan, ask questions and confirm you are happy with every element — cost, included items, guarantee terms — before paying anything.
Payment at this stage: £0
Step 2 — Deposit to Confirm Your Booking
Once you are satisfied with your plan and want to confirm your dates, a deposit is required.
Deposit amount: £200 — deducted from your total treatment cost What it covers: Clinic appointment scheduling, hotel reservation, transfer booking, coordinator assignment When it is due: At the point of booking confirmation — not before
The deposit is the only payment required before you travel.
Step 3 — Balance at the Clinic
The remaining balance — your total treatment cost minus the deposit — is paid at the clinic on your first or second clinical day. Not before you travel. Not as a bank transfer in advance.
Payment at the clinic: Cash (GBP or EUR), card (Visa, Mastercard), or bank transfer arranged in advance if preferred
Why we do it this way: Paying the balance in person, at the clinic, after your Day 2 assessment, gives you a final checkpoint. If the Day 2 examination reveals that the agreed plan needs to change, your cost is discussed and confirmed before you pay the balance. You are never presented with a bill for work you did not agree to.
Summary
| Stage | Payment | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment and treatment plan | £0 | Before any decision |
| Deposit | £200 (deducted from total) | At booking confirmation |
| Balance | Remainder of total | At clinic — Day 1 or 2 |
| Total paid before travelling | Deposit only | — |
How to Pay — Methods Accepted
Deposit — UK Payment Methods
The deposit is paid to Gee Smile (a UK-registered company) via:
Debit card: Visa Debit, Mastercard Debit Processed via secure, encrypted card payment. No surcharge.
Credit card: Visa, Mastercard, American Express A small processing fee may apply to credit card payments — confirmed before you pay. Note on 0% credit cards: see “How to Spread the Cost of Your Treatment” below.
Bank transfer (BACS): Account details are provided on your booking invoice. Use your name and booking reference as the payment reference. Please allow 2 working days. Transfer confirmation required before booking is secured.
Balance — Payment at the Clinic
The balance is paid directly at our partner clinic in Turkey.
Cash:
- GBP (British pounds) — accepted and often preferred; no conversion fee applies
- EUR (Euros) — accepted; converted at the clinic’s daily rate
- Turkish Lira (TRY) — accepted; converted at the clinic’s daily rate
Card at clinic:
- Visa, Mastercard — accepted
- A small card processing fee typically applies at the clinic — your coordinator confirms the current rate
- American Express — confirm acceptance with your coordinator before travelling
Note on carrying cash: Many patients choose to carry a significant portion of the balance in GBP cash — this avoids card fees and currency conversion margins. The clinic provides a receipt for all cash payments. Your coordinator advises on the nearest cash exchange if needed.
Security of Payment
Deposit payment security: All card payments are processed through a PCI DSS compliant payment provider. No card details are stored by Gee Smile. Payments are encrypted end-to-end.
Clinic payment security: Our partner clinic provides a formal receipt for all payments. Your treatment invoice — itemised, matching your agreed plan — is issued before payment is made. Retain all receipts for your records.
How to Spread the Cost of Your Treatment
Dental treatment is a significant expense. Several approaches allow UK patients to spread the cost without formal finance arrangements.
0% Purchase Credit Cards
Many UK banks and credit providers offer 0% interest on purchases for 12–24 months for qualifying customers. Using a 0% credit card for the deposit — and potentially arranging a card payment for the clinic balance — allows patients to spread the cost at no additional interest charge for the promotional period.
How this works in practice:
- Apply for a 0% purchase card before your treatment
- Use it for the deposit payment (note: a small processing fee may apply — see “How to Pay” above)
- For the clinic balance: either carry cash (to avoid clinic card fees) or use the card directly at the clinic
- Repay the card balance over the 0% period
Common providers (check current offers — these change): Barclaycard, Halifax, MBNA, Virgin Money, NatWest — all have offered 0% purchase periods. MoneySavingExpert maintains a current comparison: moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/0percent-credit-cards
Section 75 protection: Purchases of £100–£30,000 on a UK credit card are protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. This means your card provider is jointly liable if the goods or services are not delivered as agreed. Paying the deposit on a UK credit card gives you additional consumer protection beyond the agency’s cancellation policy. This is worth considering.
Third-Party Medical Finance
We do not currently have a formal finance partner. We recommend exploring:
- 0% credit card (above)
- Personal loan from your UK bank — compare current APRs for creditworthy applicants
- Dental finance specialists such as Chrysalis Finance and Tabeo — search for current offers
A note on third-party finance: We do not receive commission from finance referrals. Any finance arrangement is between you and the lender — independent of Gee Smile. Ensure you understand the total repayable, the interest rate after any 0% period, and any early repayment terms before committing.
Phasing Treatment Across Two Visits
For patients combining multiple treatments — implants plus veneers, for example — some clinical plans can be structured across two separate visits. This allows the cost to be split across two separate financial periods.
Example: Implant placement on Visit 1. Veneer treatment on Visit 2 — 3–6 months later. Each visit is quoted and paid separately.
Clinical caveat: Not all treatment combinations can be appropriately phased — some sequences are clinically determined rather than financially convenient. Your coordinator confirms what is and is not appropriate for your specific plan before this is agreed.
Planning Your Budget — Practical Guide
What to budget for:
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment package | From £310 | Depends on treatment — itemised quote provided |
| Return flights | £100–£250 | Varies by airport, airline and booking lead time |
| Spending money | £150–£300 | Meals beyond breakfast, leisure, personal items |
| Travel insurance | £20–£50 | Strongly recommended — see below |
| Total estimated | £270–£600 | Excluding treatment package |
Travel insurance note: Standard travel insurance does not cover elective dental treatment. It does cover emergency complications, trip cancellation due to illness, and personal property. Ensure your policy includes these. Approximate cost for 5–7 days: £20–£50 depending on age and cover level.
Currency, Exchange Rates and What to Know
Quoting Currency
All Gee Smile quotes are in GBP (£). Your deposit is invoiced in GBP. Your receipt is in GBP. There is no currency risk between your quote and your deposit payment.
The Clinic Balance — Currency Options
The clinic balance is paid in Turkey, where the local currency is Turkish Lira (TRY). However, our partner clinics quote international patients in GBP or EUR — not TRY — because this eliminates the exchange rate variable for both parties.
What this means: If your balance is quoted in GBP, you pay exactly that GBP amount — either in GBP cash or converted at the day’s rate for EUR or card payments. The GBP amount does not fluctuate with the TRY exchange rate because the clinic prices in GBP for international patients.
If You Pay by Card at the Clinic
Card payments at the clinic involve a currency conversion — from GBP to TRY and back, or from EUR. Two costs apply:
- Clinic card processing fee: A small percentage charged by the clinic — your coordinator confirms the current rate
- Card foreign transaction fee: Typically 2.75%–2.99% — charged by your UK bank
To avoid both: Pay the clinic balance in GBP cash. No conversion, no fees.
To minimise card fees: Use a fee-free travel card (Starling, Monzo, Chase UK, Halifax Clarity) which charges no foreign transaction fee. You still pay the clinic’s processing fee, but not your bank’s fee.
Cash in Turkey
How much cash to bring: Your coordinator provides a final payment breakdown before you travel. Carry the clinic balance in GBP cash plus a 10%–15% buffer for spending money.
Where to exchange in the UK:
- Avoid airport exchange desks — rates are poor
- Post Office Travel Money, Travelex online, M&S Travel Money typically offer better rates
- Some patients use Wise (formerly TransferWise) to convert GBP to EUR or TRY at mid-market rate
Where to exchange or withdraw in Turkey: Turkish cities have numerous exchange bureaux (döviz), ATMs and bank branches. Your coordinator advises on the best option near the hotel for any additional exchange needed on arrival.
Cancellation and Refunds — The Full Policy
Your Right to Cancel
You can cancel your booking at any point before your treatment begins. The refund you receive depends on how much notice you give.
Cancellation Timeline and Refund
| Notice Given | Refund |
|---|---|
| 14+ days before arrival | Full deposit refund, less £50 administrative fee |
| 7–13 days before arrival | 50% of deposit refunded |
| Less than 7 days before arrival | Deposit non-refundable |
| Cancellation due to medical reason (documented) | Full deposit refund — see below |
This policy is provided in writing at the time of booking. The above is a standard outline — your booking confirmation contains the exact terms applicable to your booking.
Medical Cancellation
If you are unable to travel due to a medical reason — confirmed in writing by your GP or treating physician — we refund the full deposit, regardless of notice given.
Required documentation:
- Written confirmation from your GP or treating physician stating your medical condition prevents travel
- Provided within 7 working days of the cancellation
We do not require the specific diagnosis — only confirmation that a medical reason prevents travel. We process medical cancellation refunds within 10 working days of receiving documentation.
Rescheduling
If you need to reschedule — rather than cancel — we accommodate this where clinic availability allows.
Rescheduling fee: £50 administrative fee where rescheduling occurs less than 14 days before the original arrival date.
No fee: Rescheduling with 14+ days notice, subject to availability.
Your deposit transfers to the new dates — no refund and re-deposit required.
What If Gee Smile Cancels or Significantly Changes Your Booking?
In the unlikely event that Gee Smile cancels or makes a material change to your booking — clinic unavailability, change of partner clinic, significant change to the agreed schedule — you are entitled to:
- A full deposit refund, or
- Transfer to alternative dates/clinic at no additional cost
A “material change” is defined as: a change of clinic without your agreement, a schedule change of more than 2 days from the original, or the unavailability of the specific treatment quoted. Minor schedule adjustments (appointment time changes within the same day) do not constitute a material change.
Section 75 and Chargeback
If you paid the deposit by credit card: UK credit card payments of £100–£30,000 are protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. If Gee Smile fails to deliver the service as agreed, your card provider is jointly liable and you can make a claim directly with them.
If you paid by debit card: Chargeback is available through your bank’s dispute resolution process — though it is a bank policy, not a legal right, and outcomes are at the bank’s discretion.
We recommend paying the deposit by credit card specifically for this protection — even if you carry cash for the clinic balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay the full treatment cost before I travel?
No. You pay a £200 booking deposit — deducted from your treatment total — to confirm your booking. The balance is paid at the clinic in Turkey — typically on Day 1 or 2, after your clinical assessment confirms the agreed plan. You never pay the full amount in advance.
What if my Day 2 assessment changes what I need — do I pay for treatment I didn’t agree to?
No. If the Day 2 examination changes the recommended treatment — a tooth needing root canal before crowning, for example — the revised plan and cost are discussed with you before any additional work begins. The balance you pay reflects the treatment you agreed to. Nothing is done without your prior consent and nothing is charged without your agreement.
Can I use a 0% credit card for the deposit and balance?
Yes — and we recommend considering it specifically for Section 75 protection on the deposit. Most UK 0% purchase credit cards can be used for the deposit (note: a small processing fee applies). For the clinic balance, many patients prefer GBP cash (to avoid the clinic card fee) or use a fee-free travel card (Starling, Monzo, Chase UK).
What currency should I bring to Turkey?
GBP is the simplest choice — the clinic quotes and accepts GBP directly, so there is no conversion uncertainty. Bring the balance amount in GBP cash plus spending money. Avoid converting to Turkish Lira before you travel — GBP is accepted directly and saves a conversion step.
Is it safe to bring a significant amount of cash to Turkey?
Our treatment destinations in Turkey are major international cities. Standard travel precautions apply: use a money belt, split cash between bags, keep the bulk in the hotel safe and carry what you need for each day. The clinic provides a receipt for all payments. Your coordinator advises on safe cash-handling specifics.
What happens to my deposit if I need to cancel?
See the full cancellation policy above. For cancellations with 14+ days notice, most of the deposit is refunded less a small administrative fee. For medical cancellations with documentation, the full deposit is refunded regardless of notice. For last-minute cancellations without medical reason, the deposit is not refundable.
Can I pay by PayPal or bank transfer?
Bank transfer is available — details in the payment methods section above. PayPal is not currently accepted. Note that bank transfer and PayPal do not provide Section 75 protection — if consumer protection is a priority, credit card is preferable for the deposit.
What if I need to cancel but my reason is not strictly medical?
Contact your coordinator as soon as you know you cannot travel — the earlier the notice, the better the refund outcome. We deal with every cancellation on its specific circumstances and aim to be reasonable where we can. The policy above sets the contractual baseline; we apply judgment where the specific situation warrants it.
Any Payment Question Not Covered Here?
Payment logistics should never be the reason you cannot proceed with treatment you want and need. If your situation involves a specific question — an unusual payment method, a complex currency situation, a finance arrangement you have heard about — ask your coordinator.
We answer every question. Payment practicalities are part of what we manage.