Granada Dental Clinic Owner Faces Fraud Allegations from Dozens of Patients
Approximately thirty customers have filed complaints against the owner of a Granada dental clinic, alleging a fraudulent scheme involving unfinished treatments and misappropriated funds. Patients claim they paid the entrepreneur, either through credit or thousands of euros in cash, for dental work that was either incomplete or improperly executed.
A sign posted at the clinic’s former location seeking affected individuals led to the organization of a collective complaint for fraud and improper appropriation. Those affected fear losing their money and warn others about the potential for similar experiences with the entrepreneur, who is reportedly planning to open a new clinic in the same neighborhood.
Clients have filed reports with the National Police and are seeking assessments from other dental professionals regarding the status of their ongoing treatments while preparing a formal legal demand. Lawyer Francisco Javier Ortega Pardo, of the Lexforma law firm, is representing the affected clients.
“The deception consisted both in offering treatments to patients with the intention, perhaps, of not finishing them,” Ortega Pardo explained. “They were proposed at a time when he already knew that he had to move from the place to keep the money. He charged on manny occasions and took advantage of the situation of the patients. He insisted on seeking financing for treatments that, in some cases, were above their real needs.” He further alleges a “pyramidal scam,” suggesting the businessman may have used funds from new patients to cover the costs of previous treatments and frequently changed clinic personnel due to payment defaults.
The businessman, who is not a dentist, reportedly hired orthodontists, surgeons, doctors, and prosthodontists to provide services to patients. The clinic opened in 2021 and ceased operations at the beginning of the current year. The owner of the leased premises evicted the entrepreneur due to non-payment of rent.
Patients now face the prospect of needing to invest further funds in another clinic to complete their dental work. Despite repeated requests, they have not received refunds or their clinical records, according to complainants.
The businessman, when contacted by ideal, stated he closed the clinic due to a personal problem and anticipates opening a new location by the end of the year. “I have not cheated anyone,” he claimed. “If I have to do any return, I have 2,500 patients and I have referred customers to other dentists. I have a lot of damage and the harassment has been continued.” However, customers report that dentists contacted as referrals were often unaware of the situation and reluctant to accept patients from the previous clinic.
