Tçnâ koe Gregory Soar,

Thank you for your email received 30 April 2025, under the Official Information Act 1982. Your request has been forwarded to the appropriate officials at National Office to respond.

Ngâ manaakitanga,

Official Information Team | Ministerial and Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to help themselves to be safe, strong and independent
Ko ta mâtou he whakamana tangata kia tû haumaru, kia tû kaha, kia tû motuhake

-----Original Message-----
From: Gregory Soar <[FOI #30869 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2025 4:36 PM
To: OIA_Requests (MSD) <[MSD request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Dental Quote Deposits

Dear Ministry of Social Development,

1. Are there any agreements between MSD and dental services providers / dentists OR any legislation rules requirements that require the dentists to NOT charge winz clients a deposit on TOP of the cost of charging for actually quoting that they include / is included in the quote?

2. Are dental service providers / dentists able to charge winz clients holding deposits in cash only or in any form of payment that is then returned to the client only if winz agrees to pay for the quoting services and if permitted to do so how does a winz client who cannot afford this payment obtain a quote to obtain services for essential urgent dental work?

To be clear, dentists are writing an amount on quotes that is the cost for quoting after a brief exam, for example QUOTE cost $105. Some are then telling clients that they cannot take that quote away to present to WINZ to obtain ESSENTIAL dental treatment unless they pay cash only (no eftpos) deposits which are held until the client confirms WINZ agreement to pay.

The dentist requirement to provide cash which is held in an envelope until the winz client confirms winz will pay and then is returned to them not having gone through any “books” is preventing some from obtaining the quote which they need to apply for assistance to begin with.

Yours faithfully,

Gregory Soar

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