Wow, what I'm hearing here is astonishing. I would never have thought clinics would run so misinformed. Things such as not letting you know that you need a consenting parent until the last minute like Jess has experienced and the hidden $10 K Drgirl has experienced is absurd to me. These clinics are meant to have a process and the initial appointment should discuss all of the above. Conceiving a baby through a clinic is an emotional rollercoaster as it is and then throw in unexpected expenses etc and it really tests your emotions just when you think you are all prepared and mentally ready. I just think its quite poor the way they have handled the way you have been treated. The prices at these clinics is massive, when my DP and I were first thinking of TTC we investigated a clinic and were told that we should budget for $7 K but medicare and private health cover most of it and we would be only about $1800 out of pocket. This was QFG in townsville so I'm sure each clinic is accredited individually and have their own costing however they justify it. I hope things run more smoothly for you all. All the best!