Have to pay for consultation for orthodontist?

my dentist told me to go to the orthodontist down the road for a free consultation about getting braces....i went to book an appointment and the receptionist said it would be $68 dollars, i said 'the dentist told me it would be free' and she said 'no all consultations have a fee'. Does this seem right? Did you have to pay for your first visit to the orthodontist.