Comments on: The Accidental Deadbeat http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/ personal finance tips, tricks, and commentary Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:49:32 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Jesse VanWay http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/comment-page-1/#comment-98809 Jesse VanWay Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:55:32 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/#comment-98809 I had my own bit of fun with mis-coding. I brought this issue back to the physician, who insited that she had in fact provided the service. Luckily I was friends with a lady in billing who was able to resolve the issue. I had my own bit of fun with mis-coding. I brought this issue back to the physician, who insited that she had in fact provided the service.

Luckily I was friends with a lady in billing who was able to resolve the issue.

]]> By: Joy Smith http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/comment-page-1/#comment-96596 Joy Smith Mon, 22 Oct 2007 13:52:11 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/#comment-96596 WOW. And I thought we had problems with finances. I'm sorry to hear about what the debt agency has done. I would fight it since you've already paid the bill and it will hurt your credit score. :( WOW. And I thought we had problems with finances. I’m sorry to hear about what the debt agency has done. I would fight it since you’ve already paid the bill and it will hurt your credit score. :(

]]> By: Ebony http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/comment-page-1/#comment-95749 Ebony Fri, 19 Oct 2007 23:27:13 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/#comment-95749 Ahhh... the nightmare is shared. I got a bill from my dermatologist the other day, and two days later I received the exact same bill with a "30-days past due" notice on it. I had no idea there were 30 days between 9/6 and 9/8... Ahhh… the nightmare is shared. I got a bill from my dermatologist the other day, and two days later I received the exact same bill with a “30-days past due” notice on it. I had no idea there were 30 days between 9/6 and 9/8…

]]> By: Mrs. Micah http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/comment-page-1/#comment-94797 Mrs. Micah Thu, 18 Oct 2007 01:32:19 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/#comment-94797 I've gotten some threatening phone calls at work for invoices we never received (well, if we did it was before I started working there and they're not in the invoice book). Fortunately, I'm at a business, a corporation in fact, so it's not my butt on the line. Especially since I wasn't here. I just tell them I'd be happy to pay the invoice if we could just get new copies. Good luck with getting this straightened out! I’ve gotten some threatening phone calls at work for invoices we never received (well, if we did it was before I started working there and they’re not in the invoice book). Fortunately, I’m at a business, a corporation in fact, so it’s not my butt on the line. Especially since I wasn’t here. I just tell them I’d be happy to pay the invoice if we could just get new copies.

Good luck with getting this straightened out!

]]> By: Cheap Like Me http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/comment-page-1/#comment-94757 Cheap Like Me Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:16:42 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/#comment-94757 I left a dentist who had seen me for several years (and I always paid promptly). They claimed to have sent me one bill, which I didn't receive, and the account was off to collections a month or two later -- without even a call from his office! It's hard to manage medical accounts on both sides ... but this is ridiculous. Good luck with it. I left a dentist who had seen me for several years (and I always paid promptly). They claimed to have sent me one bill, which I didn’t receive, and the account was off to collections a month or two later — without even a call from his office! It’s hard to manage medical accounts on both sides … but this is ridiculous. Good luck with it.

]]> By: jim http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/comment-page-1/#comment-94525 jim Wed, 17 Oct 2007 19:02:05 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/#comment-94525 So... those two calls to you a couple weeks ago WERE for you. You deadbeat... So… those two calls to you a couple weeks ago WERE for you. You deadbeat…

]]> By: John http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/comment-page-1/#comment-94521 John Wed, 17 Oct 2007 17:59:16 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/#comment-94521 You wouldn't believe how many times our medical bills are wrong, take too long to fix, and get threatened with collections. Long story short, one of my sons has a medical issue that results in us taking trips to the ER in the middle of the night. Over the past three years, I'd estimate close to HALF of our bills have been incorrect. I am know trained to read and question every single charge on a bill and I'm consistently appalled at the number of mistakes. I've long wondered how much money the general public wastes on medical billing errors. You wouldn’t believe how many times our medical bills are wrong, take too long to fix, and get threatened with collections. Long story short, one of my sons has a medical issue that results in us taking trips to the ER in the middle of the night. Over the past three years, I’d estimate close to HALF of our bills have been incorrect. I am know trained to read and question every single charge on a bill and I’m consistently appalled at the number of mistakes. I’ve long wondered how much money the general public wastes on medical billing errors.

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/comment-page-1/#comment-94503 Rebecca Wed, 17 Oct 2007 17:41:11 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/#comment-94503 I agree with Christ - However I would also give the Urgent Care place a piece of my mind for having sent this off to collections less than a month after the date of the invoice. That is unreasonable and making a ton of extra work for you. I would probably include a copy of the invoice you were sent with other documents to show how unreasonable the whole thing is. I agree with Christ – However I would also give the Urgent Care place a piece of my mind for having sent this off to collections less than a month after the date of the invoice. That is unreasonable and making a ton of extra work for you. I would probably include a copy of the invoice you were sent with other documents to show how unreasonable the whole thing is.

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/comment-page-1/#comment-94434 Jeremy Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:58:30 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/#comment-94434 Welcome to the club. Medical bills are the WORST when it comes to stuff like this. We have a similar issue right now with our eye care facility. Something was coded wrong, and our insurance is saying they paid for everything but the $5 co-pay, but the doctor says we owe over $90#@%$*(*% It is already 60 days past due and they are threatening to turn over to collections, and I've shown them our insurance statement a million times that they paid it, and nobody can seem to get anything accomplished. Welcome to the club. Medical bills are the WORST when it comes to stuff like this. We have a similar issue right now with our eye care facility. Something was coded wrong, and our insurance is saying they paid for everything but the $5 co-pay, but the doctor says we owe over $90#@%$*(*%

It is already 60 days past due and they are threatening to turn over to collections, and I’ve shown them our insurance statement a million times that they paid it, and nobody can seem to get anything accomplished.

]]> By: Chris http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/comment-page-1/#comment-94430 Chris Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:13:56 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/#comment-94430 I would start this out by demanding an official letter from Urgent Care showing the bill has been paid. Send copies of that to the collection agency and to all 3 credit agencies and tell them its an invalid debt and it needs to be removed. If you have any problems after that, it might be time to file complaints to the AG or ask a lawyer what you can do to set this collection agency right. Since you paid the bill within 30 days and you have paperwork showing that, a simple letter w/ proofs attached should take care of it. I would start this out by demanding an official letter from Urgent Care showing the bill has been paid. Send copies of that to the collection agency and to all 3 credit agencies and tell them its an invalid debt and it needs to be removed.

If you have any problems after that, it might be time to file complaints to the AG or ask a lawyer what you can do to set this collection agency right. Since you paid the bill within 30 days and you have paperwork showing that, a simple letter w/ proofs attached should take care of it.

]]> By: vh http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/comment-page-1/#comment-94414 vh Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:32:12 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/#comment-94414 That sounds like an abusive practice, and it may not be legal. Colin McC is right: file a complaint with your state attorney general...don't wait. And complain in writing to the Better Business Bureau. Also, track down other regulatory bodies in your state: most states have an agency that oversees healthcare facilities and some regulate debt collectors. I believe there are federal laws that regulate debt collection, too. Report this incident to as many relevant agencies and organizations as you can find. I wonder, too, about the insurance company: if the urgent care clinic gave your name and address, which it undoubtedly had in addition to the wrong taxpayer ID number, shouldn't the insuror have contacted you to find out if you had run up the bill in question? That sounds like an abusive practice, and it may not be legal. Colin McC is right: file a complaint with your state attorney general…don’t wait. And complain in writing to the Better Business Bureau. Also, track down other regulatory bodies in your state: most states have an agency that oversees healthcare facilities and some regulate debt collectors. I believe there are federal laws that regulate debt collection, too. Report this incident to as many relevant agencies and organizations as you can find.

I wonder, too, about the insurance company: if the urgent care clinic gave your name and address, which it undoubtedly had in addition to the wrong taxpayer ID number, shouldn’t the insuror have contacted you to find out if you had run up the bill in question?

]]> By: Me http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/comment-page-1/#comment-94413 Me Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:30:59 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/#comment-94413 Sorry to hear you have to deal with this garbage. Stay on top of it like you are and don't pay them a dime! I have found healthcare facilities are quick to turn your files over to collections because it is costly to deal with the insurance company. Stand your ground. Sorry to hear you have to deal with this garbage. Stay on top of it like you are and don’t pay them a dime! I have found healthcare facilities are quick to turn your files over to collections because it is costly to deal with the insurance company. Stand your ground.

]]> By: Chief Family Officer http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/comment-page-1/#comment-94406 Chief Family Officer Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:13:33 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/#comment-94406 Ugh! What a nightmare! And I think it may be about to happen to me - my dr's office has delayed for months in sending documents requested by my insurance company so I haven't paid the bill b/c I'm waiting for the insurance claim to be processed but we're waaaay past 120 days now. It occurred to me recently that they might just send the account to a collection agency ... :( Ugh! What a nightmare! And I think it may be about to happen to me – my dr’s office has delayed for months in sending documents requested by my insurance company so I haven’t paid the bill b/c I’m waiting for the insurance claim to be processed but we’re waaaay past 120 days now. It occurred to me recently that they might just send the account to a collection agency … :(

]]> By: http://www.thedividendguyblog.com http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/comment-page-1/#comment-94396 http://www.thedividendguyblog.com Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:44:38 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/#comment-94396 What an awful situation - just remember there is karma for debt collectors! What an awful situation – just remember there is karma for debt collectors!

]]> By: Matt http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/comment-page-1/#comment-94392 Matt Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:34:24 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/#comment-94392 That really sucks especially if you've already paid the bill. Hopefully Colin is wrong and this hasn't gotten onto your credit report yet. That really sucks especially if you’ve already paid the bill. Hopefully Colin is wrong and this hasn’t gotten onto your credit report yet.

]]> By: FMF http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/comment-page-1/#comment-94391 FMF Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:23:16 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/#comment-94391 I've had my share of go-arounds with our medical insurer too. Key problem: the doctor's office miscodes a visit and all you-know-what breaks loose. What a pain! I’ve had my share of go-arounds with our medical insurer too. Key problem: the doctor’s office miscodes a visit and all you-know-what breaks loose. What a pain!

]]> By: Colin E. McConnell http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/comment-page-1/#comment-94389 Colin E. McConnell Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:07:50 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/the-accidental-deadbeat/#comment-94389 Like I said in an earlier postong, hire a lawyer. I bet it IS on your credit report already, and your wife's too, if you have any joint accounts. Pull all three for both of you; even if you've already done so for the year (for the 'free' ones). If it is on the report(s) ... file a correction with the agencies. Have the clinic send in correspondance to support your claim (if they will). Again, file a grievance with your State's attorney general's office. Like I said in an earlier postong, hire a lawyer. I bet it IS on your credit report already, and your wife’s too, if you have any joint accounts. Pull all three for both of you; even if you’ve already done so for the year (for the ‘free’ ones). If it is on the report(s) … file a correction with the agencies. Have the clinic send in correspondance to support your claim (if they will). Again, file a grievance with your State’s attorney general’s office.

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