Disputed Charge - Debt Collection

JC, when you disputed the administrative charges with the hospital and wrote the check, you never heard back from them, right??? Do you have the copy of that dispute so that you can show it to the present collection agency and tell that you were waiting for the response. This way you can insist the CA to get the accurate charges from the hospital. The problem may take enough time to get sorted, but if you think it is irrelevant, you may consult an attorney.

Thank you for your reply.

No, we never heard back from the Hospital after our last dispute until this most recent correspondence.

Yes we do have a copy of the dispute that we can send to the CA, but I don't think they would be interested in our reasons why we consider this debt unjustified. They most likely would simply check to make sure the Hospital is expecting it.

I was wondering if the time lapse between correspondences combined with the fact that we now live out of state would negate their ability to pursue this matter unless we somehow allow them to. Do you happen to know of any sources for pro-bono legal advice for consumer rights and options regarding debt collection?

--JC

Most states provide free legal advice to people. If you are satisfied, you may hire them for their services. Did you look for any free legal aid in your area? You can also visit the local court for assistance.

7$ for F'N motrin???
I dont know how you Americans dont have nervous breakdowns just thinking about getting in your cars or letting your kids ride their bikes.
Its just not right.

Until there is real reform in the medical and legal industires, that's how life works.

Doesn't help that those are HUGE comtributors to Congressional PACs.

Someone told me that defaulted Medical debts can't be put on your credit report. Is that true?

I'll check into seeing if there is any free legal advice in my area. But anyone know of any good websites for free legal advice?

--JC

No that isn't true. They can be put on your credit reports. Sometimes they aren't and sometimes they are, it's a hit and miss.

Administrative charges were proably admission, triage and for the room if you already paid for the doctor, test and medicine.

Triage is not a consideration. We occupied an empty waiting room that morning and the ER was as quite as church.

But, $250 for admission and occupying a room! The two of us together could have enjoyed an entire day in a Disney Theme Park and a wonderful stay in a beautiful resort room -- overnight no less -- for only $200 at full price without discounts!

My contention is that we were aware of our situation. We had no insurance and asked honestly what the visit was going to cost us. If the attending had simply informed us that walking through the doors and sitting on a table for two hours alone would have cost $250 -- we would have looked at each other with wide eyes and simply determined at that point if she could tough it out. If she couldn't, then we would have paid it, because we were informed.

However, she didn't do that. She told us $100 for the doctor and then up from there depending on what he did. So, we paid that exactly. Who's to say that after we pay the $250 to the hospital that we don't get another bill for some other charge and then on and on. Where does it stop? At what point can the consumer in a captialistic society say, "Hold on a minute - at no point did I agree to these charges - at no point was I apprised of these costs!"

This is why our health costs are the way they are. There is no control on the system and the control should lie with the consumer.

But, I digress. Thanks, FYI, for the info on the credit report matter. The issue is apparently vague, and not suprisingly so.

--JC

JC--sorry to hear about your troubles. I dont think you have a leg to stand on here. collector is not going to care if waiting room was empty, if you were there alone , or anything like that. I hope you sent your dispute letter CMRR. If you didn't, they can say the never received it and how do they kknow you didn't just write it now? know what i mean? I do collections and have heard all the arguements. While I do agree with you about US healthcare costs and the system, I think you will end up very frustrated.

You went from the waiting room straight to the ER without seeing a nurse before hand?.. to take temp, weight ask about your complaint? That is triage and it is somehting you do have to pay for when you are admitted to the ER.

It was 4 years ago, but I'm pretty sure we were met by the doctor immediately. I believe he did have a nurse with him who may have assisted. But that point is moot.

We asked very pointedly how much it would cost for the visit and were told $100+ just to see the doctor and then up from there. If they have a basic rate of $250 just for being in the ER, triage/admittance/room - or whatever else, that information should have been provided to us, especially after we specifically requested the information.

Why stop at $250, why not $500, $1000 -- why not send 5 separate bills, 10, 20! Why not charge a trash fee for throwing away the swab, the wax paper, the container for the swab!? Why not a percentage of the property taxes for the hospital or the electric bill for keeping the lights on in the room?

If there were additional costs to pay, then fine, not a problem, we'll pay them, but give us the opportunity to make a decision whether or not to pay for those costs, before the service is rendered -- particularly when we pointedly ask how much those costs will be.

The issue is not that we don't want to pay. We did. We paid for the doctor and we paid for the pathology test. We even paid for the Motrin when that came to our attention. We have demonstrated our willingess and intent to pay for the care she received based upon the information we were provided that directly resulted in her decision to be treated. If the Hospital was remiss in disclosing the full amount to us, I don't see how that is our fault. We should not be held financially accountable for their negligence.

Here's another one for you. Have you noticed that some hospitals bring a scanner in the room with them prior to administering medications, they look at your id band to make sure you are the correct patient and then they scan your id band? That is because that is their way of tracking billing for everything, they scan you to charge you, even for getting a poke for glucometer.

Did you by chance read any of the admittance documents that you signed? Most people don't. I just happen to know a lot more now than I did then because I have a child who lived in the ER praticaly as a infant.

Usually we read everything we sign. Normally what we sign is the disclosure of medical information form - that we understand our rights and responsibilities, yada, yada.

That's a good idea though. If they claim that we agreed to the charges, then I'll ask for copies of the forms she signed when she was admitted. If indeed the forms she signed state clearly the ER charges, then I'll mutter, "d*mn sneaky b*st*rds" under my breath and write the check. If not, or they can't produce them, then back to square one.

Hope your child is doing well, now.