[LaLaRose3]

So I just went out to check the mail at one in the morning only to find a letter from the (horrible!) rheumatologist I went to a couple of months ago. I was confused as to why they would be sending me anything, since I called to cancel my second appointment with him early last week. The appointment was scheduled for the 19th of this month, but I disliked this guy SO MUCH that I went to another doctor a few days ago to get a second opinion. Anyway...

At the appointment I had with the yucky Doctor, I'll just call him Dr. G, I waited in the waiting room with my mother and daughter for almost two hours, then waited in the room for him countless times as he went in and out to talk to nurses, take phone calls, etc. He didn't listen to me, barely looked at me, basically threw a paper gown at me and told me to "take off my clothes", did some sort of two minute exam, and brushed me off while giving me SLEEPING PILLS! Uh, hello? I have a seven month old and I can't be knocked out on some heavy meds! Ugh!

So I went to the check-out so I could get out of there. The receptionist tells me that Dr. G wants to see me back in a couple months. I told her to forget it because I won't have insurance then anyway, and I had no plans to return to this doctor. She completely ignored me and said that I would receive a letter with my next appointment date at least two weeks prior to the appointment... Uh, okay. I just wanted to get out of there, so I figured I would call and cancel said appointment. The woman, not looking at me this whole time (bunch of RUDE witches in this place!!!) then asks for my copay. I told her I had already PAID this copay before I even went into the appt. She says snarkily, "Well, our records do not indicate that you have paid anything, so I will need that $25". Um, no. I am not PAYING TWICE for a crap doctor! NOT happening! I told her that I had paid cash to the front receptionist, and I was sure she would remember me, because I had been holding Alice at the time, and the receptionist had asked me questions about her. This woman REFUSED to ask the other receptionist. She said, "Well, you can see I am busy here.". So she said to just "move along", and that she would place a note on my file to make sure to find the receipt of payment. I doubted she would actually do this, so I did ask the front receptionist, who said she would take care of it. No problem, I thought. At this point, we had been there for several hours, and poor Alice had to tag along, and she was exhausted. So we left.

Fast forward to tonight. I get this letter that claims that I have an "unpaid balance" on my account.... of SEVENTY DOLLARS. WTH?! I guess they tacked on an extra $45 for late fees?! And, even though this is the first notice I have seen of this, it has already been turned over to a debt collection agency! And these idiots haven't even figured out that I have already canceled my appointment with that hack, because it says that if I don't pay in full before my next appointment, they will cancel it.

What do I do? What would you do?

If you read this whole drawn out thing, I adore you!

[Mars]

I'm not sure how things work in the US with fees, cancellations and debt collectors but I would call the doctor's office and the debt collections office to try to get an exact idea of what the fees are. I would also inform them of my appointment cancellation and the date I cancelled the appointment and try to see if I could get the charges reversed. I'm not sure what else to suggest.

[midnight_starr]

That sucks.. Hopefully you can get this all taken care of!

[*krista*]

Omg how awful! I would start with calling the office to cancel the appointment NOW so you don't get the charge for not showing up. That is complete BS that she scheduled your appointment anyway.

As far as the bill goes... that's difficult! I assume you don't have your receipt? It may be a long shot, but maybe you can personally go see that receptionist and see if she remembers you? I don't know what else to do. I would at least go in and make a ruckus in his office in front of all of his other patients who are waiting, and give all the details about why your aren't paying twice because he is an awful doc.

Oh, and call the debt collector now too. You should be able to tell them you are disputing it with the doctor right now, so they shouldn't actually do any damage to your credit in the mean time. Keep up good communication with the debt collector and you should be fine while you work it out with the doc.

[CandaceDianne]

I agree to call and cancel your appt today! I would also speak with the office manager, not the same receptionist because obviously you didnt get anywhere with her last time. GL, that really stinks!

[alicenwonderland]

That just sucks. Call and cancel. The only thing that I find strange, is that usually specialists cost a lot more than 25 dollars. (Of course you might have really good insurance) Normally I have to pay 50 or more, and yes they do charge late fees. I hope you kept your receipt!

[♥Ashley♥]

Ditto a specialist for me is $100...maybe they undercharged you? Either way call them and figure out exactly what the charges are for...and if it is a late fee for you not paying the original $25 then I would give them HELL. I would go in there with Alice to see if that lady remembers you...you'd be surprised I can remember customers I talked to MONTHS ago. This is ridiculous!!!! Im sorry I hope it all gets straightened out!

[LaLaRose3]

My specialist fee is only $25 with my insurance, normal doctor (like a GP) is $10-15- my insurance rocks! I never pay more than $5-7 for prescriptions, either. Which is why I am going to miss my coverage! Anyways...

They gave me the name of the debt collector but no contact information. I guess I could look it up on the net? And I have called the Arthritis Center like three times today- twice they have been at break and the third time I got disconnected. I am about to try again. This is just so infuriating! I don't have an extra $70 just laying around for this, I mean... its Christmas for goodness sakes! Urgh. No doctor's office I have ever used EVER has done this to me, even when I did have a past-due bill. I at LEAST got two warning letters, and then I would go into the office and pay.

Thanks for your replies girls. I haven't ever dealt with this time of thing before, so I am at a loss!

[Chelnae6]

Well if they handed it over to collections dont worry, you'll be receiving a call in a few from them. You didnt get a receipt?

[LaLaRose3]

No receipt. I paid cash and I guess they didn't feel the need to give me one? I know I was distracted (holding Alice, she's grabbing for everything in sight, etc.) so I didn't really even notice. Oy, I guess that's my bad. Oops! LOL

I just don't want this on my credit. And I don't want to shell out all that extra money for no reason.

[CandaceDianne]

I understand not having a whole bunch of money to just 'give away', I recently got an unexpected $80 bill from the dentist! Keep calling until you are able to speak with someone. If you cant, then if its not too far away, I would drive up there and speak to someone face-to-face. I know this sucks and is very frustrating!!!

[LaLaRose3]

Finally got through to someone and canceled the appointment. I swear, every person I have ever talked to at that place is rude! Why is that?!

[CandaceDianne]

what about the past due amount? what did they say about that!?

[LaLaRose3]

I didn't get a chance to ask this woman about that. Sounded like the same woman that screwed me up, anyways! LOL But as soon as told her I was canceling my appointment, she got so snotty! I called back and pushed the option for billing office and got no answer. I guess because it is Friday? I am trying again on Monday.

[~*sierra*~]

the squeaky wheel gets the grease keep calling and telling them what happened. u may have to go in to fight it. this happened to me with school - they wouldnt send out my transcript b/c they said i had not paid tuition. well i had in full so despite calling over and over i had to actually go down w my CC statements and make them root thru shoeboxes of cc reciepts, turns out they messed up my student # by one digit and had given all my money to another student!! i was livid, but it got sorted so that was the main thing.

[A*LOT*OF*HOPE]

I would just keep calling!!! Don't let them get to you!!! I hope you get it all figured out!!