Financial Problem, Recomendations?

[CanaBalistic]

Ok here's the deal.

I got called to the dentist for a check up. I gave the lady my care card number because she wanted to check if i had any coverage. She called back later that day and said all was good and booked me a slot.

While sitting in the chair getting my teeth polished, the doc noticed my obviously huge cavity in my right k9. He said i needed x-ray's and so i got them. I was sitting in the chair reading a mag while he was going over the x-ray's. He came back in and proceeded to fill the cavity. Meanwhile i was hoping the coverage i had was going to fully cover the procedure. After he was done, i got my free tooth brush and headed to the receptionist. I asked her if there was anything i needed to pay for. She said no and that i could leave.

Thats all fine and dandy. Untill today...

I get a call at about noon from a sketchy receptionist asking for my care card number again. Apparently when the first lady took my information, she messed up and thought i had coverage because of a disabillity. I procedded to explain that i was a model of physical fitness :) . She then informs me that the computer doesnt even have any information on me. Now i know i dont have a ****s hair worth of coverage and im starting to get a bit worried. The first receptionist must have taken my information incorrectly. She then proceeds to tell me that i now have to pay for the entire thing from my own pocket. Which for thoes of you who dont know, aint cheap by any means. Which is why my dental visits are few and far between. I am now stuck with a bill of $548 which i wouldnt have gotten if it wasnt for a mistake the receptionist made. Hell, i wouldnt have gone in period if i had to pay for anything.

Does it seem right that i should pay for this mistake? I did have the work done but i was under the assumption that is was free to me and covered by some health care coverage.

[tybrenis]

Don't pay for it. Call them up, tell them it was their fault, and trguse to pay (politely). If they refuse, hang up (rudely) and pretend to call an attorney (for your own sake). Then call them back and tell them "I have spoken with my attorney. If you still feel that the mistake was not yours, I will be glad to call you back later with details from my attorney about my legal action. Thank you for your time."

WORKS EVERY TIME. And if you must... actually get an attorney. But thats not as much fun as pretending you have one and then watching everyone scramble for you.

Don't flame me about this being "wrong". Stfu, they ripped him off and there is nothing wrong with getting his money back.

[jdbnsn]

I wouldn't bluff on an attorney, that could potentially backfire especially in a spocialized medicine situation. I don't know how the legal system works in Canada, but I think you should be able to negotiate the fee to be dropped based on this question; would you have had the procedure knowing that you would have had to pay the bill, if no then I would argue firmly but non-threateningly your inability and unwillingness to pay for a clerical error on the office administartion's part. If they persist, you could look into legal counsel but keep in mind ( at least here) the consult can be as much as the bill you are facing. I always try diplomacy first, that isn't fair to you in this situation.

[tybrenis]

I wouldn't bluff on an attorney, that could potentially backfire especially in a spocialized medicine situation. I don't know how the legal system works in Canada, but I think you should be able to negotiate the fee to be dropped based on this question; would you have had the procedure knowing that you would have had to pay the bill, if no then I would argue firmly but non-threateningly your inability and unwillingness to pay for a clerical error on the office administartion's part. If they persist, you could look into legal counsel but keep in mind ( at least here) the consult can be as much as the bill you are facing. I always try diplomacy first, that isn't fair to you in this situation.

Yeah. I probably should've mentioned that should be a last resort... generally politeness and simple dimplomacy will get you what you need. Considering they all work in medicine, I doubt their the type that needs a threat shoved down their throats in order to understand.

[Crimson Sky]

threatening to use legal action that you cant afford is as useful as pointing an unloaded weapon at a madman coming at you with a scimitar.

[tybrenis]

threatening to use legal action that you cant afford is as useful as pointing an unloaded weapon at a madman coming at you with a scimitar.

That was an awesome analogy. (I know I sound hypocritical...)

[Airbozo]

Jeez I thought the good thing aboot canada was the medical coverage...

Go with the negotiation first. Explain to them that you feel you were deceived and would never have had the work done if you were not covered. Even worked for me on a $18k bill for a deviated septum. My doctor sent me to a facility that was not covered by my insurance and no one told me that until a month after the operation... I ended up paying a minuscule amount of the total bill.

[slytherock]

Here in Canada, we have medical coverage, but this not include the teeths.

[Airbozo]

Here in Canada, we have medical coverage, but this not include the teeths.

oooohhh I see.

Side note: Did you know that almost NO insurance in the states cover orthodontics for adults? Just ask the SO who got her braces off last week. We will be paying for those straight beautiful teeth for a while...

[AJ@PR]

Side note: Did you know that almost NO insurance in the states cover orthodontics for adults? Just ask the SO who got her braces off last week. We will be paying for those straight beautiful teeth for a while...

Baha!!!
My mother tells me exactly the same thing.

Out of 4 siblings, I was the only one that needed braces for my teeth.
And I'm really glad I did, because they're a "perfect" smile now.

But every so often, my mother drops a; Go clean your teeth... do you have any idea how much they cost me?!
In a jokingly way... but yeah, they cost various thousands... Ohhhh the computers I could have...

<><><><>
CanaBalistic,

I suggest you talk it over with them, and offer to pay up.
Why?

Here's my reasoning:::
1- They actually *did* do what they're charging.

Although they screwed up in the billing, they still gave you the service/work.

BUT! (and here's the but)...
They can get in a very, very, extra super dual-core overclocked NASTY problem because of THEIR screw up.

I mean... with the HIPAA law now, they can get themselves into an interesting legal investigation.
Who did they initially charge to?
Did the inform everyone involved?
Did they inform TOO MUCH to everyone/anyone involved?
Did YOUR (Cana's) personal medical "problems" get attached to someone else? So they made them, sort of, public?!?! (Oh-NoeZ!)

That's just my point of view.
Pay up, because they did their part (and gave you the free toothbrush)...
But, if you don't have $600 crumpled under the couch, just start sending money as you can.

My lawyers always tell me that, although not ideal, they don't go after someone that's paying. So long as a check is coming in the mail every month without fault, they'll pay every cent.

If you can spare $50 a month, that's enough.
Heck, even if it was $10/month... they're getting their money.

That's what I would do.

Sorry for writting so much... BUNNY! :bunny: :bunny:

[Airbozo]

Baha!!!
My mother tells me exactly the same thing.

Good for her!

Out of 4 siblings, I was the only one that needed braces for my teeth.
And I'm really glad I did, because they're a "perfect" smile now.

My SO had braces twice as a kid (no, her grill is not jacked up), and because they did not have her wear a retainer, she had to do it again as an adult. Her orthodontist told her that ~80% of the kids that have braces will be back as an adult to have them again because they stop wearing the retainer...



...

[CanaBalistic]

I didnt expect some of the replies you guys left. Thats allright though.

Here's what i think im going to do.

Since i was only going to have the cavity filled (at a later date), thats all im going to offer to pay. It should be about $250 for that. I wouldnt have gotten the cleaning or x-ray's if i had known i had to pay for it so im going to argue that they take responsibillity for that and accept it as thier loss. Im also going to look into some sort of free legal consultation to see where i stand from a legal stand point.

I know this isnt america and im probly not going to be able to file a million dollar law suit, but i might be able to have the bill whiped clean. Who knows...

[Ichbin]

I would totally refuse to pay. I think diplomacy is the best way to handle it.

Don't bluff with lawyers, bluff with bad business, tell them that you'll tell everyone to not goto that doctor or something. My dad did that for a hotel and he said that they would loose a major client (Travel related services).

We got a suite all because the pool wasn't heated... I love my dad.

[jdbnsn]

Since i was only going to have the cavity filled (at a later date), thats all im going to offer to pay. It should be about $250 for that. I wouldnt have gotten the cleaning or x-ray's if i had known i had to pay for it so im going to argue that they take responsibillity for that and accept it as thier loss. Im also going to look into some sort of free legal consultation to see where i stand from a legal stand point.


I really think that is the best approach you can take, and fair. By paying what you genuinely owe them you are showing them that you are accountable for your resposibility and affords them the be accountable for their error. I kind of doubt that you even end up needing a lawyer with any luck.