Medical billing mistake- help please!

[ajk912]

So I owed my cardiologist $60 for my portion of the medical copays. I mailed off a check and the check was cashed by the cardiologist's office. So I thought all was well, until I kept getting bills from them. Turns out, my account was never credited for the check. I got a copy of the cancelled check and dropped it off at the cardiologist's office, and they said they would forward it to the billing department. I guess it never made it there. So I called, and they can't find the extra money in their system, so they can't credit my account till they find it.

I am like..WTH??? That's not my problem. I can prove I paid, anything beyond that..I don't know. That has nothing to do with me. It's almost to the point where I am going to pay what I owe twice, because I have put so much time into this. I just called again, and the lady said she would take my number, research it, and call me back (they never do, I have heard that serveral times now). Any advice?

 

[lovetoscrap]

Get the information for the billing department and fax them a copy of the check yourself.

ETA: I would also add a stern letter letting them know that this is now THEIR problem, you don't owe them anything and you don't want to get any more bills since you have provided the proof that you paid.

 

[Nennie]

I would just send them a copy of the cancelled check. It stinks that you have to go through the extra effort to prove you paid the bill, but it's better to resolve the matter now as opposed to waiting for it to go into collections and hurt your credit.

Good luck!

 

[JessicaR]

Keep notes of whom you spoke with and what date you spoke with them.

Write a short note with the above information, a copy of the cancelled check and the newest bill they sent you. Address it to the actual doctor that treated you. Make sure you include how inept his staff has been regarding this matter. Advise him that you have made many attempts to clear up this situation but to no avail.

Oft times the physician has no idea this crap is happening and it needs to be brought to their attention.

This isn't all that uncommon but it is very frustrating. Personally, I would never pay it twice.

Hope you get it straightened out!

 

[diesel]

Keep notes of whom you spoke with and what date you spoke with them.

Write a short note with the above information, a copy of the cancelled check and the newest bill they sent you. Address it to the actual doctor that treated you. Make sure you include how inept his staff has been regarding this matter. Advise him that you have made many attempts to clear up this situation but to no avail.

Oft times the physician has no idea this crap is happening and it needs to be brought to their attention.

This isn't all that uncommon but it is very frustrating. Personally, I would never pay it twice.

Hope you get it straightened out!

Of course it will be his inept office staff that opens the mail and he'll never see the letter.

 

[JessicaR]

Of course it will be his inept office staff that opens the mail and he'll never see the letter.

I would mark it 'private', send it return receipt and place a call to the doctor to let him know I sent it.

Of course his staff could still open it but someone is going to read it and be held responsible for getting the situation rectified.