Not sure what steps to take....

[DisneyLover83]

On January 12, 2009 I got my teeth cleaned at a new dentist. They wanted a credit card on file or they wouldn't see me, so I gave them one because on our dental HMO insurance they were the only dentist around. I paid my $25 deductible that day and had my teeth cleaned with x-rays. My Insurance covers those at 100%. I left and started going to a new dentist office that opened in July. I have not heard anything from the office since January 12, 2009, they charged my credit card yesterday 3/3/10 for $148! No call, no letter, no bill, nothing! Do I dispute the charge? After a google search of the dentist I have seen several other complaints for the same issue....

 

[flamingglobessigmund]

Contact your credit card company and tell them you didn't get a bill and did not authorize the charge.

 

[bumbershoot]

Did you ever get an explanation of benefits from your dental insurance company?

 

[DisneyLover83]

Did you ever get an explanation of benefits from your dental insurance company?

Yes, my husband pulled it out tonight. It shows everything as being covered.

 

[luvthatdisney]

Most eob's will indicate who the payment was issued to, make sure it shows that dentist. If for some reason there seems to be a mistake with the payment, contact your insurance company. If not, call the dentist. Offer to fax the eob to them showing the insurance company paid the bill in full (less your copay). Be sure to tell them your credit card was incorrectly charged and they will need to reverse it.

Good luck!

 

[ohlas]

Call the dentist office first, numbers people make mistakes too lol

if they cannt fix it i would call the cc tell them you didnt auth this

next time this happens put your foot down and tell the office personal you dont have a cc anymore

what they arent going to see you if you dont have a cc,,, then ask to see the dr or dentist...

 

[kaytieeldr]

She actually doesn't even care if the January 2009 dentist will or won't see her - she changed dentists in July! Definitely dispute this! Give them ONE chance - and one DAY - to make it right, in case it is just human error (although I don't see how - they would have had to pull your hard or computer file and, ideally, match it to the patient being treated/billed )

 

[bonoriffic]

I would call the dentist office and speak with billing. Even if they claim they will resolve it, your next call is to the credit card company and dispute the charge. Disputing it over the phone doesn't actually do anything, but will cause them to send you the paperwork to fill out. By the time the paper works gets to you a few days later, if the charge isn't credited send the paperwork in. There is no need to talk with the dentist again. If you have an EOB showing they were paid in full, the credit card company will refund your money and go after the dentist. A few months later you'll get a letter saying the dispute was resolved in your favor.

Also file a complaint online with the BBB. That usually sparks some action.

Having a credit card on file is usually standard practice for doctors that don't have always insurance coverage like dermatologists or plastic surgeons. But dentists are unusual.

 

[DisneyLover83]

what they arent going to see you if you dont have a cc

If I would not have let them photocopy my card on the day of the cleaning my appointment would have been cancelled. I had never encountered this at any Dr office before.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Respectfully, I wouldn't bother with the BBB - especially if the dentist isn't a member, it won't matter.

I would go right to your state's Attorney General or Consumer Affairs department. Or your local news channel's consumer reporter since you say you've found similar complaints about the same dentist from other patients.

 

[spokanemom]

I work for a dental insurance company, this is something that is not infrequent.

Contact your insurance company too. They generally have a provider relations area that can go between you and your dentist. Another thing that we tell our insureds is that they can contact the BBB, the state dental board, and the ADA (American Dental Association).

Try calling the dental office first. Then your insurance company. If your insurance company is contracted with that office, the office will certainly have a financial incentive to settle with you. That really should take care of the problem. If not, then call the state dental board. They will review the dentist and see if there is a bigger problem.

If you need information on how to contact any of these places (other than your dentist & insurance company) pm me. I know some stuff...

 

[clh2]

I would definitely dispute this charge with your CC company...

 

[bumbershoot]

Yes, my husband pulled it out tonight. It shows everything as being covered.

Definitely either stop by, or call, or make copies and write it all out and mail it in.

I would definitely dispute this charge with your CC company...

Give the office a chance of making this right...going straight to a dispute doesn't give the office a chance.



I just can't believe they held onto this for OVER a year!

 

[DisneyLover83]

Update-

After many calls to the dentist office no one was able to tell me what I was being billed for, only that I owed $148. I went up to the office on Monday and had a discussion with the "office manager" and had my EOB from my insurance company that stated I owed $0. So I disputed the charge with Chase and they have credited my account the money. I will never give a Dr office my credit card information again!

 

[flamingglobessigmund]

Update-

After many calls to the dentist office no one was able to tell me what I was being billed for, only that I owed $148. I went up to the office on Monday and had a discussion with the "office manager" and had my EOB from my insurance company that stated I owed $0. So I disputed the charge with Chase and they have credited my account the money. I will never give a Dr office my credit card information again!

Thanks for the update. Glad it worked out for you!

 

[bumbershoot]

That is crazy!

Let the insurance company know about it too. I'm not sure about dental insurance companies, but that sort of nonsense is really frowned on with health insurance companies!