Bad collection agency

[DennisK]

I think I'm being scammed. I received a doctor bill from a collection agency claiming I owe a past due charge of $148.09 . This was news to me as I am quite diligent in keeping out of debt. I never received a bill from my doctor for this charge, and I can't find a claim submitted to either of my insurance policies for this amount. I called the collection agency, but they wanted all kinds of personal information which I was not about to give over the phone. I then called my doctor's accountant and asked them about this charge. They didn't know anything about it. Somehow, this agency was able to tie me with my doctor, and then they sent me a bill with the expectation that I would pay it without question. The doctor's accountant called me back and told me not to send any money to them, and that they would contact the agency. The bill the agency sent me looks genuine and the company is on the internet; so I don't know what is going on here – either they don't know what they are doing and are out of control, or they are dishonest. Either way, it sure pays to not take these kinds of things at face value.

The medical accounting methods used here in the U.S. are so complex, it offers all kinds of opportunities to take advantage of the system for personal gain. "To error is to be human, but to really mess things up, it takes a computer!"

 

[Linda]

Someone could have taken a dr bill out of your garbage and gotten all the needed info or even a computer hacker. Not much is really safe anymore. A lot of elderly people have kids or caregivers that pay any bills that come in. It's good to double check anything that seems strange.

 

[imp]

My wife is currently arguing something similar with her "Obamacare-supplied" insuror. Spent almost 2 hours this morning on the phone trying to get it cleared up. Disgusting. imp