DW went to the doctor last November for her annual physical. She paid for the $125 co-pay while at the doctor's office, using her credit card. The credit card was charged and the transaction showed up on her statement as expected.
In February, we received a letter reminding us that we still had not paid the $125 co-pay. I called the doctor's office to let them know that we had already paid the bill in full but they could not find any trace of the transaction. After telling them I had the credit card receipt proving that they had already been paid, they told me that they would make the necessary adjustments to her account. I thought that everything was straightened out.
Last week, we received a final notice, stating that unless we paid immediately, the bill would be sent to collections. I have tried and tried, unsuccessfully, to get their billing department on the phone since last Wednesday. Nobody seems to know where the person in charge of billing is or when I will be able to talk to her.
I am running thin on patience. I am thinking about sending them a certified letter. I would attach a copy of the credit card statement (edited to keep irrelevant information private) showing that the bill has already been paid in full.
Question: how strongly worded should that letter be? On one side, I would like to keep it friendly, hoping that they get the message and make the necessary adjustments without further prodding. On the other side, I am afraid that they will dismiss a friendly letter and send the bill to collections anyways. I want to make it very clear that if they ruin my wife's credit there will be consequences. I am not going to roll over and pay for them to go away. I will fight them every step of the way and refer the matter to the proper authorities if I have to.
For the legally-inclined individuals among you, are there any legal defense against businesses trying to collect on bills that have already been paid?
Thanks. FD.
In February, we received a letter reminding us that we still had not paid the $125 co-pay. I called the doctor's office to let them know that we had already paid the bill in full but they could not find any trace of the transaction. After telling them I had the credit card receipt proving that they had already been paid, they told me that they would make the necessary adjustments to her account. I thought that everything was straightened out.
Last week, we received a final notice, stating that unless we paid immediately, the bill would be sent to collections. I have tried and tried, unsuccessfully, to get their billing department on the phone since last Wednesday. Nobody seems to know where the person in charge of billing is or when I will be able to talk to her.
I am running thin on patience. I am thinking about sending them a certified letter. I would attach a copy of the credit card statement (edited to keep irrelevant information private) showing that the bill has already been paid in full.
Question: how strongly worded should that letter be? On one side, I would like to keep it friendly, hoping that they get the message and make the necessary adjustments without further prodding. On the other side, I am afraid that they will dismiss a friendly letter and send the bill to collections anyways. I want to make it very clear that if they ruin my wife's credit there will be consequences. I am not going to roll over and pay for them to go away. I will fight them every step of the way and refer the matter to the proper authorities if I have to.
For the legally-inclined individuals among you, are there any legal defense against businesses trying to collect on bills that have already been paid?
Thanks. FD.