I don't blame you at all! What a rude, inconsiderate lady! I would have said the same thing. Maybe it's not necessarily the "right" thing to say, but she deserved it!
Collection officer told me to ignore my DC
I have been going rounds with the billing at the Hosp birth center where I had DS for quite some time. They sent us to collections before we ever recieved a bill. Now thier collections dept keeps calling us for payment instead of billing our secondary insurance. EVERY time they call I stay on the line to get the issue resolved. They can't wai tfor me to get the address because and I quote "I have OTHER people on hold". To me that means my $$$ isn't really THAT important. After the fifth time of this happening. I told the lady please just wait for me to get the card. She says "I can't" I'll note that you'll call back. Now here's the thing. I have two babies and a daycare child under two ALL day long during their business hours. I can't just pick up a phone and call them any old time. Especially since they won't hold long enough for me to get a pen to write down their phone #. The lady on the phone says to me. "I have two children and I STILL have time to do my business". Of course she does, she takes care of it while she's at work, during business hours when somebody else is taking care of her children. IF I worked I'd be doing the exact same thing. She doesn't have to stop and take care of a poopy dipe or a hungry babe. She has a lunch time and break times that she can do stuff. WHen is my lunch time? When is my Break time? I got mean with her and said "Well, I care about my DC, THATS why I stay home with them". I know that was mean and I have respect for women who are forced to work. I wouldn't have been so mean if I had not been ATTACKED for how I prioritize my time and schedule my day around the sweet DC in my home.
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Maybe you should keep a folder of all paperwork, account numbers, addresses etc. right by the phone so you'll be ready to do battle the next time.
We are in a similar boat and dealing with a financial counselor.
I would recommend sending them a VERY specific letter(s). Stating you intend to pay after insurance is billed... Send one to the hospital with copies of bills, insurance cards and specific what they are to do, bill 2nd insurance. Send the CERTIFIED mail with a return receipt. In your letter tell them that your answers to be sent back to you in letter form. (NEVER! let them tell you balances and such on the phone. They can add or subtract at will and you have NO proof of what they say. )This will be your ONLY proof that you have told them what they are to do if it goes to court. Of course make copies of EVERYTHING you send. Take notes of who you talked to on the phone, dates, time, and conversation. Even if you pay only a dollar that will stop legal action against you.
By federal law...you can tell them when you want them to call. For instance on Monday at 9am The kids are happy you can plan ahead...Again send it certified mail. This is your proof.
They get paid to rattle your cage. They will call you at lunch, or nap time...You see they only get there money from the hospital when you pay your bill. They know that if you get upset enough you may just pay them to get them of your back. DO NOT cave in. Don't charge it.
Tell them when you call you are going to record the conversation and do it! Hit the memo button on your answering machine. You again will have record of what you told them to do.
You need to take control from these guys.
Also talk to the hospital about billing your second insurance. Again certified mail and memo button on machine. The collection department can't do it. They are there for one reason only and that is to collect money.
Also all of the above applies to your insurance company. If the hospital is getting you know where than call the insurance company and tell them what and who they are to bill. Again take notes, send a letter, hit the memo button.
PM me if you want to. I know how frustrating and upsetting this is!
I would recommend sending them a VERY specific letter(s). Stating you intend to pay after insurance is billed... Send one to the hospital with copies of bills, insurance cards and specific what they are to do, bill 2nd insurance. Send the CERTIFIED mail with a return receipt. In your letter tell them that your answers to be sent back to you in letter form. (NEVER! let them tell you balances and such on the phone. They can add or subtract at will and you have NO proof of what they say. )This will be your ONLY proof that you have told them what they are to do if it goes to court. Of course make copies of EVERYTHING you send. Take notes of who you talked to on the phone, dates, time, and conversation. Even if you pay only a dollar that will stop legal action against you.
By federal law...you can tell them when you want them to call. For instance on Monday at 9am The kids are happy you can plan ahead...Again send it certified mail. This is your proof.
They get paid to rattle your cage. They will call you at lunch, or nap time...You see they only get there money from the hospital when you pay your bill. They know that if you get upset enough you may just pay them to get them of your back. DO NOT cave in. Don't charge it.
Tell them when you call you are going to record the conversation and do it! Hit the memo button on your answering machine. You again will have record of what you told them to do.
You need to take control from these guys.
Also talk to the hospital about billing your second insurance. Again certified mail and memo button on machine. The collection department can't do it. They are there for one reason only and that is to collect money.
Also all of the above applies to your insurance company. If the hospital is getting you know where than call the insurance company and tell them what and who they are to bill. Again take notes, send a letter, hit the memo button.
PM me if you want to. I know how frustrating and upsetting this is!
Also, you can tell the collection agency that you do not want to deal with them at all (do it verbally and by certified mail), that you will handle all financial dealings with the creditors themselves...then do everything PP suggested about getting them to bill insurance first. Then appeal whatever insurance says they won't pay and keep bugging them until they pay more.
I contacted the Hospital and told them I NEEDED to see an itemized bill months ago. They NEVER sent one. They pulled the "We already billed your insurance" crap. Many don't understand free supplimental insurance that is part of a Union package deal. DH has $$ put into an account that takes care of co-pays. This is where this extra stuff gets paid. I spoke with somebody from the Hosp and told them I WILL NOT do business with their collections agency. I am smarter than just giving some lady my info and letting them take it out of a bank account or CC. I used to work as a lease consultant for Ford Motor Co. I have seen what damage these places can do. I told them to turn it in to my supplimental and called my supplimental with the exact charges. They will NOT allow more to be taken than is necessary. I am just mad that now it shows up on HD's credit that it went to collection when it should've been handled. Anybody know how to get that removed?
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forced huh?
Originally Posted by afishwithabike "Well, I care about my DC, THATS why I stay home with them". I know that was mean and I have respect for women who are forced to work. I wouldn't have been so mean if I had not been ATTACKED for how I prioritize my time and schedule my day around the sweet DC in my home. |
do you have an atty? or call around and find one who will make a cheap phone call for you. they shouldn't be allowed to harrass you like that. if you have never received an itemized bill an atty ought to be able to clear up the credit problem and get a bill for you with a simple phone call and/or letter. good luck!!!
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Yeah, I hate to say it, but that really was a hateful thing to say. I know it's coming from a place of frustration (believe me, I've been round and round with obnoxious billing agencies with hospital bills; it's freakin a nightmare every single time) but please, please consider your words more carefully.
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That's all you're asking the woman to do, right?
Can you have her call your husband to deal with it instead?
Originally Posted by wolfmama forced huh? |
That's all you're asking the woman to do, right?
Can you have her call your husband to deal with it instead?
DH is NEVER home. He works 60+ hours a week and goes to school. He really has NO time. He is a welder he can't exactly answer a phone on the job.
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No, I mean while he's at work. The collections agency might be inclined to take a man's voice and time more seriously than yours; sadly, that's what it took to get our insurance billing issues settled.
They ARE unbelievably rude, but seem to have more qualms about trying to push a man around. YMMV.
Originally Posted by afishwithabike DH is NEVER home. He works 60+ hours a week and goes to school. He really has NO time. He is a welder he can't exactly answer a phone on the job. |
They ARE unbelievably rude, but seem to have more qualms about trying to push a man around. YMMV.
I know, and agree. I wasn't trying to Pi$$ anybody off with my previous statement in fact I toned it down from what it was going to be because I didn't want to tick anybody here off. I could care less about the poor underpaid woman on the other end of the phone who was criticizing me for my priorities. (I have a friend who did that type of job for a while they really get paid crap.)
I hate collection agencies
they just wont leave you alone no matter what you tell them
I told one agnecy I wouldnt have any money to pay them for 2 months and they STILL kept calling every 3 days
they just wont leave you alone no matter what you tell them
I told one agnecy I wouldnt have any money to pay them for 2 months and they STILL kept calling every 3 days
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if you know your rights they cannot do that. you send them a limited cease and desist letter--you can let them know that they can only contact through the mail.
go to www.creditboards.com for everything dealing with collection agencies. they also have a section on medical billing problems. very knowledgeable folks.
Originally Posted by JesiLynne I hate collection agencies they just wont leave you alone no matter what you tell them I told one agnecy I wouldnt have any money to pay them for 2 months and they STILL kept calling every 3 days |
go to www.creditboards.com for everything dealing with collection agencies. they also have a section on medical billing problems. very knowledgeable folks.
If they're a 3rd party collection agency, you can request that they not contact you by phone. Look up FDCPA- Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. Most 3rd party collectors violate it in some way but people don't know what it is so they get away with anything.
...I used to do 1st party collections
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...I used to do 1st party collections
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Thank you wolfmama, I must admit I am very intimidated by ppl like this and end up just agreeing sometimes
Thank you
| if you know your rights they cannot do that. you send them a limited cease and desist letter--you can let them know that they can only contact through the mail. go to www.creditboards.com for everything dealing with collection agencies. they also have a section on medical billing problems. very knowledgeable folks. __________________________ |
Thank you
prolly they get put on hold a lot and the people just walk away from the phone and leave them on hold for hours. You know?
dispute to all three credit reporting agencies along with a copy (return receipts on all of course) to the agency itself. Document the times and what did/didn't happen.
How you NEVER got a bill and they refuse to file on your secondary insurance.
That is about the most you can do until it is settled.
If all goes right on your credit report it will show up as disputed.
How you NEVER got a bill and they refuse to file on your secondary insurance.
That is about the most you can do until it is settled.
If all goes right on your credit report it will show up as disputed.
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