I need help or advice, thanks

So some months ago I had to visit the ER while traveling out of state.

I got my EOB's and then the bills and set up an online payment plan (this payment option was one suggested on the bill.) Cool, everything's good and I make a couple payments.

Now I see on this billpay website I keep getting additional charges in increments of $75 or $150. They keep popping up like whack-a-moles! The site says they're 'additional charges separate from my balance.'

I can't figure out what these charges are for or why they're coming up by the factor of seventy-five dollars. Fine so I pay one or two of them, in addition to paying towards my balance, and they clear off the board.

These 'additional charges' only start popping up again and again.

Even worse, now whenever I make a payment on this site my balance doesn't even change! I've made 2 payments over the last month and the balance still says I owe the same amount as before.

The site isn't updating, but my bank statement says for sure the payments were withdrawn and transferred.

I can't help but feel I'm being scammed by a shady site and perhaps a shady hospital! I also can't find a way to get statements or EOB's on these additional mystery charges. I also can't seem to find a way to request statements by mail--somehow the site says I'm set up for paperless statements (which I never set up,) yet I can't seem to change that option, nor do I receive any statements of any kind! Nothing in my spam folders either, nothing.

The one paper statement I did get has a help number on there, but I'm always going to be at work during their call hours.

I'm not sure what to do, but I feel like I'm being screwed real good.

I don't want to keep making payments towards something that doesn't tell me what the payments are for, nor do I like paying towards a balance that never seems to move!

I also don't want to hurt my credit and have debt collectors coming after me.

But what the hell? I spent less than 2 hours in there--talked 5 minutes with whoever was on duty, got a shot of steroids, and was discharged. This whole thing is costing me close to $1,800

a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha


Talk directly to the hospital. Don't pay anything further until you get this settled.

Smells like a scam.

Late payment charges?
I'd be swinging on that phone to the hospital admin until I got an answer!

Thank you corporate Amerika. I would call the hospital or doctor's office directly and ask to speak to the billing department. Further, I would dispute the charges with your bank if their explanation falls short.

I am very good at giving advice.

Well I'm not even sure who to call. I am working 12-14 hours every day except sunday. Who's going to take my call on a sunday?

a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha

It sounds like you're going to have to take time off work to call the hospital to find out what the charges were for and how to straighten it out. If the hospital can't explain it to your full satisfaction, you need to threaten to file a complaint with their state attorney general's office. That should get results. If you don't get results, you really should file a complaint with the state's attorney general's office.

Until it gets resolved, you should only go online and pay $5 at a time. As long as you're making payments, regardless of how much, they can't hurt your credit. You just have to make it look like you're making an effort to pay towards your bill.

originally posted by: Damla
I am very good at giving advice.

Thanks?

a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha

If you can't call write an email to the hospital. That way you'll have an electronic trail.

Sometimes extra charges are things like xrays or different departments and they all bill differently and at different times.
I'd keep a record of every single thing you pay. You'd be surprised how jenked up hospital billing can be, same with dental.

One time I got a bill from my dentist and there was no description. I keep excellent records and I called them and it was an "error" and just like that was deleted. I think of how many people just pay these things.

a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha

Have you called the hospital? I would definitely have done that first, given the amount of money involved.

Call your bank and reverse those charges until you have things sorted out. Also place a hold against the company from charging more without your consent.

Being busy working is not an excuse to not handle situations you clearly recognize as being quite serious. I hope you get this sorted out, and start to take more responsibility so it doesn't happen next time.

medical bills don't go on credit report and or they are not calculated towards overall credit as I understand it.

Could be wrong.

a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha

Why on gods green earth would anybody work that much?

Life exists outside of work, ya know. Hard pass.

But im tellin ya, call the hospital direct and ask for the billing department - somebody should get you routed to the right place. Even on a Sunday I would imagine. Hospitals generally have a large parent company.

a reply to: SR1TX

False, unfortunately. Deliquent or defaulted medical bills will show up on a credit check depending what union.

originally posted by: Lightdhype
a reply to: SR1TX

False, unfortunately. Deliquent or defaulted medical bills will show up on a credit check depending what union.

Yes they show up on credit report,

but they are not calculated towards overall FICO score. Thus even if you had 100k in Medical bills, it cannot bring down your score.

www.clearpoint.org...


I would just tell them to pound sand and cancel the ACH with your bank or cancel making them anymore payments. If ever you think you're a bad person for not paying bills, just recall that's exactly what the banks did with over 20 trillion in derivatives, and they got bailed out. Where's your bail out?

a reply to: SR1TX

Gotcha. Thank you for the clarification and looking it up actually.

I share your sentiment. Tell them to go pound sand. I have done so before with similar outrageous medical bills actually exactly for a steroid shot just like the OP. Theyll get over it eventually. And Ive never felt bad for a moment.

Especially if it is an out of state hospital! Tell them good luck with that and place any mail straight to the trash. Theyll give up after a few months charging it off.

When you are not able to talk to them directly, you have to do it the old fashioned way. Snail mail. At least you are able to have a paper trail-and I would make sure I get a return receipt for each time you write them.

Be clear, persistent-and insistent. Only when the billing department recognizes how serious you are, will they respond seriously back. You need a trail and a record. Good luck.

originally posted by: Lightdhype
a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha

Why on gods green earth would anybody work that much?

Wages are low, rent is high.

Life exists outside of work, ya know.

I'm happy for you

originally posted by: NarcolepticBuddha

originally posted by: Lightdhype
a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha

Why on gods green earth would anybody work that much?

Wages are low, rent is high.

Life exists outside of work, ya know.

I'm happy for you

Just stop paying them. When they complain, get a settlement offer and a written letter stating that will satisfy the balance and get a certified money order/check to send to them and make a copy of that and their letter. Submit to them via certified signed for mail and I promise, you will never hear another thing from them again. There are so many laws when it comes to debt collection that I am certain many of the people trying to do so would find themselves in prison or jail for breaking them.

It is often the case that the company even trying to collect has to have the legal standing with the state you reside in to do so. There are lots of other things, but yeah It's best to know your rights because people can be evil.

a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha

If they have your account number then close it and setup a new one. If it's just your card, say you lost it and get a new one. Then sort out the company scamming you/credit situation. That way the payments stop. Dealt with this # years ago with a payday loan company.