Allentown dental Associates

Review: I have been going to this dentist for several years and have always had a payment plan to help with my dental expenses(I do not have dental insurance). I recently tried to make an appt to have a filling replaced and the office manager said that I needed to pay my entire balance or the dentist will not see me, I explained that I am on a payment plan and I pay down my debt , she told me that the office never uses payment plans and that if I do not pay in full she will send me to collections. I continued to pay down my debt through my online banking e-checks, today I received a letter from the dental office along with 4 of my payment checks stating that I am in a collection agency and I have to forward the checks to them. I was placed in a collection agency on 09/24/13, and 3 of the checks are for 09/04, 09/16, and 09/26... I tried to call the office and was put on hold to speak with the office manager -she never picked up, I called again and was "disconnected" , I have been paying down this debt and I do not know why I am being placed into a collection agency...the dental office will not accept my payments?Desired Settlement: I would like to be removed from the collection agency as I have made payments towards my debt. I was a very happy patient and I loved the dentist at this office, now they don't want my money? I just want this matter to be solved and my name and credit restored.

Business

Response:

Dear **. [redacted]:

We received a request to respond to ID [redacted].

The customer states that she has “always had a payment plan”.

Our policy is that payment is due in full at the time of service.

We have told her this repeatedly.

If someone is scheduled for treatment and cannot pay they can apply for Care Credit or use a personal credit card.

This patient typically does not come for routine check-ups or cleanings so we cannot plan her care ahead of time. She comes for emergency treatment and in the past she has been fairly respectful of her financial obligations.

In 2009, she had an unpaid balance of $63. We sent her notice that it was due by 10/4/09. She paid $10 each time we sent her a bill (4 in total). We sent her final notice to pay the final $23 by 3/7/10 or she would be sent to collections. She sent the remaining $23 on 3/2/10 and avoided collections. This is NOT a payment plan. And had she not honored her obligation she would have been sent to collections then.

January 14,2013 she was seen for emergency treatment. When asked for payment she only had an [redacted] which we do not accept. She had another emergency March 15, 2013 and paid part of her bill with a [redacted]. We sent her bills again. She paid $10 on 4/19/13, 6/27/13, and 7/26/13. We informed her that her balance of $240 was due before we could schedule her again on August 30, 2013. She stated that she would pay this on 9/5/13. On 9/4/13 she called the office stating that she is “on a payment plan”. Again, the office policies were explained. She was informed that there is no payment plan and full payment is due. She stated “now you won’t get any!” and hung up the phone. We gave her one more opportunity to pay with a due date of 9/20/13 or she would go to collections. We received $1 electronic check on 9/4, $1 on 9/16, and $5 9/26, all of which were sent back to her.

Balance at this point needs to be taken care of through the [redacted].

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because:

I disagree with the response, what the dental office did not mention was that yes I was on a payment plan, and I was paying every month. The office did not send a complete payment history..they did return electronic checks that have already been debited from my account. All I want is my name removed from the collection agency and all fees that the dental office tacked onto my balance removed. I have never had an issue with this office before and now all of a sudden there is a problem. I also did not say that they would not receive any money, I stated I can not pay the full $240 and then they refused care to me. Please help me resolve this issue as I have and will continue to pay down my debt...I work full time hours with very low wages, I am trying the best I can to repay this debt and I am not neglecting my financial responsibility..as you can see by my payments.

Regards,

Business

Response:

Dear **. [redacted]:

Second response to ID [redacted].

As stated in the first letter, we do not have a payment plan. The customer was billed repeatedly for the full amount which was not satisfied. The customer also states that she was paying monthly. This is also inaccurate. As for removing her name from the collection agency and all the fees from her account we are unable to do that at this time. After the last phone contact on September 4, 2013, she was notified by a letter dated September 10, 2013 that if we do not receive payment in FULL by September 20,2013 her account will be turned over to the agency along with 30% added to balance (see attachment). On September 24, 2013 we started the process without response from patient.

Balance will need to be taken care of through the [redacted].

Thank you again for your consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,

Allentown Dental Associates

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because:

Ok, if there was never a payment plan then why was I paying down my balance and never had an issue...they always cashed my checks with no hesitation and never said one word to me...I have been with the practice for many years both myself and children went there and never did they mention that we do not have a payment plan. I do believe that there is a new office manager since I have started going to the practice. Also, the office manager sent back 4 electronic checks from my bank account and is still holding one ? As you can see I have truly tried to reduce my debt and now my credit is being jeopardized , I never received a letter in the mail stating that my balance needs to be paid in full or 30% fee will be added. The office is at fault in this situation...I am a consumer who is trying to pay down my debt and is being bullied into paying a ridiculous added fee to my balance ...I work pay check to pay check and can not afford to have major fees added to a balance that I was paying down. Please resolve this issue...

Regards,