American Hearing Aid Centers, Inc.

Review: I bought $4,000 hearing aids 3 23 10- I can not use them because of poor fitting but that is not my complaint - I need a letter from the hearing aid center stating I am hearing impaired to get a smoke alarm from the local fire department. I can not hear a regular smoke alarm and the specializied units are $300.00. The hearing aid center says I have a balance of $122 from 3 years ago and unless I pay the $122 they will not release the letter. I have not heard from them since a random request for pament in October 2012. I sent $25.00 for a balance which I did not feel was due as a good will gesture. At that time I asked for proof I owed them any money which I never received.

I do not think they should be able to withold a medical letter for a balance they say I owe and I dont feel I do. I paid them up front 3 23 10 for the evaluation of my impairment so to me any balance due on hearing aids does not reflect on the letter I need. That should be two separate issues. Their e mail says they are not doing me any " favors" until I pay.

They also warned me that filing a complaint with you under "false reasons" carries a heavy penalty to deter me from filing the claim. That is not what I am doing. I asked for a letter that was covered under my evaluation that was paid in full and they advised no letter unless you pay $122.00.Desired Settlement: I want a letter from them advising of my hearing impairment so that I can obtain the specialized smoke detector from the fire department. My view is I paid for that letter in the initial evaluation and it has nothing to do with the balance they say I owe.

Business

Response:

The patient bought hearing aids on 2/25/2010 and was fit on 3/23/2010. She put half down on the $4000.00 cost of the aids and agreed to pay $166 per month on the remaining balance. She made payments, but they were sporadic. We have sent several payment reminders to her. (see attached) She is well aware of the remaining balance due on her account. We have made several attempts to collect the remaining due. If the payment of $166 per month was paid each month as agreed, the balance would have been paid in a little over 12 months. The last payment would have been made April, 2011. It is now 3 years later and she still has an outstanding balance. We trusted her and agreed to do in-house financing to allow her make monthly payments on the hearing aids so she could afford to get new hearing aids. All we are asking for is the remaining balance due on her account to be paid in full and we will gladly provide her with a letter that she is requesting. The hearing evaluation was provided to her for free. She only paid for the hearing aids. We stand firm that we will provide a letter once we receive the balance due on her account in the amount of $136.00. We feel that we have been taken advantage of by this patient.

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:

My request for the resutls oh my hearing exam has nothing to do with the suspicious balance. the hearign exam was paid in full that day.

I have a copy of letter I sent asking them to prove $122 back in October and they never did andI can prove she got it beacuse she cashed the $25 check I enclosed - payments were set up on auto pay with [redacted] and many months they never cashed the checks-the hearing aid balaance has nothing to do with my request of results my hearing exam - that was paid in full so there is no reason they should not release the letter.

Regards,

Business

Response:

I do not have a copy of the letter the complainant is saying she sent with a check payment in the amount of $25 in October, 2012. Payments were not set up on auto pay. The payments were sent by check and were not sent on a monthly basis. Please see attached documents showing when each payment was received and the amount received. All checks have been cashed and the payments were applied to her previous balance. She claims that her hearing test and evaluation were paid in full by her. American Hearing Aid Centers, Inc. does not charge for hearing tests and evaluations. They are administered free of charge as part of our service unless the patient has insurance that covers for the exam. it is then and only then do we accept payment for exams. If she is able to supply proof of any documents to prove otherwise, we will graciously admit any wrong doing on our part. We are under no obligation to supply the requested letter by the complainant and will not do so unless the balance on the account is paid in full.

Review: 9/6/13 had free hearing test and advised hearing aid. Bought device by [redacted] credic card. Cancelled transaction 9/7/13 with secretary at [redacted], PA [redacted]. Upon receipt of credit card statement 8/22/13 to 9/20/13, purchase price of $1,800.00 not credited to account. Spoke with [redacted] same date who stated this would be rectified. Reported to [redacted] who has also spoken to **. [redacted] who stated the $1,800.00 would be refunded. To date, funds have not been received, refunded or credited to [redacted] card.Desired Settlement: It has been three months since this transaction was cancelled for the purposeo of a hearing aid. This $1.800.00 is still appearing on my credit statement and I am still paying interest on this amount. I would like a total $1.800.00 credit card refund ASAP.