Apprehensive Patient

Review: I was charged a fee for missed appointments in the amount of $25 for each missed appointment. There are a total of 4 appointments that I am being charged for. The first charge occurred on 10/15/13, the second was 11/6/13. I was in the office on 12/10/13 to have dental work done. I was Never informed at that point that I had an outstanding balance of $50. I scheduled a follow up appointment for 12/24/13. I missed the 12/24/13 appointment due to holiday commitments. I rescheduled for 3/19/2014, I missed that appointment due to having the flu. My next visit to the office was on 4/30/2014 and that is when I was presented with a bill of $100 and was told I was in collections for 4 missed appointments. My complaint is in regards to the fact that I was Never presented with a bill nor verbally informed of the increasing bill. I was in the office on several occasions and was never informed that there was an outstanding balance on my account. I was told that I was mailed a bill. I Never received a bill from the dentist office in the mail or a bill from the collection agency. When I explained that there must be some sort of mistake or confusion on their part the front office staff was rude and dismissive. They proceeded to discuss my personal information in the lobby where other patients were waiting. I do not feel it is ethical or good practice to put me in collections for a bill I was Never informed I owed. The office staff refuses to work with my regarding the bill. I explained that I would be willing to pay for the last 2 missed appointments and requested that they waive the first 2 missed appointment fees due to their obvious mistake in informing me of that outstanding balance on the numerous occasions I was in the office and the fact that a bill was never mailed or received by me. They refuse to do anything to relieve the situation and continue to threaten me with collection actions.Desired Settlement: I would like the first 2 missed appointment fees to be waived. The fee generated on 10/15/13 and the fee generated on 11/6/13. I am willing to pay the fees generated from the 12/24/13 and 3/19/2014. I think considering their lack communication and obvious misrepresentation to me on the several opportunities they had to inform me of this increasing bill, this is a fair and happy medium.