Lakewood Pediatrics Dental Associates

Review: I tried to pay for services with a check that their check system (machine) did not except due to lack of funds. I asked if they could hold on to the check for one day, because I had a transfer going through. When they would not work with me. I called my husband and got his credit card. Payment was accepted that way and they were paid for services that day. The office manager did not tell me that the check system they use would go ahead and pull the money from my checking account anyway. I went to make a deposit a few days after the dental appointment and found that my check had gone through my account, even after their machine declined it. That has resulted in $175 in bounced check fees due to the fact that all money going through my account was eaten up by the fees. I could not put any money in my account until they refunded me the money for the check that went through even after being declined through their check system. They are unwilling to pay us back for all the overdraft fees that have incurred due to the fact that their check system had a communication error as they claim. My account would have been fine had that check not gone through, or had they warned me that it might go through and I should cover it just in case. They are not even willing to pay the fee for the check that should not have gone through. I am in no situation to be out of $175 in bank fees due to their systems error. The bank will not refund the fees to me. The bank said it is Lakewood Dentals responsibility to refund the money for the fees. I believe it is the Lakewood Dental responsibility to pay the fees or get a new system, or warn people about their system. I'm sure I'm not the first person this has happened to . If this is not resolved this will not be the last they will hear from me. I will take it further. They no longer have our business, nor will I recommend them to anyone of my friends due to the fact that they are unwilling to work with their loyal clients.Desired Settlement: I would like a check of $175 to cover all the overdraft fees due to their systems error

Business

Response:

We received the complaint from your organization regarding our billing / collection services. Please see response below from us and the company the process’s our checks.

After the dental services were completed and the electronic check transaction was being processed, Ms. [redacted] advised that the account may need money transferred into it, to cover the check. After the check transmission came back communication error the office took the credit card payment from Ms. [redacted]. The office refunded Ms. [redacted] the amount of $140.40, immediately after realizing the electronic check was processed. Please see the response below from the company that process’s our checks.

November 8, 2013

Lakewood Pediatric Dental Association 1328 Route 9, Suite 11 Lakewood, NJ 08701

To Lakewood Pediatric Dental:

We are the check service provider for Lakewood Pediatric Dental Association. We have been requested to provide an explanation regarding the approval of a check issued by the abovereferenced check writer.

When the merchant processed the check through [redacted]’s service, the check was approved and was processed accordingly by [redacted]. However, we understand from Lakewood Pediatric Dental Association that a communication error was received on its end, and as a result, it did not receive confirmation that the check had been approved and would be processed.

While [redacted] does not have any specific information on its end reflecting a technical error in communication for this particular check, data transmission errors can occasionally occur at the point of the check processing terminal. In this regard, [redacted] would like to apologize for any inconvenience to both Lakewood Pediatric Dental Association and to its customer.