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re: Am I the a-hole? Doctors office sent me to collections
Posted on 7/17/26 at 5:34 am to RoscoeSanCarlos
Posted on 7/17/26 at 5:34 am to RoscoeSanCarlos
quote:
Same thing happened to me over $17. However, EAMC in Auburn-Opelika did send me to collections. $17 freaking dollars.
I wonder how much it cost them with form letters, postage, calls, and any legal change of title of debt to collect 17 dollars.
0
Posted on 7/17/26 at 6:21 am to jlovel7
Small town doctors think they run shite, they don’t.
They should be focused on keeping their jobs with what’s coming.
They should be focused on keeping their jobs with what’s coming.
Posted on 7/17/26 at 6:24 am to jlovel7
I think it may be the tone and tenor of your discussions with them more than than the actual bill. Not saying this is the definite reason, but it could be one.
If a guy is always cynical, egotistical, and talks down to the staff, then they may think its not worth the time to call you as they don't feel like dealing with your reaction or the emotional toll of you being difficult. Could be payback for them.
If a guy is polite all the time and they perceive that he is just a busy man running a business, raising kids, etc, they may call.
I got a call several months after a home service. They sent several bills to a property I own but do not live in. I said I never knew about it and that is why. They responded it was odd because usually I pay immediately and on time and its not like me to go this long without paying. I bet they were automatically about to send it to collections but the office manager noticed my name and called.
If a guy is always cynical, egotistical, and talks down to the staff, then they may think its not worth the time to call you as they don't feel like dealing with your reaction or the emotional toll of you being difficult. Could be payback for them.
If a guy is polite all the time and they perceive that he is just a busy man running a business, raising kids, etc, they may call.
I got a call several months after a home service. They sent several bills to a property I own but do not live in. I said I never knew about it and that is why. They responded it was odd because usually I pay immediately and on time and its not like me to go this long without paying. I bet they were automatically about to send it to collections but the office manager noticed my name and called.
Posted on 7/17/26 at 6:25 am to jlovel7
Definitely not the a-hole and in fact, I wouldn't pay it at all. Eventually they will write it off. The collection agency gets a cut on everything they collect but offer the payment to the provider, if they refuse, I wouldn't pay it.
Posted on 7/17/26 at 6:36 am to jlovel7
I feel like they should have called you before your appointment to increase the chance at collecting. I don’t know how you called the collections company without an account or reference or anything.
Posted on 7/17/26 at 6:46 am to jlovel7
No healthcare is a joke and most people hate going to their jobs 
Posted on 7/17/26 at 6:50 am to OceanMan
My wife is a practice owner. The LAST thing they want to do is send someone to collections. It costs them and is generally not worth it, especially for small-ish amounts. (at some point you have to draw the line. you can't let everybody with a $65 balance skate. it starts to add up)
Now, there are no rules that I know of that say you can't discriminate on which accounts get sent. Bad person. bad patient. No brainer. Going to collections.
Also, that office may sub out their billing and that's who sent it off. Doesn't sound like that's the case here, though.
They definitely should have tried to call though. that's just being lazy and / or vindictive
Now, there are no rules that I know of that say you can't discriminate on which accounts get sent. Bad person. bad patient. No brainer. Going to collections.
Also, that office may sub out their billing and that's who sent it off. Doesn't sound like that's the case here, though.
They definitely should have tried to call though. that's just being lazy and / or vindictive
Posted on 7/17/26 at 6:53 am to jlovel7
quote:
Am I the a-hole here?
No sir.
Posted on 7/17/26 at 7:24 am to Red Stick Tigress
I only turn away repeat offenders if they've never shown an effort or they're assholes. In a small area, you usually know who may be having a hard time or you just like them and they are grateful for your services.
We make sure people (especially kids) have food, clothes and medicine. From time to time even A/C, vehicles to get to work and jobs that may not be needed but they get dignity in working.
I own my practice and my wife owns the pharmacy. My dad owned the practice before me. We've done this for over 50 years now but medicare cuts, private insurer bullshite probably means it's over when I get tired of dealing with their shite. Not to mention constantly seeing doctors getting shite on via social media, msm and virtually every where else outside my office.
We make sure people (especially kids) have food, clothes and medicine. From time to time even A/C, vehicles to get to work and jobs that may not be needed but they get dignity in working.
I own my practice and my wife owns the pharmacy. My dad owned the practice before me. We've done this for over 50 years now but medicare cuts, private insurer bullshite probably means it's over when I get tired of dealing with their shite. Not to mention constantly seeing doctors getting shite on via social media, msm and virtually every where else outside my office.
Posted on 7/17/26 at 7:34 am to SmackoverHawg
Medical Bills under $500 can go to collections but it’s my understanding they cannot be reported to your credit agency or go against your credit score.
Posted on 7/17/26 at 7:44 am to HangmanPage1
quote:
Medical Bills under $500 can go to collections but it’s my understanding they cannot be reported to your credit agency or go against your credit score.
Did Biden get that passed? In the old days before I was in practice, medical bills didn't go against credit score, but the big hospital systems, corporate clinics and PE got that changed to be able to absolutely rape patients financially. As I said, I've never sent anyone to collections nor did my dad. Not sure about the older doc before us but I don't think he did either.
After insurance adjustments, my collection rate on true dollars owed stays around 98-99% for 23+ years. Good faith goes along way and I'll work with people. Barter still exists outside the corporate world. I never write off debt though if unpaid in any manner. People will eventually run out of options or mature and realize they need a real doctor and pay their old balance to come back. Some of the "bad debt" is people that have died. I don't pursue those bills unless they have an estate and it contacts me for payment. I do write those off, but some get missed. Not statements sent though.
Posted on 7/17/26 at 7:46 am to jlovel7
The doctor has already been well compensated by the insurance company for your visits
Posted on 7/17/26 at 8:15 am to OceanMan
quote:
I feel like they should have called you before your appointment to increase the chance at collecting. I don’t know how you called the collections company without an account or reference or anything.
That’s what confused me as well. She just gave me a sticky note with a phone number. And then of course as I said the lady on the phone had no idea. I offered if she needed more information to confirm I wasn’t in collection and she said nope she went just off names.
Posted on 7/17/26 at 9:07 am to jlovel7
quote:
Just left the eye doctor
Optometrist or Ophthalmologist?
Posted on 7/17/26 at 9:25 am to Wayne Campbell
quote:
Just left the eye doctor Optometrist or Ophthalmologist?
Both. My wife goes for the opthamogist and I go for the optometrist. There’s two doctors.
This post was edited on 7/17/26 at 9:25 am
Posted on 7/17/26 at 9:27 am to jlovel7
quote:
jlovel7
I might be mistaken but aren’t you the same poster who had thyroid and fatty liver issues? Aren’t you young too? If so, WTF is wrong with you? You spent too much time at doctors offices
Posted on 7/17/26 at 9:30 am to jlovel7
Billing for the hospital systems is becoming an absolute shite show.
I had a balance sent to collections of 3 dollars and change. Yes... three dollars. This is after I crossed by two desks on the way out of two different places, in the same hospital system, in which they said "you are good to go" after I paid my co pay.
It cost them more money to send that to collections than they would collect. And I didn't get a previous bill either.
I had a balance sent to collections of 3 dollars and change. Yes... three dollars. This is after I crossed by two desks on the way out of two different places, in the same hospital system, in which they said "you are good to go" after I paid my co pay.
It cost them more money to send that to collections than they would collect. And I didn't get a previous bill either.
This post was edited on 7/17/26 at 9:32 am
Posted on 7/17/26 at 9:40 am to jlovel7
Nope! NTA
The people behind the desk at doctor offices are among the dumbest on Earth, in my experience.
You handled it better than most people would’ve, from the sounds of it. When they started with the “we’re not obligated to do x” I would’ve been obligated to make a big scene.
The people behind the desk at doctor offices are among the dumbest on Earth, in my experience.
You handled it better than most people would’ve, from the sounds of it. When they started with the “we’re not obligated to do x” I would’ve been obligated to make a big scene.
Posted on 7/17/26 at 9:43 am to jlovel7
Medical billing is a total shite show. I pay co-pay, next month get a refund to my CC, and then a month later receive collection notice. This has happened several times in the last year.
Don't worry about it, I don't and when they call, I tell them straight up that they're the problem, not me, and they need to fix on their end. I talk to them like they are stupid because they are.
Don't worry about it, I don't and when they call, I tell them straight up that they're the problem, not me, and they need to fix on their end. I talk to them like they are stupid because they are.
Posted on 7/17/26 at 9:44 am to danilo
quote:
might be mistaken but aren’t you the same poster who had thyroid and fatty liver issues? Aren’t you young too? If so, WTF is wrong with you? You spent too much time at doctors offices
I had a suspected thyroid nodules that turned out to be nothing. Found incidentally. I do have fatty liver found incidentally.
I need glasses so I go to the eye doctor once a year for my prescription. How am I going to the doctor too much
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