Small Claims Court
 

I really would appreciate some advice. Last July, I was treated by one of The Villages physicians. Before the procedure, I paid my co-pay as required by my insurance company and all went well as had been the case for over 5 years; however, a month later I received a bill for $82.12 with no explanation. I paid the bill through my bank and later received an explanation that the charge was for a certain treatement used by the physcian. I had a later appoint with the physician and asked him for an explanation. He confirmed to me that their billing department (he practices with him a very large group) had billed me in error. Ever since, I have been stoned-walled. I have tried to have my insurance company recover the money. I have tried any number of times via phone and in person and, as always I get stoned-walled.

Is there a way through small claims court that I can possibly get regress? Please advise how I should proceed. Thanks in advance.

genem9191930@gmail.com

Just a thought. Consider one of the following: 1) Send a certified letter to the billing office informing them that your doctor told you it was an error. Tell them that if you have not received a refund in 60 days you will bring the matter to small claims court. Tell them also that weather you win or lose you will post the progress of your story on social media. Since you are only providing facts they can not come after you. 2) Ask the doctor to provide in writing that the charge is an error. Send a letter, along with the doctor's letter, in the manner described above.

It's not worth going to small claims court for $82. Did the insurance company pay anything for the treatment? If not, I don't think they will be of any assistance to you. I would just be more persistent with the office or the person who prepares the bills. Take names and document everything. Send emails. Ask to speak with a supervisor. You may also consider sending a bill to the office with an explanation of exactly what the doctor told you. You could also ask the office to have the doctor call you back personally. If you go back to the office for treatment, I would not pay the co-pay. You may need to make a few people embarrassed or uncomfortable, and not allow them to stonewall you. Good luck.

You can file a complaint with the department that oversees the medical profession, I have done something similar with a local bank and immediately got a call to follow-up with the problem that I could not get anyone to look at for 6 months. You might have the same response with the practice, once you get their attention.

I didn't suggest going to small claims court. I suggested telling them you would- and that you would publicly document the process. This threat might get them to pay more attention to your concern. Another idea is to ask the doctor to contact billing. If s/he is unwilling, they may be willing to hand you/mail you/email you a note stating the charge is an error.

Apparently, some people are intimidated by the medical profession. I'm not. If they are cheating you, you have every right to demand the same treatment as any other business. I'm not sure what the OP means by "stonewalling", but I would not allow them to stonewall me.

I once had an appointment that was a 1 Hour Drive from my home, drove there paid for parking walked up multiple flights of stairs only to find out that my appointment was canceled and no one bothered to notify me. I went downstairs and filed a complaint with the ombudsman, then went back home, figured out the mileage and the time I lost from work, it was just shy of $300.00, I deducted it from a bill I had for co-pays along with an explanation. They accepted it without question and reduced the amount owed on my co-pays.

Probably could win in Small claims court. Might want to check where court house is. We live in the north end (Sumter County) and believe that closest court house is in Bushnell. Ten years ago, filing fee was over $200. Pursuing a small claims court case will be more aggravating than it is worth. If you have two trips to the courthouse gas costs would significantly eat into the $82.00

Leave bad feedback on google. Not worth the time and aggravation taking them to small claims. We had a local doctor over charge us on every visit. The insurance company contacted them directly. Next time review the bill before paying and if incorrect don’t pay it and write them a certified letter denying the charge. Then the burden is on them to take you to court and prove the charge.

If you paid by cc, dispute the charge with your cc company and get it reversed.

It’s not what you say to them it’s how you say it. Find a way to get to the top dog at the billing department and then let er rip. Works every time. Good luck. By the way I would NEVER give up until I prevailed.

Even if the OP paid by credit card, it's too late to dispute it. The bill was paid 7 months ago.

I don’t think it’s worth going through the court system, not for $82. You’d also have to pay the small claims court fee to file your claim. Not sure what that is. On the other hand, although it’s not a big amount of money there is the principle of the matter, which is that you were unfairly charged.

Frankly since you already paid it, the doctor’s billing Dept. likely doesn’t want any further involvement. And that’s how they’re acting, as you said they haven’t responded when you call or even go over. By paying it you accepted the charge, and better to have ignored it but that’s a moot point. But there has to be a reason that treatment wasn’t covered by your insurance. Did the medical group even bill your insurance first before billing you? They should have. Anyway good luck with this situation, it is annoying, but not worth going to small claims court.

Sorry to say how fruitless filing such a complaint would be. I have a condition that was not properly treated by a local physician, as verified by a highly recognized specialist working out of a nationally renowned speciaialty hospital. The lawyers for the state hired a medical crony to prepare a multi-page comprehensive report for them, a copy of which I was entitled to.

I and others read it more than once and were shocked not just at the glib exoneration of the medical colleague but the fact that my condition that was at the heart of the problem was never mentioned even once! When I pointed this out, I was ignored. Out of spite, the doctor I complained about cut me off from all other (unrelated) services in that practice. What a level of childish pettiness!

Welcome to Florida! You 'ain't' up north anymore, where state government agencies are actually supportive of the residents. I have lived here many years and cannot count how many locals I've dissuaded from getting care there and instead going elsewhere within the same distance....

You should have disputed this with your credit card company after the 1st month. I’d still try to. If you win in small claims court it doesn’t mean you will get paid.