Unfair credit practices of CMRE Financial Services, Inc.
This is the first post I've made public in a while, and I'm doing so because I want to publicly shame everyone involved.
Just over two years ago, I was treated in the emergency room at Grossmont Hospital. I received several bills for my treatment, and paid them all within a few weeks, in a pretty normal way.
Last month, I received a call from ( Read more... )
Just over two years ago, I was treated in the emergency room at Grossmont Hospital. I received several bills for my treatment, and paid them all within a few weeks, in a pretty normal way.
Last month, I received a call from ( Read more... )
First, write a letter stating the exact facts of what happened. Begin and end with a statement that you are enclosing check # for $, the amount of the new bill that is being presented to you (but NOT the interest--since you can't possibly owe interest). Use language that is not at all charged, and write it as though you are the most reasonable human being to walk the earth; pretend you are trying to explain what happened to a very stupid middle school student, using the full name of the hospital and the billing company at all times. Write that OF COURSE you are more than happy to pay any charges you incurred as a result of your medical care, as demonstrated by the fact that you promptly paid all of the bills you received. Etc. etc. Include the names of every person you talked to and when (with dates, if possible), and how they just couldn't help you to resolve this like the very reasonable person you are. Have a friend check it over for you before you finalize it. You want it to be clear and succinct. You're not at all upset, angry, etc. No no. You are confused as to why the nice hospital didn't just ask you to pay way back when, because of course you would have done so, and since they are presenting the bill to you for the very first time you are just so darn confused as to how you could possibly legally owe interest--after all, a bill can't be overdue before you even know it exists, can it? And didn't you get bills right after the treatment and pay them? So isn't it a big confusing surprise that there is now a new bill?
If you have positive facts like you're at the same address and phone number you were at when you got the other bills (showing you were just ready and waiting for those bills to arrive and be promptly paid), include that too.
Optional: Feel free to enclose any proof you have that shows how you promptly paid the original bill(s) you received.
Send the letter to the billing group with a check for payment for ONLY the bill part (NOT the interest).
Mandatory: you MUST cc (1) the hospital's billing group, (2) the Better Business Bureau (if the billing group is in a location that differs from the hospital, make sure you send it to both relevant BBB offices), and (3) the state attorney general's consumer protection division. You MUST print on the bottom of the letter that you cc'd these organizations.
Never admit that it is even remotely possible that you owe them the interest (unless, of course, you discover this is your mistake--in which case you recant immediately and cough up the dough like an ethical human being).
Never concede anything over the phone. If the hospital o or billing group calls you, be as sweet as you can, smile a lot, and use lots of phrases like "I'm confused. So what you are telling me is that you made a mistake? Okay. So you're asking me to pay for your mistake? I'm confused." Ask them to send you everything in writing. If you do get a call, ask for the caller's full name and a number where you can reach them. If possible, ask for their job title without making it obvious that's what you are doing. ("Oh, so you work for the hospital, right? Are you a secretary there? No? Oh, well then what is your job, exactly? What do you call that?")
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I certainly can't imagine that taking up less than 10 hours of time, so on a per hour basis, it comes to less than 10% of my hourly income rate. Probably less than 5%. Which is part of why I think what's being done to me should be outright illegal, and should come with punitive damages. I shouldn't have to harm myself further in order to set things right.
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