Well, I just got a call from a collection agency that apparently was hired by DJ Orthotics, who manufactures the knee braces I wear for softball, volleyball, etc. It was regarding a disputed charge of $242 for knee braces I got two years ago. The story goes as follows:
I went to the doctor to have my knee looked at because it was very sore and swollen. I've had both of my knees scoped (incidentally, the right one by the current Brewers team doctor) and had been doing all right with it until that time. I called insurance to make sure I went through the proper channels to make sure my visit was paid for. The doctor gave me two new knee braces... I don't remember if I questioned it or not, but I took them, thinking I had done my due diligence.
As you might expect, my insurance rejected the claim of the knee braces, saying that I had gotten them from an unauthorized source. So I got a bill for $242. I called, saying that I had called to make sure the doctor was in network. The insurance company wouldn't budge, saying that the doctor's office wasn't an authorized distributor. I called the doctor's office, and they said that they were in authorized. They referred me to one of the DJ customer reps, who was on site. I talked to her, and she said that yes, they should be authorized, but they were having contract issues and stuff with Humana, my insurance company. I also called DJ's customer service and even sent a letter to a "director" explaining my issue and asking them to cut me a break. I also cited the fact that I had been a loyal customer, and I need new braces just about every 2 years. No dice. Then, the bills stopped coming... until I got that call today.
The agency was real nice, saying that they had not reported it to the credit bureaus yet. I'm extremely unhappy at DJ Orthopedics, as you might expect. I will be sending them another note, along with my doctor, telling them I will no longer going to be their customers, and in DJ's case, no longer be a shareholder as well (I had invested in the company). I can't imagine why a company would go this far, and be so shortsighted to lose a lifetime customer. I also am extremely unhappy at the red tape of the insurance company that caused this.
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7 comments:
Tell them to lay off and talk to the insurance company. It's BS and you shouldn't have to waste your time on that.
I will never buy a DJ ortho product and I will start a negative PR campaign against them for you. Whenever I get a chance I will be sure to mention how you got ripped off by a short sighted company. You can use this in your letter.
Sweet.
that sucks. I hate the entire healthcare billing/insurance system. Here's how a doctor's visit works: ask doctor's office how much it will cost... they don't know. Ask insurance how much it will cost... they don't know. So basically, I go for a visit knowing that I may be billed somewhere between $20-$500.
I'm speculating that DJ Orthotics probably sent over all their unpaid bills to the collection agency, without reviewing each case. Maybe if you contact them again, they'll remove you again.
I'm designing my patch "DJO Sucks" now! I'm going to sew it on my purse! :)
i generally use the approach of not telling them they lost me as a customer, but rather ask them what they are going to do to keep me as a customer. if they've already lost me, they have no incentive to help. if they think i'll give them business again, they will be much more accomodating (of course i don't tell them that once resolved in my favor, i still may go ahead and find a new company that is less of a hassle)
but either way, good luck
If the doctor's office is saying they are authorized, call their billing people and ask that they call the insurance company for you, with you staying on hold the whole time...
Last fall I got a $500 doctor visit bill in error because someone in a billing office screwed something up. The bill was from the doctor's, but Blue Cross Blue Shield said they'd covered it - I had BCBS call the doctor's office and stayed on hold the whole time. It took about 45 minutes, but the doc's finally admitted their mistake...
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