crooked dentist charging unduly?

Question

I moved to Chicago recently and was in need of a dentist. I did not know anybody to ask for recommendations, so I searched on the internet and found one who had good reviews. When I went to the office, they kept me waiting for an hour!! I was shocked to know that they were charging $265 for a simple bite adjustment. The receptoinist asked me to pay the bill immediately after the treatment. I advised her to wait till she hears from my insurance.
Later on I got a recommendation from a colleague and found a good dentist, he charged me $48 for the bite adjustment(yes, I needed another one). My insurance has paid the crook $50, out of $265, now he is sending me bills for the remaining $215. What should I do? I do not want my credit history affected by this. But I also dont want to pay such a high price for the substandard treatment.

Answer 1

I hate to say it, but you received the service from the dentist, and must pay the charge. When you filled out the initial papers, there was probably a form which you signed that stated you would be responsible for the bill. Sorry. Sounds like you were taken advantage of.

What I would do, if I were you...is pay the bill. $1 a month. The law states that if you owe a medical bill and are paying on it in a regular fashion (even $1 month), you cannot be sued for non-payment, thus your credit won't be affected. Chances are, after a time, the dentist will get tired of your $1 payments and write off the charge.

Answer 2

you didn't pay $265 for an adjustment. you probably paid about $60 for a new patient exam, $40 for some radiographs, and maybe $165 for the adjustment. you got more than you think. look at your EOB from your insurance and google the ADA codes so you can see what you got done. i'm quite sure that you didn't get ripped off.

as for being asked for money when you left, can you think of ANY other business that you leave without paying? that's a bunch of crap. try doing that when you go out to eat or when you have your car worked on. payment is due at the time of service. at our office you don't even have work done until you've paid. the old "bill me" days are long over.

Answer 3

Be kind but stand firm with your argument about the outragous fee. Call the surrounding dentist (his competition) and ask how much they charge. Write a letter showing all the fees from the surrounding dentist (at least 5 or 10) and pay according to the the average or even the most expensive and ask the ACTUAL dentist- not his manager- if he will agree to the pricing and you will be out of his hair forever. It can cost dentist money to send someone to collections. But please be friendly as possible, reasonable, and never yell at staff or they will send u to a collections just to spite you.

Answer 4

You could call and argue with the dentist, making a case that his fee is 5 times the "customary fee" accepted by your insurance.

They might lower it for you then but if they don't, just work out a payment arrangement and pay them off $20 at a time.

If you don't work with them, they'll probably turn you into a collections agency, which will be even more stress for you.

I know it sucks. I need a dentist in Dallas but they're crooks here too.

Answer 5

they have a NHS pricing band chart someplace at the back of their counter....they could desire to be made to exhibit it for the universal public i think of...yet they dont. ask to confirm that...there are 3 bands of pricing at an NHS dentists. i'm NHS & mine charged me ninety two quid to take out my information the teeth!! i comprehend he's ripping me off so now i bypass to India for advantageous therapy together as i'm on trip....possibly you will be able to desire to look at a dentistry trip someplace too...you save lots...fairly in case you're pondering those veneers.