Consumer complaint received 2021-07-07
Company: Medical Data Systems, Inc.
State: TX
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX, I entered XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX for treatment of severe XXXX XXXX. I was immediately told by the front desk receptionist to leave and get checked-in at the COVID-19 tent outside. At this point, I had barely been able to get out of bed for 5 days with excruciating XXXX XXXX, XXXX, and extreme XXXX. Upon arriving at the tent with my husband, a young man began asking me questions about my symptoms. At this point, I asked if I could please sit down because of how weak I felt and was refused. Another man soon came to where we were standing and took my vitals. He checked my XXXX XXXX and temperature, which was recorded at a little over XXXX, while the other man continued asking me questions. I told him I had been having severe XXXX  XXXX XXXX, XXXX, and was unable to function for almost 5 days. I offered him the diagnoses of a possible XXXX or severe XXXX XXXX. 

I was then instructed to enter the tent alone and wait for instructions. My husband left and waited for me in the car. Approximately XXXX minutes later, the young man asked me to submit a XXXX sample. I was instructed to enter the portable bathroom outside the tent and XXXX in a cup. Once this was completed, I placed the sample at the designated spot on the desk inside the tent and was further instructed to wait for a doctor. 

About XXXX minutes later, a woman approached me as I was sitting on a metal chair in the tent with my head down. She stood about XXXX feet back and yelled at me, Why are you here? I thought maybe I did not hear her correctly because of her bluntness, so I replied Huh? She yelled again, Why are you here? I think I was still in shock because of her demeanor, so I replied again, Huh? At this point, she became very agitated with me and firmly yelled again, Why are you here? I am still unaware of who this woman is because she did not state her name or position, so I assumed she was a nurse coming to ask me some questions. I then told her the same symptoms I had told the earlier young man, severe XXXX XXXX, XXXX, extreme XXXX. She then told me very aggressively to lay back in the chair while she applied pressure to my abdomen. After this, she just walked away without stating any information at all. I am still unaware at this point her name or title. 

I continued sitting in the very uncomfortable metal chair for almost another XXXX minutes before I got up and walked to the entrance of the tent where the young man had first asked me about my symptoms. I asked for a status on seeing a doctor, and he stated they would let me know. The metal chairs were very uncomfortable, so I asked him if I could go back to the car and wait. He said yes, and that they would call me when I would be able to see a doctor. I walked to the parking lot and waited in the car with my husband for approximately another XXXX minutes. The man who took my vitals approached the car and knocked on the window, telling us they were ready, and we could drive up closer to the tent. As we drove up to the tent, the younger man who first took all my information approached the drivers side window where my husband was driving. I attempted to exit the passenger side of the car and was told not to get out, I was being discharged. 

I was confused because I was still under the impression that I was waiting to see a doctor. The young man handed us the discharge paperwork and explained that it was just XXXX XXXX and that I could take XXXX or XXXX for the pain, and apply a topic pain relief like XXXX XXXX if needed. At this point, I questioned him about the results of my XXXX test, and he told me it was fine. Frustrated and extremely tired, we took the paperwork and left. 

Luckily, the next day I had a yearly visit scheduled with my OB/GYN for a pap smear. Still in very much pain, I managed to make it to the appointment where I explained the same symptoms to my doctor. I submitted another XXXX sample for testing and culture. Immediately my doctor knew something was not right. She had me sit up from the medical table where I was laying and began touching my lower back in places, asking me if I felt any pain. When she pressed in the XXXX area, I immediately felt pain. It took her no time at all to diagnose me with a XXXX XXXX and began treating me right away. The culture came back several days later showing a positive result for an XXXX. 

The XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX has treated me unfairly. I now have been billed by the following : XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  {$600.00} for Emergency department visit {$80.00} for Services between XXXX pm and XXXX am at a XXXX Facility XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX {$310.00} for XXXX XXXX {$1100.00} for Emergency Room Once I received these bills, I called and left a voicemail on XX/XX/XXXX with the XXXX Regional Patient Advocate. XXXX XXXX, on called me back on XX/XX/XXXX, where she took my complaint and told me she would follow up with the incident and get back in touch with me the following week. I have placed numerous call and left voicemails week after week with no reply. I also contacted XXXX XXXX XXXX and let them know that the bill was in dispute. They asked me to fax them my medical records showing that this was a misdiagnosis. I faxed my medical records to their XXXX Services on XX/XX/XXXX. I was then told that they would make a note of that on the bill and put a hold on it. 

These ( 2 ) bills are now in collections for non-payment. Once I received these ( 2 ) bills from collection companies, I sent a Dispute letter to each company by certified mail within the XXXX period. XXXX refused my letter and returned back to me. XXXX accepted my letter, but did not reply with the correct validity of my debt. 

I am disputing all charges due to an incorrect diagnosis and the fact that I never even sat down in the XXXX XXXX. I also believe I was treated very rudely by what I thought might have been a nurse. 

Thanks

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation