Consumer complaint received 2020-05-16
Company: BUDGET CONTROL SERVICES, INC.
State: CO
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
XXXX XXXX Disputed charge by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Account sent to Collections Agency : Budget Control Services , Inc  . 

Friday, XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX XXXX Spoke with XXXX at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX about scheduling an appointment with Dr. XXXX for XXXX XXXX, during which time I also wanted to get XXXX  prescription re-filled. XXXX told me she spoke with the billing department who said it would NOT be a problem to get medication/prescription refilled at the same time as XXXX XXXX. This would be all be covered under the XXXX XXXX fee. 

I also spoke with XXXX about the fact that I did not have traditional medical insurance coverage, but was part of a XXXX, XXXX XXXX. She confirmed that XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX would accept this coverage, would bill XXXX for the XXXX XXXX and that I would have no out of pocket expense for this visit. I made it clear that I expected to be billed for a XXXX XXXX and nothing else. XXXX agreed that this would be the case. 

Scheduled an appointment with Dr. XXXX, for Friday, XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX, expected Dr. XXXX to provide XXXX prescription refill during this exam. 

During exam with Dr. XXXX, she said she would NOT prescribe XXXX, said that I would have to make another appointment with one of her PA 's ( Physicians Assistants ) in order to get an XXXX prescription re-filled. I told her I had already been diagnosed with XXXX   and explained that I had spoken to XXXX about this when I made my appointment and that XXXX told me she ( Dr. XXXX ) would prescribe XXXX during the XXXX   XXXX appointment. Dr. XXXX then said she would prescribe if the doctor who diagnosed me with XXXX sent a letter stating that she had diagnosed me. 

I spoke with XXXX at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. I told her Dr. XXXX XXXX would be sending this information to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX After providing a letter from Dr. XXXX XXXX, confirming my XXXX diagnosis, I called XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to request Dr. XXXX fill my XXXX prescription. I again spoke with XXXX. Despite having received the letter from Dr. XXXX, she refused to refill the prescription and said I had to come in for another appointment in order to have it filled. 

After a few dead-end conversations with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and realizing they were not going to fill my prescription without my coming in for another appointment, I ended up going to a different doctor to have the prescription filled. I paid this other provider {$160.00} for this visit ( see attached XXXX XXXX EOB, XX/XX/XXXX ). 

After all of this, adding insult to injury, I got a bill from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX that included two charges : 1. {$160.00} Office or other outpatient visit for evaluation and management of new patient  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX repriced to : {$160.00} 2. {$270.00} Initial comprehensive XXXX XXXX XXXX ( aka XXXX XXXX ) XXXX XXXX XXXX Share repriced to : {$230.00} XXXX XXXX reimbursed XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX {$230.00} for the XXXX XXXX, which is all I should have been charged for. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) made no mention of a New Patient charge in addition to a XXXX   XXXX fee when I made my appointment. Had she told me about this fee upfront, or any other charges in addition to a XXXX XXXX fee, I would not have made an appointment. I tried to get this issue resolved with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX but was unsuccessful. I requested they remove the $ XXXX/ {$160.00} charge from my bill, but they refused to do so. They instead sent my account to collections. ( see attached email, dated XX/XX/XXXX from me to XXXX for further details ) Also to note, XXXX XXXX rejected the claim for alleged service, noting ineligible due to 'pre-existing condition ' ( see XXXX EOB dated XX/XX/XXXX ). However, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX noted on their Invoice 'deductible not met ' as the reason XXXX did not reimburse. Either way, I should not have been charged this amount, nor should XXXX have been billed for this service, as I did not provide informed consent to receive. 

In summary, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX billed me {$160.00} for a service that I did not provided informed consent to receive. 

I spoke with Budget Control Services , IncXXXX several times, explaining the situation and the fact that I disputed the alleged charge and was requesting the charge be dropped and removed from my credit report. At Budget Control Services request, I sent them a letter on XX/XX/XXXX, to formally document this. After doing so, I continued to receive bills from Budget Control Services , Inc . 

On XX/XX/XXXX, my attorney sent a letter to Budget Control Services , Inc. notifying them the debt they were attempting to collect was not valid ; that XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX is charging for medical services I did not receive and did not provide informed consent to. Via this letter, I demanded Budget Control Services , Inc. provide proof that I incurred the debt, including any written agreement, contract, or legal judgement thereof ; which they have failed to do. Rather, they sent yet another bill, dated XX/XX/XXXX, with additional interest fees, for a total of {$160.00} + {$30.00} interest = {$190.00} total. 

I would like this invalid charge dropped and the alleged debt removed from my credit report - removed from all ( 3 ) credit bureaus.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation