Consumer complaint received 2023-05-04
Company: Aldous & Associates, PLLC
State: VA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged

Complaint:
I have been a XXXX  with the practice for over 12 yrs. XXXX XXXX, the previous XXXX  retired, XXXX XXXX took his place. I did not got to the XXXX during covid. My husband began XXXX right before covid hit. Due to his repeated XXXX  and doctor 's appts, I missed several XXXX appts. I would call and be already late or I would oversleep. This happened while XXXX XXXX was at the practice as well, I had to reschedule a lot! My husband has had XXXX XXXX placed in his XXXX since XXXX ... so his issues took precedence over my XXXX XXXX  for a while! 

In XX/XX/XXXX, I was informed that they would no longer see me as a patient. I forget the reason they gave, but I was already starting to feel as if they did not want me there. The atmosphere within the practice had changed! I had begun to look for a new XXXX They made me schedule appointments for minor adjustments that took less than 5 minutes. XXXX XXXX never did that! 

I broke a tooth on my XXXX XXXX during XXXX. I called them and asked if I could come in on an emergency basis as I had to wear my new XXXX  XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( I wasn't wearing them full time because they were causing me discomfort ) We were out of town for the XXXX when it broke... I had no choice but to wear it. It was very painful and I called as soon as we returned and was told I had to make an appointment for a couple of days later ... may have been the next day. The point is, they refused to see it as an emergency! When it came time for my appointment, my wait was longer than the time it took him to adjust my denture! Simply unacceptable! I definitely felt tension in the room. XXXX didn't even speak when he came in. He always did before. Something was up. 

As I was leaving, I was informed they would no longer see me, I asked if I owed them anything. I NEVER carried a balance with this practice during my 12+ yrs there! I always paid my balance after insurance payments came in. I was told there was one claim waiting to be paid and they would notify me once that was paid. I didn't hear anything until I received the attached bill. The amount due after the insurance payment was {$10.00}. However, they had also included {$90.00} for three missed appointments in XXXX, XXXX and XXXX! I had NEVER been informed of these charges! I NEVER received a bill with these charges as I always paid all balances up front! I was livid and called them immediately! I asked how I was expected to pay these charges if I was NEVER informed of them? If I owed a missed appt fee in XXXX, why did it take them until XXXX to inform me of it? It seemed retaliatory to me. I told them I would not be paying that but would pay the {$10.00} balance left after my insurance paid. That is what I did. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a statement from a law firm, Aldous & Associates, a debt collector. I have attached the letter here. I called them and relayed this information to them to which the agent said he could not take my word for it. I invited him to check the records at XXXX XXXX XXXX. I have not heard anything further. I do not want this on my credit report. It is retaliatory. I can not pay a bill I am unaware I owe. I always paid bills as notified with this practice the entire 12+ years I was a patient.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation