Consumer complaint received 2020-10-15
Company: AmeriCollect
State: FL
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:
Dear Sirs : I have made repeated attempts to contact the billing dept at XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX. The woman who answered the phone refused to listen to my explanation. She said I must discuss it with their third party bill er which apparently is Americollect , inc . 

I filed a dispute with a credit reporting agency. Americollect apparently misinterpreted this information and are now demanding Police reports regarding Identity theft. I sent the following information in my dispute. How they gleaned identity theft from it is a puzzlement. It could only be to avoid dealing with the facts~! 

to wit : I do not owe this money. When I entered XXXX XXXX I was seeking a medical opinion on a wound to my XXXX XXXX. I had a growing XXXX and thought I may be covered by insurance. My first act was to inquire as to the status of my insurance coverage. There response was " Yes you are currently insured. '' It was late evening XX/XX/XXXX. I learned later ; My insurance had lapsed XXXX two days earlier but I had not received notice. I explained my concern to the intake person who insisted I was indeed still insured. 


I made it very clear my insurance coverage was in question making a point of the fact if I have no insurance I would decline ANY treatment not covered by insurance. I hand wrote those words on the treatment consent form. After which XXXX XXXX insurance specialists on the night of the 2nd, told me my insurance was still in effect and I would be covered. I had that conversation with three or four different hospital representatives. All told me the same thing. I was covered. 

XXXX XXXX was at the end or her shift and was growing testy with her patients. I could hear her arguing with people in the next room. When she examined my arm she literally dismissed it out of hand. Then proceeded to tell me I had a XXXX XXXX. I was shocked because in my entire medical history I had been told repeatedly my XXXX was well and strong. 

The last things she did before retiring from her shift apparently, was to order tests of my XXXX unannounced to me. I was led to a waiting room where, I spent the night. In the morning I was wheeled around the hospital and subjected to a battery of tests. All of which must have concluded there was nothing wrong with my XXXX and they were a complete waste of time. I must assume since I received zero results of any tests before or after being ejected from the building. 

After spending the morning in a wheel chair, Finally mid afternoon, I was taken to a room with a bed. Where I sat in a chair for half an hour. Having been run around the hospital for hours I was growing very hungry and weary having been up for 30 hours. I'm XXXX with XXXX XXXX, half asleep most of the time. When I inquired I was told I'd missed both meals for that day. Then a XXXX came in and told me I was to be kept for observation for a few days. A few minutes later a hospital person from the insurance department told me I am to be dismissed and sent home. I was Then told " You have no insurance and must leave. '' AT this point they must have decided I had NO medical issues with my XXXX. All very mystifying to me. 

She refused to discuss the fact I had written on the consent form " I refuse any treatment not covered by insurance! '' She referred me to their charity arm ; where I related the I details of my hospital stay. That was XX/XX/XXXX. I was told I would be notified of the outcome. I have received NO notice and NO bill from XXXX XXXX. I must conclude they realized their error and held me blameless. 

Upon review of the charges I see XXXX were made XXXX on XXXX and XXXX on XXXX. I was only there XX/XX/XXXX so the greater charge of {$900.00} was not even possible I left about XXXX XXXX XXXX. Just another glaring error made by XXXX XXXX and associates. Since I received NO results how can they even justify charging me for them? 

It is my belief that because they mistakenly told me I was insured and ignored my refusal of treatment they decided to write me off. I have received NO bill from XXXX XXXX with the exception from your client. XXXX XXXX ordered the tests in spite of my insistence of my inability and unwillingness to take on expensive medical tests. Which had no legitimate purpose in any case. I refused all treatment on the consent form NOT covered by insurance. Their careless disregard of my instructions has left you with an unpaid bill for which they Must be held responsible. I have sought legal council in this matter and will advice them as to if this matter needs to be litigated Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

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