Consumer complaint received 2017-01-18
Company: P.S.C., Inc
State: WA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
This account is in process by my health insurance carrier, XXXX XXXX XXXX. It NEVER should have been sent to a collection agency. Puget Sound Collection is pursuing the debt on behalf of XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX, a public organization. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX claims that they do not require residents of their district ( which I am a resident of ) to pay out of pocket for their services. Their website states the following, " Why do I get a bill for ambulance service? I thought there was no cost to residents. 
You 're right - here are no out-of-pocket costs for residents who live within our district. We do, however, charge your insurance company, XXXX or XXXX for the cost of the ambulance ride. If you are a resident, you will receive a statement from our billing service. It 's just a request for information to submit to the insurance company. It 's not a bill you are expected to pay. 
Individuals who live outside of the district are charged. This helps support our ambulance operation. 
Occasionally, a private ambulance will respond to the call if all of our personnel are responding to multiple calls or a large-scale fire. They are a separate corporation that provides service to our area and will charge you for the ambulance ride. 
Contact our XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX department for questions regarding notices or invoices related to ambulance services. '' This information can be found at this webpage address : https : //www.eastpiercefire.org/page.php? XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX website also has the following information : " XXXX. Will I get an ambulance bill if someone in my family is taken to the hospital in an XXXX? 
Residents transported by XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX units incur no " out-of-pocket '' expenses. 
We bill your insurance company, XXXX or XXXX for the cost of the ambulance ride. XXXX XXXX funds are applied to any balance not paid by your insurance. 
Residents may receive a statement - not a bill - from our billing service requesting information to submit to the insurance company. 
To help support our XXXX services, those who live outside of the district are charged for ambulance transports. 
Occasionally, a private ambulance will respond to the call if all of our personnel are responding to multiple calls or a large-scale fire. They are a separate corporation and will charge you for the ambulance ride. 
Remember, there is never any charge for us to respond to a scene and assess a patient, so " When in XXXX, Check it Out! '' This information may be found here : https : //www.eastpiercefire.org/page.php? XXXX I recently made application to the Alaska XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX I have been a member for more than 25 years. My application for credit was turned down because of collection activity on my credit report. I HAD NEVER been denied credit until Puget Sound Collections set about to ruin my credit rating. 

During the past XXXX calendar months, XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX billed my health insurance, XXXX XXXX XXXX, for five different service dates. The total amount XXXX XXXX has been paid to date in 2016 is {$6600.00}. A total of {$7100.00} was billed. I am not responsible for the charges that total {$1400.00} from XXXX XXXX, 2016. Attempts to collect any amount from me should be ceased and this account immediately canceled. 
I have paid the maximum out of pocket amount for my XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX insurance plan. 2016 claims, including this one from XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX, are still being processed by XXXX XXXX XXXX. I have never received any bills or notices from XXXX XXXX XXXX and Rescue. I became aware of this account from my credit report. My health insurance carrier, XXXX XXXX XXXX, is still processing this claim for services on XXXX XXXX, 2016.

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