Consumer complaint received 2021-10-12
Company: Amsher Collection Services, Inc.
State: FL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing regarding my recent experience with XXXX XXXX XXXX. I was directed to send an email directly to you summarizing details of my current situation. Currently, I am being told by XXXX XXXX XXXX that I am responsible for {$420.00} from one year ago, that I have previously been told that I would not have to pay. I was told by both the representative working at the facility and the billing specialist that I spoke with on the phone that I would not be responsible for these charges. Here is a chronological summary of what occurred : On XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX, my son and myself were both tested for XXXX. 
I explained to the representative working the front desk that my understanding was that I should not have to pay for the test according to the CARES act. 
I was told by the representative on both occasions that as long as I did not see a doctor that I would not be charged for the test. 
The representative explained that the test itself would be covered and the only reason I would get charged was if I saw the doctor. 
I explained that I did not need to see the doctor, I just needed to confirm that we did/did not have XXXX, and that I would treat myself. 
We received our tests and a month later received a bill from XXXX XXXX XXXX. 
As soon as I received the bill, I called and spoke with someone in the billing department. She seemed to have an understanding of what was going on and said that she would take care of it and that I just needed to disregard the bill. 
A month later I received another bill, so I called and spoke with the same lady from the billing department. She explained that the code for doctors visit was still included on the bill and it shouldnt be since I declined the doctors visit and that she would take care of it. She told me not to worry about it. 
At that point ( XXXX XXXX timeframe ) I thought everything had been settled, as I stopped receiving any bills from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
Fast forward to this week, XXXX of XXXX ( 9 months later ) I received two bills in the mail from XXXX XXXX XXXX, totaling {$420.00}. 
I called to explain the situation to the billing representative, who was a different representative than I previously spoke with. She was unwilling to help and basically implied that I was lying to her, and directed me to the manager of the location I visited. 
On a three way call with the manager of the location, the manager admitted to the billing representative that the office was under new management and she could not confirm/deny that thats what I was told previously but there was nothing she could do about it. 
After spending hours on the phone trying to get this resolved, I was basically told that I would have to pay both of these bills, totaling over {$400.00}. 

I have a perfect credit score and have always been quick to pay any bills that I am responsible for paying, but do not believe that I should have to pay these. I specifically asked about my financial responsibility on the front end and was told that I would not have to pay anything. If I would have been told that it was going to be over {$400.00}, I would have chosen to go somewhere else, as I know there are other locations that do offer the test for free. The only reason I was even getting a test is because I was told by the XXXX and the government that if I had been exposed and was showing symptoms that I would need to be tested so that they could do their contact tracing. I feel as if I have been lied to, disrespected, and taken advantage of, and I would appreciate any help you can provide. 

Also, after my recent conversation with XXXX XXXX XXXX, I attempted to contact their corporate office. I was unable to do so but I did find a bunch of reviews that seem to indicate that this is the normal way this company does business. Please see those reviews using the following link : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, AL XXXX - XXXX XXXX

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