Consumer complaint received 2024-09-28
Product: Debt collection — Medical debt
Issue: Communication tactics — You told them to stop contacting you, but they keep trying
Company: Synergetic Communication Inc (CA)

Date of medical appt I didn't ask for ( and was assured would be free they just want to check something in a few months ) was XX/XX/year>. upon arrival I was told to pay {$30.00} copay. I said this was supposed to be free and I told yall I dont want the appt if it costs something. They said so you want to cancel. I said Im not paying anything for an appt I didnt ask for, I dont have any money on me, so yes. They said thats a XXXX $ cancellation fee. I said are you telling me I cant leave this office without paying XXXX or XXXX dollars? She said yes. I said thats extortion, no? Her supervisor came over and corrected her, its XXXX $ if you want to come back to be seen. Its XXXX $ copay if you want to be seen now. Its {$0.00} dollars to leave and never come back. I said sounds much more legal, Ill find a new doctor and leave. Note patients never touch the front door, they make us knock and open it for us and walk us out each time. Due to the abruptness of me leaving I opened the door myself as they were behind the desk scrambling to stop me as I walked out. The door is extremely flimsy I found out. And the window of the door has many heavy items attached to the outside of it. A XXXX XXXX, or air conditioner type box, clipboards with signage and check in papers. Well as the door opened, much quicker than anticipated because the door was so light/flimsy, the items on the door swung and broke the window. They tried to say I did it on purpose and I told them thats not the case. They continued to act like I had murdered someone by opening the door as its designed to be used, so I left as they just tried to extort me for money I am not using this doctor anymore and I have dont nothing wrong to compel me to stay. Well they called police ( XXXX ) and the officer called me. I told them my story and they said they figured so much as they viewed the video cameras and found no criminal act. Report closed and no charges pressed. They informed me XXXX XXXX can presume me civilly if he wants but his insurance will cover the window. I expected that to be the end of this. But this doctor has no desire to uphold his XXXX XXXX  and instead sold not only my but my emergency contact information to a debt collector. Now my elderly, retired, out of state father, gets harassing phone calls and text messages about a medical debt I owe. What debt is that? $ XXXX for a window and {$70.00} for a late cancellation. To place the window price which insurance paid for, police said im legally not a fault for, and has nothing to do with medical as a medical debt and then abuse my emergency contact information is so beyond violating to me and the oath he took. I have told XXXX XXXX many times this issue is not lawful, I owe no money, and demanded they leave my father alone. Ive asked for documentation proving XXXX XXXX gave them this info as im diligently reporting this everywhere I can think of. XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, Police, Civil recourse. Anything to stop this from affecting my father, I will literally never put down anything other than XXXX as emergency contact now and have forgone medical centers for XXXX XXXX entirely. Im at the point that XXXX XXXX is so verbally abusive, never actually sends me the documentation I ask for, and constantly harassing me and my father that Im considering protesting on the street in front of the office so they can feel the way I feel dealing with harassment. 

This debt collector is just as bad as the medical center. If the debt was reported to credit union I could dispute it because I have police report finding me free of criminal liability for the window. It was an accident just use insurance like all businesses are required to carry. But they dont want to report it to the credit union they just want to harass me indefinitely. Im sure at this point if I just paid the money they would still call harassing me because they dont seem at all connecting to the medical office and can never answer anything I ask about the account when it was sent how it was sent anything documenting this. 

Desperate to make it stop and make this company realize how absolutely disgusting what they are doing is. I cant imagine how they are treating people who are not as educated, diligent, and monetarily resourced as I am to have the time to pursue justice for my situation. I want this to never happen again for the next person who may not be strong enough to vocalize unjust abuse and put an end to it