Consumer complaint received 2025-03-05 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Medical debt
Issue: Written notification about debt — Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company: CAINE & WEINER COMPANY, INC.
State: SC

Complaint narrative:
After an unfortunate slip and fall injury at the XXXX XXXX in XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX of XXXX, I realized that the injuries I sustained were significant. 
After correspondences with XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, as well as a letter dated XX/XX/XXXX stating that after careful consideration of the information provided or obtained concerning the incident, I have concluded that a payment can not be issued under the applicable policy because there is no evidence to suggest that XXXX knew or shouldve known about the hazard that led to the incident, and therefore XXXX did not have an opportunity to correct the condition from XXXX  XXXX. 

I decided to reach out to the law firm of XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX for assistance. XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX referred me to XXXX XXXX XXXX. I was initially contacted by XXXX who worked for XXXX XXXX, XXXX, the attorney who would be handling my slip and fall case. I asked if I would incur any out-of-pocket expenses if there was no recovery and I was told that I would not. I decided to move forward with my case against XXXX XXXX based on that information. 
On XX/XX/XXXX I traveled to XXXX  XXXX XXXX in XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX  for an evaluation and XXXX  study by XXXX XXXX XXXX, which was initiated by my attorney. I also received XXXX emails from XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX, also initiated by an attorney with no explanation other than to sign the documents in order to receive treatment for my injuries. I did not read the document, but trusted that my attorney was acting in my best interest. I have since reviewed the document which my attorney emailed to me on XX/XX/XXXX with an incomplete file containing some of my records, and find that in addition to not explaining the consequences of this document, the document remains unsigned by my attorney, XXXX XXXX, XXXX. 

Prior to receiving the email on XX/XX/XXXX, I received a phone call from XXXX, the case manager from XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX who took over my case from XXXX, on or around the first week of XX/XX/XXXX. I thought she was calling to schedule the ablation of my cervical nerves to help relieve the severe pain in my neck and burning paresthesias in my hands. Instead, I was told that XXXX XXXX, XXXX was withdrawing from my case without any explanation. I asked once again if there were any out-of-pocket expenses, just to confirm our initial conversation. 

Unfortunately, at this point, the answer had changed. I was told that there might be some out-of-pocket medical expenses, but that the providers understand that when they take a slip and fall case that they take the chance that there may be no recovery. I asked if I had a letter of protection and was told that I only had a letter of representation. However, there are no letters of representation in my file. I was also told that I would be receiving all of my records in the mail. I received nothing from XXXX XXXX XXXX during the entire month of XX/XX/XXXX, but chalked it up to the impending holidays. I did however, receive numerous calls on a daily basis from XXXX XXXX XXXX during the months of XXXX, XXXX and XXXX. 

After receiving between XXXX to XXXX phone calls every day, I received a phone call unbeknownst to me from XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX. She did not identify that she was calling from XXXX XXXX regarding my office visit to XXXX XXXX. Instead, she began by asking if I was XXXX XXXX, just as every other XXXX solicitor began their conversation. I believe XXXX was my seventh call of the day and so in disgust, I said No! and hung up the phone. I heard nothing more from XXXX XXXX by phone or mail or email until I contacted them after receiving the documents from XXXX XXXX, XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX. 

On Saturday, XX/XX/XXXX, after the post office was closed, I was in receipt of a pink slip in my mailbox stating that I had a package with postage due. On Monday, XX/XX/XXXX I went to the post office to inquire about the package. It was a small package with no information on who the sender was, so I refused the package. When I got home, I tried to reach my attorney to inquire if she had sent the package. No one would answer or return my calls so I tried texting and then emailing. I finally found out that my attorney had sent a CD with my records. I explained that I had no way of opening up a CD and asked if they could please email me the documents. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I finally received a letter of withdrawal dated XX/XX/XXXX, as well as my incomplete file. In the emails, XXXX XXXX, XXXX recommended that I contact the providers to try to negotiate down the {$35000.00} plus medical expenses that I had incurred. Also, after reviewing the file, I discovered XXXX XXXX, XXXX had sent letters of withdrawal to all of the providers on XX/XX/XXXX, but never sent any documents to me until XX/XX/XXXX when I received the pink slip in my mailbox nearly XXXX month after all of my providers received their letters regarding her withdrawal from my case. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I began reading through my file. I corresponded back and forth with both XXXX and XXXX XXXX, XXXX via text and email trying to make sense of the information I had been emailed. 

On XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX p.m. I received a call from XXXX XXXX from Caine & Weiner demanding a credit card in order to pay my bill from XXXX XXXX. I explained that this was the first time I was hearing from anyone regarding my bill from XXXX and asked if I could document that I received notice from my attorney on XX/XX/XXXX. 

XXXX gave me a website to upload my XXXX, but it would not allow me to upload them. I tried to call back XXXX times for assistance but music played until the line disconnected. I called again on Saturday morning XX/XX/XXXX @ XXXX a.m. and spoke to XXXX who explained that I must first email and request a link which would then allow me to upload my documents. I never received an email response with a link, so I called again on XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX p.m. and on XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX p.m. and once more on XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX a.m. I was finally given a second phone number to contact Caine and Weiner and spoke with XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX AM. XXXX informed me that Caine and Weiner received the notice on XX/XX/XXXX to place me in collections. He also stated that XXXX XXXX did everything possible to collect the debt prior to throwing me in collections. 

I also spoke with XXXX from XXXX XXXX who told me that XXXX tried to reach me on XX/XX/XXXX, but that I hung up on her. I explained that I had been inundated with phone calls from XXXX and assumed that she was another solicitor. I apologized and asked to speak with XXXX. 

I spoke with XXXX on multiple occasions regarding the outstanding medical bill for {$3700.00} from XXXX XXXX XXXX that I was now in collections for. I explained that XXXX XXXX from XXXX XXXX was an in network provider for my XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX  She explained that XXXX XXXX was a funding company and that it was not their policy to accept payments from insurance companies. XXXX also stated on XXXX separate occasions that when asked to sign documents regarding medical treatment, she never reads the documents that she was asked to sign. I then contacted XXXX XXXX XXXX  and asked them if they would be willing to bill my XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX  I was told that it was not their policy to bill my medical insurance and that they would not. No one, not my attorney nor the medical provider, ever explained that I was signing a contract for a funding company to pay my medical bill at XXXX XXXX XXXX or the ramifications that would follow if there was no recovery for my bills. 

I asked XXXX why she had never reached out after her initial call on XX/XX/XXXX or why she hadnt sent any written request or documentation regarding the bill from XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX stated that she works for a very big company and that she is very busy and is not required to make more than XXXX attempt to collect the payment. XXXX also informed me that she received a withdrawal letter from XXXX XXXX, XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX. In addition, XXXX stated that I was thrown into collections on XX/XX/XXXX, a week before XXXX XXXX, XXXX, attempted to send me any documentation regarding my case. 

I have documentation that XXXX XXXX paid {$1800.00} out of the total amount billed by XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX for {$3700.00}, but XXXX XXXX has thrown me into collections for the total amount billed of {$3700.00}. On XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX from XXXX XXXX offered to discount the amount owed to {$3000.00} as well as give me XXXX additional weeks to find an attorney to help me with my case. On XX/XX/XXXX I left a message for XXXX stating that I could not find an attorney who is willing to take my case. I since contacted and left a message for XXXX stating that I am still trying to find an attorney to represent me. She called back on XXXX XXXX to ask if I had spoken to XXXX XXXX upon her recommendation. I left multiple messages for XXXX XXXX, but to date no one has reached out. I also informed her that I have an upcoming XXXX  call with an attorney to discuss my case. 

Respectfully submitted, XXXX XXXX Sent from my XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation