Consumer complaint received 2025-03-14 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Medical debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was paid
Company: Asset Recovery Group, Inc.
State: OR

Complaint narrative:
I am XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX ( from under insured driver over 24 years ago that declared bankruptcy several days before trial to avoid liability ), collecting Social Security, on XXXX with mobility and coping with multiple life threatening health issues. As a senior citizen with limited resources, I feel bullied after rebuffing the perceived extortion attempts by my doctors clinic and their assigned collection company. I feel humiliated to not only have a collection levied against me but having to appear in Small Claims court for a debt I do not owe. I am angry that the clinics billing and collection company 's incompetence and unwillingness to right their wrongs for a positive outcome for the doctor 's practice and myself. 
XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ( XXXX ) contacted me for a periodic routine reexam spaced multiple years apart and 100 % covered without deductibles, coinsurance or benefit maximums. On XX/XX/XXXX I returned for the scheduled reexam. The reexam was billed to our insurance with errors so the insurance did not pay the claim. We contacted TOC to request they correct the errors and resubmit the claim to our insurance. The woman on the phone yelled at us stating she does not make mistakes so we should pay the bill or she will send it to collection and abruptly hung up the phone. 

Meanwhile, I underwent multiple surgeries, hospitalizations and rehabilitation to be able to walk and live at home independently. 

XXXX sent the claim to Asset Recovery Group ( ARG ), who demanded we pay the bill. We explained the bill was in error and needed to be resent to our insurance company to obtain payment. ARG refused to assist in returning the account to TOC for corrections and rebilling to our insurance. Instead, they filed a Small Claims Action against us for the principle amount due plus an addition charge for interest and fees. We replied to Small Claims court with a Denial of the claim for the above reasons. Unable to talk to the woman at TOC and unable to obtain the assistance of ARG to resolve the bill, in desperation, we contacted our insurance company directly to inform them we were being sued for a bill they did not pay. We requested our insurance company assist us by investigating the claim since TOC refused to correct and resend it to them for payment. Our call was escalated to a person who had the authority to override systems to properly correct the claim and authorize its payment. The insurance company emailed to us a copy of the corrected EOB showing the claim was processed and paid 100 % of the contractually allowed amount and sent to TOC. 

Small Claims court required mediation with a court appointed mediator before the case could be heard in court. We attended mediation on XX/XX/XXXX and presented a copy of the EOB and payment information to XXXX. ARG requested the mediation be set over while they validated the authenticity of the EOB and payment to TOC. A second mediation was scheduled about XXXX XXXX weeks later on XX/XX/XXXX. 

It took ARG XXXX weeks to get back to us that the EOB was authentic and TOC was paid 100 % for the allowed charges. Yet, XXXX would not dismiss their Small Claim action to collect the full principal amount TOC billed plus additional interest and fees over {$220.00}. We objected to the additional amounts because we believed the TOC caused the claim not to be paid because they submitted an incorrect bill to our insurer and compounded the delay because they refused to correct and resubmit the claim. XXXX 's refusal to assist in resolving the problems caused additional delay including the delays to set over mediation and ultimately demand their day before a judge in XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

We objected to the interest charge because any rate of interest multiplied by a principal balance that was paid in full resulting in {$0.00} due still calculates to be {$0.00} in interest. Again, the delay was initially caused by XXXX 's refusal to correct and resubmit the bill. We objected to the fees XXXX claims we owe because there would be no fees if to woman who yelled and hung up the phone would have done her due diligence to correct and resend the bill to our insurance. 

It has been XXXX weeks since we provided the EOB to ARG showing our insurance company corrected XXXX 's billing and paid TOC in full. In light of that information, XXXX had the opportunity to dismiss their Small Claim action against us, but did not. Like a pit bull that bites into its prey and refuses to let go ; XXXX continues its Small Claims action for the principal amount ( that has already been paid ) plus interest and fees. 

Since TOC has been paid, ARG is poised to collect DOUBLE the amount TOC originally billed PLUS additional fees ARG tacked on. 

For the past XXXX weeks, XXXX has had ample time to amend and correct their Small Claim action against us for a bill they know we do not owe. It is our opinion XXXX and XXXX have engaged in unfair and unethical billing and collection practices and should not be allowed to continue conducting business in their respective fields of practice. The intentional stress and duress they have caused me as a result of their cruel pursuit to extract money from me for a bill I do not owe is unconscionable.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation