Doctor Ordered Unauthorized Tests and Wants Me to Pay the Bill
My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Illinois
Hi, I went to see a doctor about pain while urinating. I have no insurance so he said we should do a urine culture. If that came up inconclusive we agreed that I would go to a free clinic and do a STD panel. After 3 weeks and no word from the doctor I got the bill in the mail for the urine culture, which I paid. The doctor was supposed to call me with the test results but never did and now claims that my number was out of service (I have cell phone bills that refute this claim), which is untrue.
Then 2 weeks later I get another bill from the lab for $225 for four different tests which he ordered without my authorization. So I called him about this and left a message with his secretary, and as expected, I get no reply. I call again a week later and he wouldn't come on the phone, so his secretary tells me that they are not responsible for it and will not pay it. She also tells me that it was discussed during our meeting that these tests would be ordered, which is a complete lie. We clearly agreed that since I have no insurance I would go to a free clinic for STD tests. What chances do I have against him in a small claims court?
BTW, I plan on paying the bill to protect my credit.
Thanks in advance.
Re: Doctor Ordered Unauthorized Tests and Wants Me to Pay the Bill
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mchelo777
My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Illinois
Hi, I went to see a doctor about pain while urinating. I have no insurance so he said we should do a urine culture. If that came up inconclusive we agreed that I would go to a free clinic and do a STD panel. After 3 weeks and no word from the doctor I got the bill in the mail for the urine culture, which I paid. The doctor was supposed to call me with the test results but never did and now claims that my number was out of service (I have cell phone bills that refute this claim), which is untrue.
Then 2 weeks later I get another bill from the lab for $225 for four different tests which he ordered without my authorization. So I called him about this and left a message with his secretary, and as expected, I get no reply. I call again a week later and he wouldn't come on the phone, so his secretary tells me that they are not responsible for it and will not pay it. She also tells me that it was discussed during our meeting that these tests would be ordered, which is a complete lie. We clearly agreed that since I have no insurance I would go to a free clinic for STD tests. What chances do I have against him in a small claims court?
BTW, I plan on paying the bill to protect my credit.
Thanks in advance.
Why do people with issues calling folks w/o following up with a letter. But the OP is doing the right thing , pay it and then sue to recover. $225 ?? Filing fees & all that will be about the same .... OP may wish to re-think his filing a suit to recover since a judgment in his favor is not 100% nor is collecting..does not sound like sound financial decision. And I think that the OP would not win this case .. its a case of he-said/she-said with the OP getting a benefit.. free clinic for STDs lol .. go buy a condom dude
Re: Doctor Ordered Unauthorized Tests and Wants Me to Pay the Bill
I am skeptical that you'll recover any money from the doctor in a "he said, she said" contest, with you agreeing that you presented for treatment and agreed to certain tests and the doctor, presumably, indicating that the tests ordered were medically necessary to diagnose your condition.
If you are telling us that the second tests you're disputing are for STD's and you can document that you went to the free clinic for STD testing after declining the tests at the doctor's office, that might help shift the balance in your favor; but we can't make promises.
Re: Doctor Ordered Unauthorized Tests and Wants Me to Pay the Bill
Thanks for your response. I was afraid so..I'll take it as a lesson learned.