Results 1 to 5 of 5
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Central Valley, Ca
    Posts
    4

    Default Difficulties With Rickenbacker Over Disputed Medical Debt

    Hello everyone and greetings from California,

    I've read through the threads and have found some answers to questions I had, and have also learned that Rickenbacker (www.scollect.com) isn't a favoured agency among the members here.

    I understand that the statute of limitations for medical debt in California is four years. The "issue" I have been contacted about is apparently three years old. Rickenbacker is attempting to collect for a lab that processed a specimen for one of my wife's exams.

    I am currently going through my back statements, and have contacted my medical insurance company for copies of records that they may have in regards to this matter.

    Initially Rickenbacker identified my wife's OB/GYN as the one who turned the issue over to collections. I contacted my wife's OB/GYN, and they have no clue about this. They contacted Rickenbacker, and magically it was "The Lab" that turned us in.

    Rickenbacker told the OB/GYN's staff that they had informed us that it was "The Lab", and never identified the OB/GYN. If that were true, why would I have contacted the OB/GYN? How would I have even known it was the OB/GYN?

    Man, my wife has survived biopsies,exploratory surgeries, cancer, open heart surgery, gall bladder surgery. I can't even name all the doctors she has seen. Why the hell would I just pick out the OB/GYN if he hadn't been identified by name?

    I contacted "The Lab" and they said that we did not pay on a charge from May 2005. I told them that I had never received a bill, and we compared mailing addresses, and apparently they have the correct address.

    I asked "The Lab" if they had any proof of having mailed, or contacted me in any other manner in regards to this issue. They refused to answer when I asked if they have any phone records, mail return receipts, declined or refused mail receipts, or tracking numbers. Their silence implies to me that they have absolutely nothing to even prove that they contacted me, or attempted to contact me. For all I know, they just made up the bill out of thin air.

    Rickenbacker's rep. "Tommy Banks", he refused to give his legal name, said that my wife's credit has already been impacted. He also refused to record the conversation and to allow me to speak to his supervisor. All he did was repeatedly demand payment ($15.00 over what the lab says I owe). He then hung up on me.

    My most recent attempt to contact them resulted in having them simply hang up on me when I identified myself.

    Do I get a lawyer and sue?

    What's the next step?

    Thanks for any input.

    By the way, I pay my debts. All the lab had to do was contact me.

    John

    PS. Both my wife and I have extremely high credit ratings. That is why this is an issue for me. Family members have already told me to just pay the damn thing, and move on. It is a matter of principle for me, and I'll be damned if I let anyone ( who doesn't even have the stones to use his real name ) push me into admitting (by paying) that somehow I'm a deadbeat.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Central Valley, Ca
    Posts
    4

    Default Re: Where Do I Go From Here...

    Please allow me to apologize. In my post, I made it appear that I regard people who have difficulties settling their debts as deadbeats. Nothing is further from the truth.

    I've been down at the bottom, and I know what it is like, so please accept my apology.

    The issue is extremely unsettling to my wife, and she's had difficulty sleeping. Consequently, I have had difficulty sleeping. I'm just extremely wound up over the whole mess, and Rickenbacker's attitude has not improved my demeanor.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Where Do I Go From Here...

    Did you bother to ask the lab for a copy of the bill? That should give you some idea of who ordered the tests they're billing for. Have you checked with your insurer to see if the bill should have been covered, and if it was submitted? If not, it is probably too late to submit it, but see what the adjuster says.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Central Valley, Ca
    Posts
    4

    Default Re: Difficulties With Rickenbacker Over Disputed Medical Debt

    Mr. Knowitall,

    Thank you for the reply. No, I have not asked for a copy of the bill. I first went to my records to confirm whether or not I had confirmation of having paid the bill (the lab gave me the amount over the phone). I also contacted my insurance carrier to have them review for an item amount from that date. My wife is going to contact them again today.

    I will call and request that they send a copy of the charges. Should I also request something in writing from Rickenbacker? I did so in the initial dialogue, but the rep refused to do so.

    Is a phone call sufficient, or should I do so in writing?

    Rickenbacker identified the doctor and the tests (that's why I contacted the OB/GYN's office). So I know who ordered the tests. The insurance company shows everything for the OB/GYN as having been covered and paid in full.

    This is when Rickenbacker initially identified the OB/GYN as the one who turned my wife into collections, and not the lab.

    Now, another issue has reared its head. HIPAA. I understand that I'll probably have to post this in another forum, but hasn't the lab and Rickenbacker potentially violated the provisions of the law?

    The lab released a patient's name, date of service, attending physician's name, and diagnostic services to a third party without consent from the patient.

    Rickenbacker then discussed the issue with me and I only identified myself as her husband verbally over the phone and provided no proof of relationship or consent from my wife to discuss such issues. Is Rickenbacker also bound by HIPAA even if they are not a medical services provider?

    Thank you so much for your time.

    John

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Central Valley, Ca
    Posts
    4

    Default Re: Difficulties With Rickenbacker Over Disputed Medical Debt

    In case anyone is interested, here is the outcome:

    I called the lab again to request a copy of the bill, and any other pertinent documentation, such as records of attempted service.

    They asked why. I told them the documentation was being gathered for referal to an attorney.

    They asked if they could call back.

    The operations manager called back.

    The lab DID have proof of attempted service. To the WRONG address. All attempted deliveries were refused by a PO Box holder, in the wrong city.

    We use a street address.

    We had been charged, and paid, for services rendered prior to this date, and they had billed the correct address.

    We had been charged, and paid, for services after this date, and they had billed the correct address.

    The operations manager at the lab could not explain why in this one instance no one bothered to verify if they were using the correct address, and why no one had called us to verify the mailing address.

    They have agreed to negate the charges, and have instructed Rickenbacker to get off our backs, and remove the negative comment on my wife's credit history.

    They are also writing a letter of apology.

    Even though I didn't get alot of useful feedback, I appreciate the forum for allowing me to vent.

    Thanks.

    1. Sponsored Links
       

Similar Threads

  1. Debt Collectors: Improper Re-Aging of a Disputed Debt
    By clgillespie in forum Debts and Collections
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-16-2011, 08:56 AM
  2. Debt Collectors: Disputed Credit Card Debt
    By andrea-76 in forum Debts and Collections
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 03-14-2009, 09:25 AM
  3. Debt Collectors: Received Summons for Disputed Debt
    By gmijackso in forum Debts and Collections
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 01-30-2009, 06:51 PM
  4. Credit Reports: Getting A Disputed Debt Off Of A Credit Report
    By rfreeman11 in forum Personal Finance And Investment Law
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 12-17-2007, 02:43 PM
  5. Debt Collectors: Can You Be Sued Over A Disputed Debt
    By GeminiTX41 in forum Debts and Collections
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 11-30-2007, 07:36 PM
 
 
Sponsored Links

Legal Help, Information and Resources