Got a letter today threatening us with being refferred to a collection agency for $2.26

[NNN0LHI]

Here is what the bill says:

Dear Mr. Don,

Your insurance carrier has been billed and has paid their portion of your bill. Please remit payment in full to the address shown above.

Given the small nature of your remaining balance, this is the only statement from our office that you will receive.

We very much appreciate your payment in full on this balance, but please be aware that any unpaid balance that remains may eventually be refferred to a collection agency.

Sincerely,

Patient Accounts Department

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is for a service from the end of last month and this is the first bill we have received. And they are already talking about being refferred to a collection agency.

I can't hardly believe this stuff. They think they have to threaten us to get us to send them $2.26?

Is everyone going stupid?

Don

[cynatnite]

1. One office I was at said they don't go after anyone for less than $25...

By the time you factor in costs to go after the money, it works out to be more than what's owed.

[RKP5637]

2. Yes. much of America has gone stupid IMO. It's become a really bizarre place. n/t

[upi402]

3. Asswipes everywhere now

Our school district sent me to collections too.
For a **PRE-PAID** lunch voucher check bouncing...

When WaMu collapsed, the check bounced and they refused to forgive it.

And it was not money owing, it was an optional PRE-payment for my kid's school lunches in the coming months.

I paid the penalty when they sent me a nastygram and to collections. I'll never vote for another school levy.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. I changed dentists after receiving a similar letter

First bill I received from him as I had always paid the day of my visit. Then my insurance company denied a portion of a bill. Can't remember how much but it wasn't an astronomical amount. And the dentist sent me a certified letter telling me to pay up or he'd turn me over to a collection agency. So I paid the bill and included a note telling them I wouldn't be back. The dentist called me personally to find out what the problem was. He was really upset. He had hired a new bookkeeping agency and they had been sending certified letters (which they billed him for) and he was losing patients. He promised me a discount and mailed a letter of apology. So I switched back.

[CleanLucre]

5. yes

[cynatnite]

6. Your first post and that's all you've got to say? Really? n/t

[CleanLucre]

17. yes

[cynatnite]

23. Well, okie dokie...

Welcome to DU!

[CleanLucre]

33. thank you kindly

it was a pregnant silence, meant to be funny. I mean Hell Yeah!! Off the charts!!

[slackmaster]

7. That's petty and ridiculous, but it's definitely worth paying them whether you owe it or not

You may save yourself a lot of grief.

[russspeakeasy]

8. I am honestly not trying to one-up you, but about five years ago

we received a bill for less than the cost of the stamp that was on the envelope. My wife saved it. I don't know if she paid it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. A co-worker went on a trip and over spent her per-diem by 52 cents.

She got a letter saying her paycheck would be held until she paid the 52 cents.

So she took 52 pennies to the person in book keeping who had sent her the letter and made him write her a receipt.

[LiberalFighter]

34. Is that legal in your state?

I'm going to guess that it is not legal to withhold wages for any reason and must be paid within a certain period of time.

[proud2BlibKansan]

35. No it isn't. Plus it's a violation of our contract.

But she said dumping 52 pennies on an asshole's desk was a lot more gratifying than filing a grievance.

[baldguy]

9. Sounds like a lucrative scam.

Send out a million letters demanding payments of odd amounts averaging $10 each. If you only get 10% of them paid off you're making a profit.

[immoderate]

11. Got a good lawyer?

Jus' sayin'

--imm

[baldguy]

30. Marginal legality is at the heart of most new entrepreneurial ideas.

How do you think people like Mitt Romney get rich in the first place?

[immoderate]

48. The evidence left behind to possible return ratio

is not promising.

--imm

[shraby]

10. Tell them you don't know why it wasn't paid and would like an itemized bill so

you can determine why.

[elleng]

12. LOVE IT!

[Cary]

13. Ha!

A couple of years ago the State of Illinois determined that I owed them 26 cents. I ignored it and they kept dunning me, so I finally just wrote them a check.

Render unto Caesar I guess.

[ashling]

14. By the time they add late fees, collection costs interest, etc.

it will be $2,260.00

[elleng]

15. Its a silly bureaucratic technique

If they're approachable, I might call and tell them that this is what their 'machine' has done; maybe they'll be embarrassed; maybe not.

[appleannie1]

18. I once paid off a bill and was threatened for not sending a payment of zero and a late payment of

zero. I called them and was told I had to pay them or they would turn me over to a credit bureau. I asked if I should just send an empty envelope or did they want a check. I was told it did not matter as long as it was paid. I sent a check for nothing and received a thank you for your payment. I think the whole world has lost it.

[Tsiyu]

21. Are you serious?

That's just Bizarro World.

[Posteritatis]

27. I'd send them a penny and demand change. (nt)

[HiPointDem]

42. the result of computerization.

[Chipper Chat]

19. In the early 80s I underpaid my Master Charge bill by a penny.

The next statement included a $28 fee for not paying the balance due. I owed like $25.26 and I accidentally just wrote a check for $25.25. I think they did take it off when I called, but DUHH. And yes, it was called MasterCHARGE back then.

[ManiacJoe]

20. It actually says the amount MIGHT EVENTUALLY be referred to a collection agency.

Every bill they have ever sent to anyone falls into that category.

[Archae]

22. I was threatened with a collection agency for a nickel once.

FINALLY, I got an actual human, at the billing department, and I asked the guy to look how much the bill was for.

I said I was going to take the story to our local paper, they love stories like this, and the billing department would end up looking like prize asses.

The bill was sent to me next day "Paid in full."

[Journeyman]

24. As it's the only statement on this balance they plan to send. . .

when would you want the notice that a collection agency may become involved -- when the collector comes looking for the balance?

I see this as a courtesy notification covering all contingencies. Would you rather they tacked on additional monies to cover the cost of multiple contacts? Or would you rather accept it as a "one letter fits all" and simply pay this pittance when it's due?

I pay my bills. I suspect you do too. There are unfortunately a host of people who don't -- no matter the economic conditions of the times, their present circumstances, or the paltry balance involved.

Maybe it's because I have my own business, and know how much time and money can be wasted in repeat billings, but a letter such as this doesn't surprise me, nor would its receipt anger me. Hell, I'd be ecstatic to have an insurance company that left me with only $2.26 to pay. But that's me.

[NNN0LHI]

47. What if that letter with the threat had been lost in transit and I hadn't received it?

You would have no problem ruining someones credit for $2.26?

You have to be joking.

Don

[TheMadMonk]

25. Many moons ago, for well over a year my brother recieved statements...

...for a GE hire purchase loan that was 2 cents in credit. In the end they'd probably spent more sending out these statements than they took in interest on the loan. Eventually he rang, asked when the idiocy would stop, and was told, "When he sent in a request to close out the account". He did, and AFAIK he still has the cheque in his papers somewhere.

UNLESS numbers tally EXACTLY this sort of store loan account remains active indefinitely.

Why do this? Because, if unlike my brother's case, the account pulls up 1 red cent short, the lender can kick in with all sorts of penalties and punitive interests.

[Generic Brad]

26. How dare a business try to collect what is owed to them!

Hell, all services should be offered up for free because it's not like people go into business to actually make money. That would due downright crazy and heartless of them. They should just write off small balances out of the goodness of their hearts.

After all, don't businesses have some kind of mystery insurance that fully protects them from huge numbers of people who stiff them on a regular basis?

Sorry for the sarcasm. Or am I?

[Fumesucker]

41. Yep, the best way to get repeat business is threaten people with collections on the first bill..

ETA: After all, getting a new customer is nine times as easy as keeping an existing customer.

[HiPointDem]

43. you neglected to mention the "threaten with collections for a few cents" part. The OP didn't mind

paying $2.26, he minded being threatened with collections for a trifling sum on the first notice. what didn't you get?

[Generic Brad]

46. I am an intellectual lightweight

There is not much that I notice or comprehend. Thanks for asking.

[hedgehog]

28. Seems to me we had a similair situation -

the hospital took about 6 months to get around to sending a bill, then wanted it paid in 30 days or the collection agency would get our names!

Seriously, why does it take so long for a hospital to put a bill together? What's the point of having MBAs running the hospitals if they can't get the billing department straightened out?

I still think that emergency room care doesn't cost that much; it's just a convenient dumping ground for costs the hospital can't otherwise account for!

[hobbit709]

45. Had the ER once send me a bill because they sent it to the wrong insurance company.

Last edited Sat Jun 23, 2012, 09:21 AM - Edit history (1)

The got all my current information when I was in the ER. It wasn't my fault that the ER computer didn't update the billing computer.
I noticed on the statement that it was rejected by the previous insurance company from 4 years before, so I called their billing office and told them that they had sent it to the wrong one and to resubmit it to the correct one.
The idiot tried to tell me that they didn't resubmit the bills and it was MY responsibility to get it paid.
I said "so it's MY job to straighten out YOUR error?"
I told them if I had to do their legwork for them then I would submit a bill to them for my time that would be equal to or greater than what they wanted from me.
The clown said "We won't pay it"
I said that then I will turn it over to a collection agency for nonpayment.
I told them they had 3 choices.
1. Resubmit to the proper insurance company
2. Pay me to do thweir work for them
3. Write it off

About a month later I get a statement from them stating it was paid in full by the correct insurance company.

[RebelOne]

29. I would pay it to them in pennies. n/t

[safeinOhio]

31. I like to do this, you might try it.

I'll send a check for 5 cents over the amount. After 4 or 5 months they will send me a check for the nickel. I don't cash it and then 5 or 6 months later I call and ask where is my nickel. Must cost them 20 bucks to deal with me over a few cents.

[seabeyond]

32. they should have saved wage cost, materials and stamp and paid themselves. lol. nt

[jwirr]

36. If that is any indication of the wages of debt - they will send me right to hell.

[Zanzoobar]

37. Negotiate

You probably know that collection agencies pay pennies on the dollar for their accounts. They are more than willing to settle for much less than the face value of the debt. Often times less than 50%. If you're a really good hardcase and can convince them you'll never pay unless they take it l;ower than 25%, you can get it.

Play hardball and get them down to 44 cents. They'll go for it. I promise.

[sorefeet]

38. SEVEN CENTS

The clinic turned me in to the collectors for seven pennies. They sent me a bill for 3 months and I was going to try and negotiate it down to like 3 or 4 cents but someone must have caught it and quit sending me a bill.

[eppur_se_muova]

39. "Our client is willing to accept payment in the amount of $0.00 in settlement of this debt."

Copied from a letter sitting in front of me.

[gvstn]

40. I went to a medical specialist

And they wanted my copay at the time of the visit. I had never had to do this as I was usually billed. Anyway, so I give them my $10 copay. They say my copay is only $5. I say no it went up about a month ago. They so no it is only $5. I say it really went up just take the $5 and figure it out later. They say no $5. I say OK.

I hated the specialist. Really bad bedside manner.

Anyway, I get a bill for $5 for my other half of copay. And I really didn't like the doctor or his nurse/receptionist who had haughtily refused the correct amount at the office. So, I didn't pay. Month after month they keep sending me the bill (they got paid 328.00 for the visit and my other half of the copay) but man they wanted their $5 which they had flatly refused. 11 months and (11) 40¢ stamps later I sent them their $5. Worked out even. Another month and I am sure they would have sent it to collections.

And to the guy that said businesses deserve to get paid, yes they do. But any good business knows when to cut a loss. Sending out multiple bills for the a very small amount is just dumb. It isn't cost effective. 2 bills and then write it off is a better business decision.

[Le Taz Hot]

44. I think I'd find it necessary

to pay them in pennies. And count them out on the counter, one-by-one. S-l-o-w-l-y because, you know, you would want to make sure the bill was paid in full because you wouldn't want to be sent to a collection agency or anything. I think I'd "lose count" a few times and have to start over, as well.

[spanone]

49. pay up, deadbeat.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: