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Expert: Regan Shinski - 4/20/2010


Question
I live in NY and have dental insurance... I visited the dentist , had a cleaning , X-rays, and periodontic evaluation done. Upon checkout I was told my share of the bill would be $77.00 and must be paid today. I paid the $77.00 and three weeks later received the EOB from my insurance company stating my share of the bill is $13.00. I called the dentist office and told them I wanted a rebate of the $64.00 they had overcharged... they said they would prefer to leave a credit on my account but if I needed a rebate it would take 4-6 weeks! I said you made me overpay the day of the visit and I have to wait 4-6 weeks for a rebate? I said the next visit will you allow me 4-6  weeks to pay my share, they said no your share needs to be paid the day of the service. Can they make me wait 4-6 weeks?

Answer
Hi Rosemary:

This is a civil issue and, sadly, your recourse options would likely take longer than the 4-6 weeks.  Basically, you would sue them for the money back.  By the time you have a court date, you're at the 4-6 weeks anyway.

I would put pressure on them by saying you will call the Better Business Bureau and any medical associations or licensing boards they belong to.  If that does not spur them into immediate action, go ahead and actually make the complaints.  They usually have to respond to each of these and many places respond immediately to keep a "clean" record.

If you paid by credit card, you can dispute the charge and you should receive an immediate credit during the investigation portion.  

Good luck.  It's unfair and I wish I had better options for you.

Regan

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Regan Shinski

Expertise

I can answer questions on collections, repossessions, bankruptcy, credit repair, credit counseling, FICO scores, credit planning, and the cause and effect of credit related decisions. I can also answer questions on collection settlements and preparing to sue your creditors for false debts and credit credit reporting.

Experience

Fifteen years ago I was financially devasted due to severe health issues. I filed bankruptcy, had a foreclosure, car repossession, tax lien, and ruined credit. I immersed myself in credit law. I settled dozens of accounts and had them removed to improve my credit. I personally sued four creditors and collection agencies and won cash settlements for their false reporting on my credit reports. Since then, I have completely recovered and have nearly $100,000 in revolving credit lines and perfect credit. I have owned a credit repair company for the past five years and have an additional three years of specific work in the collections and debt management industry. I am fully versed in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Acts (FDCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and have used them successfully in collection settlements and lawsuits for myself and others. I am also familiar with and abide by the Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA). I have deleted or helped delete literally hundreds and hundreds of derogatory items from consumers' credit reports and helped negotiate many settlements with collection agencies and creditors. I have also advised people on bankruptcy at any stage. In the current credit market, I have successfully advised numerous people on how to obtain credit and how to negotiate for better terms.

Education/Credentials
BA University of Minnesota

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