Whoever said Time Marches On is a liar. Or else not a native of Hillmomba. Time here is at a standstill. Actually, it's at a slowly-creeping-backwards-like-the-next-victim-in-a-horror-movie-still.
We got a call today from one of Farmer H's doctors. I saw the name of the clinic, and let the machine pick up. No need trying to remember details of a message when they can say it on a recording to listen to, and repeat if needed. He has an appointment on Tuesday. The gal gave her name, and said they needed some test results brought along, or faxed to their office, and if he had any questions, to call at such-and-such number.
Always the dutiful wife, I glanced at the clock. 12:15. Farmer H would be closing up his Storage Unit Store and heading to lunch. Then off to visit with some cronies, then to his regular doctor's office for his shot. That's his Friday routine. I went to the kitchen, where my cell phone was charging, to send him a text with the message and phone number. It costs us long distance charges to call our cell phones from our house phone. Don't even get me started on THAT!
Anyhoo... I sent the text at 12:26. When Farmer H got home later in the evening, he said he had tried to call the doctor, but got a machine saying THEY CLOSE AT 12:00! Why in the NOT-HEAVEN would they call and leave a message at 12:15, asking for a call back, when they are already closed? Anyhoo... Farmer H already has a copy of the test results, so he will just take them along Tuesday.
In another not-so-startling time twist, I got a bill from The Pony's December ear visit to Urgent Care. The only problem being that it was a bill I already paid once! The co-pay of $35. I sent my check on January 11 when I got the statement. The bank says the check cleared on January 22. This new bill, dated January 29, says the co-pay is now 30 days past due!
Well. This very same clinic has double-billed me before. It's right here in town, but they send their billing through a service in the city. I had a devil of a time getting it straightened out last time, which was several years back. Good thing my boys didn't frequent clinics and Urgent Cares.
Anyhoo... I tried to call them at 11:45 a.m. I got a recording saying that due to a high volume of calls they were currently experiencing, I should leave a message with the name and question and method of contact, and somebody would call me back within 48 hours.
I THINK NOT!
When they listed their business hours as 8:00 to 5:00 on M/W/F, I'm pretty sure nobody would be calling me on a Friday afternoon, or Saturday or Sunday. The recording guy babbled off an email that sounded kind of hinky, and said I could leave a message that way to receive a call. Um. No. I will call at MY convenience, not theirs. Maybe in a few days.
I suspect a lot of people were calling to complain about being double-billed! I doubt they were all trying to set up a payment plan here at the first of the month. So I might get through to them later, or I might not. What's the worst that could happen? They send me another bill that says I'm 60 days past due? Why does it matter how long I'm allegedly past-due, when I've already paid the bill on time?
AND... they might possibly figure out by the next billing that if was originally paid on time. Maybe somebody was asleep at the switch after the payment went through on January 22, and the next billing went out on January 29.
Maybe their time marched backwards a little too far.
Do you keep the receipts for your copayments? I would, just in case this sort of thing would happen here. I usually pay on the day also and later get an account with the amount owing listed as $00.00
ReplyDeleteTime, like my metabolism, goes in reverse these days.
ReplyDeleteRiver,
ReplyDeleteI used to keep them for a month or two. But ever since THE VIRUS, the offices haven't been taking co-pays! My doctor just said "We're not taking co-pays at this time." His window girl, not he himself. They have not billed me for the last two visits.
The Urgent Care told The Pony they weren't taking co-pays. Then billed at the end of the month. TWICE now! There's no receipt for a payment mailed back with the statement.
Farmer H has some offices that won't take it and later bill him, and others where he uses the debit card that day in the office. We got a REFUND CHECK from his ophthalmologist last month!
Anyhoo... I can always get a copy of the canceled check from my bank. Years ago, they used to mail them to me every month, but switched up their account offerings, and now they don't. It seems like I had to do this last time with this medical office, and it cost me a couple dollars for the copy. NOT FAIR!
***
Sioux,
I hope that time AND your metabolism have a back-up beeper! Unlike T-Hoe.
They got the payment, but they didn't POST the payment before billing you again. This is what they will say, and this is when I ask if there is someone in that department they should fire for not doing their job. I go on to educate them about wastefulness. I tell them they could have saved the money spent on stationary and postage had they done their job in a timely matter. This when they will either stutter something about the computer automatically generating the bill, or even more disturbing, they will admit that this particular "job" has been "out-sourced". Either of those answers will cause me to further educate them about wasting time and money. And, yes, I do rather enjoy doing this!!
ReplyDeleteKathy,
ReplyDeleteThose are EXACTLY the excuses they gave me last time. I was not quite so eloquent in my responses. You should hire yourself out for this service, telling off the incompetent! You would be overbooked.