My medical co-op doesn’t tolerate late payments. I missed a $10.00 co-pay and they sent it to a collection agency. The woman who called was embarrassed to be chasing such a small debt.
I told her I’d be happy to send it, just give me an address. She hesitated, then said I could, for a $15.00 fee, do it over the phone. I laughed and said it didn’t seem right to spend more to pay them than the amount owed. She then asked if I’d like to come in to pay it. I said no, and to please give me a mailing address.
Slowly, she gave me the company name, then paused and quietly said the PO Box “666”
I laughed and said, “How ironic.”
She thanked me for not yelling at her. To most people, the 666 is the last straw, I guess.
Why send it to the collection agency? Send the money you owe to the creditor. This makes no sense really. It’s probably not a collection agency but the collection division of the medical co-op.
A collection agency is a third party that buys uncollectable debts on for a discount. Unless your missed payment was lumped in with a lot of other very missed payments.
Markxxx & Jorge_Burrito It is a contract. The co-op, for years just ignored unpaid small debts. My husband never paid a co-pay for 10 years before i met him. When the local healthcare co-op merged with a national HMO that changed. I think they send anything over 30 days to the collector.
I called customer service today to find out why I wasn’t even given a chance to pay. I’ll be sending my $10.00 to the co-op itself. It was their error.
No Kidding! I always remember to bring my checkbook or cash when I go to the doctor. I guess they’re afraid that I’m going to die before the next visit.