# Oooh. Money in the mail! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 19, 2023, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oooh-money-in-the-mail/988779 "2023-08-19T03:42:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2023, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oooh-money-in-the-mail/988779/1 "2023-08-19T03:42:11Z")
I got an refund check from the gastroenterologist I visited 3 times before he sent me to a surgeon to have a thingy fixed in my belly. It’s $254. Initially I was glad to see it. Free money. Win! But then I thought…wait? I don’t give money. I have no co-pay in this situation. I’ve met deductibles a long time ago. How could I get a refund? They provided a service and referred me to the surgeon. Zip, zap done. Right? I asked my _same_ reputable source. They said “cash it” or “don’t” (I may quit asking them for advice, just sayin’) It must be an over payment by the insurance company. That means it’s their money. Right? Or a scam. What do I do? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2023, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oooh-money-in-the-mail/988779/2 "2023-08-19T04:44:35Z")
Did you call that doctor’s office? Anyway, if you’re in doubt, open a savings account and deposit that check, and if you have to pay the money back, the interest is yours to keep. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2023, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oooh-money-in-the-mail/988779/3 "2023-08-19T05:03:39Z")
Hmmm? Nice. No I was gonna call. But I forgot today. I’ll call Monday. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2023, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oooh-money-in-the-mail/988779/4 "2023-08-19T09:31:42Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Did you call that doctor’s office? > > Anyway, if you’re in doubt, open a savings account and deposit that check, and if you have to pay the money back, the interest is yours to keep. Real bad idea. In general, if you deposit a check you know/suspect is not yours, it can leave you open to all sorts of trouble depending on how ornery your bank (and possibly the sender) is feeling. It’s highly/wildly/insanely unlikely scammers are impersonating Beck’s doctor but it could be a clerical error on the part of the doctor’s staff. Anytime you suspect a check is not yours, contact the source first. And not by using any contact info on the check. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2023, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oooh-money-in-the-mail/988779/5 "2023-08-19T10:42:37Z")
Oh, I’m too chicken to try a fast one, anyway. I’ll call. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2023, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oooh-money-in-the-mail/988779/6 "2023-08-19T12:47:18Z")
Cash it. Health insurance companies are required by law to spend a minimum percentage of the premiums they collect on services and care. If they don’t, they are required to refund the excess premiums to the consumer. Thanks Obamacare! > **[Rate Review & the 80/20 Rule](https://www.healthcare.gov/health-care-law-protections/rate-review/#:~:text=If%20your%20insurance%20company%20doesn't%20meet%20its%2080%2F20,credit%20card%20or%20debit%20card)** > > The health care law provides 2 new ways to hold insurance companies accountable and help keep your costs down: Rate Review and the 80/20 rule. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2023, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oooh-money-in-the-mail/988779/7 "2023-08-19T12:49:44Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > …open a savings account and deposit that check, and if you have to pay the money back, the interest is yours to keep. I like this idea. In six months you can buy yourself a donut. mmm ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2023, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oooh-money-in-the-mail/988779/8 "2023-08-19T13:47:48Z")
Does your doctor have a patient portal? You may be able to look at the accounting there. StG ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oooh-money-in-the-mail/988779/9 "2023-08-20T12:31:39Z")
Yesterday I placed an online order for cannabis from a dispensary I visit every few weeks. When I handed over my cash, I received money back I totally wasn’t expecting. The bud-tender told me it was my new patient discount. I’m not a new patient, though. I gently argued that I thought the discount was in error. The bud-tender (who was very medicated) laughed, because I was her first patient ever to argue they were being charged too little.