DME NONSENSE

[greenham]

After finding out the gear my DME wanted and it was only the 2nd day of the year that requires I meet a 2500 deductable. I chose to buy my own gear from CPAP.com

Today I open the mail to find that the DME that my Insurance wanted me to use billed the ins co, and me a 350$.

I didn't pickup, sign for or otherwise agee to do anything with them. I spoke with them and said I didn't care for the gear and it wouldn't meet my deductable and I was buying it on my own.

Now I have to spend MY TIME getting this straightened out, with not only the DME but making sure the ins doesn't mark it against me when I turn in my machine for their consideration.....

UGGH!!!!

[blarg]

I didn't pickup, sign for or otherwise agee to do anything with them.

But...

making sure the ins doesn't mark it against me when I turn in my machine for their consideration.....

I'm confused. Are you attempting to have your insurance reimburse you for the machine? What are you trying to do here?

[jules]

I assume you are being billed for time someone spent with you.

I would ask for an itemized statement and ask if the charges are for RT or the like services do they normally charge for such.

[dllfo]

Sounds like Apria.

You really have to watch them. They recently sent us the wrong hose and still
billed us. When I told their accounting people about it they asked if I still had the hose. I said yes, and I told Apria as soon as they send me a sticker for it, I will have UPS pick it up for them, or they can drop by (after coordination) to pick it up, but I will not baby sit them in their errors.

PLUS...the hose between the Auto BiPAP and the mask was under warranty anyway. That is one of their real money makers.

When I found it, they had collected six dollars for it. I know that isn't much
money, but when you multiply it by thousands of customers, it adds up.

Apria has done some good things for me, but letting them file for their mistakes is wrong.

[UncleLeo]

Now I have to spend MY TIME getting this straightened out, with not only the DME but making sure the ins doesn't mark it against me when I turn in my machine for their consideration.....

Also make sure they don't send it to a collection agency for non-payment. It could end up as a bad mark on your credit report.

[joeyv20]

I am new to the forum. I find all this conversation very interesting. I called around when I first needed the machine and felt like there really was no good choice. I am now with a company that for the most part does not want to send me anything! getting filters or masks or hoses is generally a major task! I am sorry others are having trouble with them but also good to know I am not the only one haveing difficutlties.

Joey

[greenham]

To be clear. I did not even talk to a RT at the DME. I didn't pick up or even meet with them, much less sign for anything.

My Ins co said "feel free to buy what you want, we will apply the cost to your yearly deductable"

I will go to the DME and pick up a letter saying they made the error, then fax that to the ins co....

[Rabid1]

My personal philosophy:

Life is too short to deal with DME's and insurance companies.

I buy my gear outright.

[greenham]

RABID1

THAT"S WHAT I DID and I still have people trying to charge me

[Wulfman]

RABID1

THAT"S WHAT I DID and I still have people trying to charge me

When you find out what you (supposedly) bought from the DME, let us know.

Best wishes,

Den (who also managed to avoid that frustration)

[jules]

Today I open the mail to find that the DME that my Insurance wanted me to use billed the ins co, and me a 350$.

How did they get the information on who your insurance was and your ID # for them?

Was all your contact with them via phone or did you visit them in person and they xeroxed your card?

[Rabid1]

RABID1

THAT"S WHAT I DID and I still have people trying to charge me

I'm not a sue-happy kinda guy, however, if these idiots in any way affect your credit, I'd be all over them.

[greenham]

My Dr needed to get pre approval from the ins co for the CPAP therapy. The ins co gave me the choice of three DME's to work with. One of them began calling me to set up an appointment to pick the gear. After researching on here what machine I wanted I called the DME's sales rep. I asked for all the potential changes associated with using them. I then compared that to CPAP.com, and called my ins co, to discuss what options I had.

After discussing the fact that it was the 4th of January I hadn't met my $2500 deductable with the ins co. It was clear that the DME was offering me gear I didn't want and charging me 3x what I could get the equipment I wanted.

So I called the DME and said I would not be using their services (out of courtesy not commitment)

2 weeks later I get a bill, detailed with machines, hoses, masks etc. These charges are for a RENTAL not purchase....

So now I will be getting a letter from the DME acknoleding their error, for any needed litigation

[mattman]

While I don't think there is anyone anywhere who would try to suggest that charging someone for something they didn't get is in any way acceptable or warranted...

Come on. It's an easy enough mistake to make. Life is too short to go looking for witchhunts where they aint needed.

I'm more than certain that any reasonable person or business once you contact them and just nicely tell them they made a mistake would immidiately correct it.

As you said yourself - the company has to go through the entire process of filing the claim to get pre-approval. It's easy enough for someone to be left out of the loop when you called them later and told them you didn't want the equipment. One person forgets to tell the person who mails the papers to throw that one out and you wind up getting a bill in the mail.

Heck, I've done that myself before with forgetting to cancel special order purchases from vendors.

Just a thought is all -

mattman

[greenham]

True enough Mattman.

I will see tomorrow what they say. I am sure if they are indeed a good business they would have no issue giving me a letter saying they made a mistake, so I can one have in case of any credit dispute, and two to get to my Ins co, so that they can adjust my account with them.

I will let everyone know which way it goes.