by scammedbychiropractor » Thu Apr 17, 2008 03:53 am
Lori and/or anyone would like to take a stab at this:
Lori,
I have been reading your answers on this forum and was really inspired to write you, from all of the responses, you are extremely helpful and have given me HOPE!
Here's my situation: (please excuse the rambling nature, I am sickened by this scenario that I've created).
My wife and I were were involved in a hit and run accident by an uninsured motorist. I chased him down and caught him and the police arrested him.
Here's where it gets very BAD! My wife was seeing a chiropractor, he not only manipulated her professionally but he manipulated her mentally. He had her going 2 to 3 times per week over the course of 3 1/2 months. I was getting suspicious of the things he was saying and doing to convince her to go so often. When my wife tried to get the information as to the amount they were billing to the INS company, they gave her the run-around (now mind you, my wife had them set up direct billing w/the INS company, but the Chiro office never submitted the bills until the very end).
I was fed up that they were not giving her the information so I started asking direct questions and they gave me the runaround. Finally they told me that her bill exceeded $12,000 for approx 50 visits mind you.
Here's where it gets really BAD. Because I felt that the Chiro was insanely padding their bills, I called the INS company and alerted them to this fact that we felt we didn't want the Chiro to take advantage of the INS company and I simply wanted them to review the charges and negotiate accordingly. We have never made any claims on our insurance and we certainly did not want to taken advantage of by this Chiro.
I did not realize that since this is an Uninsured Motorist claim that I technically have to sue my INS company. To make matters worse, I personally called the CEO of said INS company and was put in touch with a high ranking executive at this company.
Here's the dilemma, the Chiro's final bill is nearly $14k, but since I have alienated myself with my INS company by telling them that this bill is NOT worth it because of the inflated costs, I am concernced that the Chiro is going to come after us for the $14k. So far we have used approx $3k in our PIP plan and have approx $7k left.
Also, this Chiro is telling us that the INS hasn't paid them yet and we closed out the visits to the Chiro in late Dec 07. If I could go back, I would not have contacted the INS company about this fraudulent Chiro. It just makes me sick to my stomach that this Chiro thinks he can get away with this. Well, also, he had people in his office perform services on my wife who were not licensed. Also, the bill reflects charges for services that were not rendered. I know that I can get him in serious trouble on a number of levels with the state.
What would you do in this case? I just don't know what to say to the INS company and the Chiro wants me to intercede on his behalf so that I can get the INS to pay him.
I really appreciate all of your time and consideration in this matter. I hope that I did not ramble on too much, but I have CREATED A COMPLICATED SCENARIO and just don't know what to say or NOT to say to the Chiro or the INS.
Feel free to email me via my anonymous web-based email account at: scammedbychiropractor[at]gmail.com.
Again, thank you so much for time in this matter. I am looking forward to your response.
Sincerely,
-Anonymous
A.K.A. ScammedByChiropractor[at]gmail.com
Lori,
I have been reading your answers on this forum and was really inspired to write you, from all of the responses, you are extremely helpful and have given me HOPE!
Here's my situation: (please excuse the rambling nature, I am sickened by this scenario that I've created).
My wife and I were were involved in a hit and run accident by an uninsured motorist. I chased him down and caught him and the police arrested him.
Here's where it gets very BAD! My wife was seeing a chiropractor, he not only manipulated her professionally but he manipulated her mentally. He had her going 2 to 3 times per week over the course of 3 1/2 months. I was getting suspicious of the things he was saying and doing to convince her to go so often. When my wife tried to get the information as to the amount they were billing to the INS company, they gave her the run-around (now mind you, my wife had them set up direct billing w/the INS company, but the Chiro office never submitted the bills until the very end).
I was fed up that they were not giving her the information so I started asking direct questions and they gave me the runaround. Finally they told me that her bill exceeded $12,000 for approx 50 visits mind you.
Here's where it gets really BAD. Because I felt that the Chiro was insanely padding their bills, I called the INS company and alerted them to this fact that we felt we didn't want the Chiro to take advantage of the INS company and I simply wanted them to review the charges and negotiate accordingly. We have never made any claims on our insurance and we certainly did not want to taken advantage of by this Chiro.
I did not realize that since this is an Uninsured Motorist claim that I technically have to sue my INS company. To make matters worse, I personally called the CEO of said INS company and was put in touch with a high ranking executive at this company.
Here's the dilemma, the Chiro's final bill is nearly $14k, but since I have alienated myself with my INS company by telling them that this bill is NOT worth it because of the inflated costs, I am concernced that the Chiro is going to come after us for the $14k. So far we have used approx $3k in our PIP plan and have approx $7k left.
Also, this Chiro is telling us that the INS hasn't paid them yet and we closed out the visits to the Chiro in late Dec 07. If I could go back, I would not have contacted the INS company about this fraudulent Chiro. It just makes me sick to my stomach that this Chiro thinks he can get away with this. Well, also, he had people in his office perform services on my wife who were not licensed. Also, the bill reflects charges for services that were not rendered. I know that I can get him in serious trouble on a number of levels with the state.
What would you do in this case? I just don't know what to say to the INS company and the Chiro wants me to intercede on his behalf so that I can get the INS to pay him.
I really appreciate all of your time and consideration in this matter. I hope that I did not ramble on too much, but I have CREATED A COMPLICATED SCENARIO and just don't know what to say or NOT to say to the Chiro or the INS.
Feel free to email me via my anonymous web-based email account at: scammedbychiropractor[at]gmail.com.
Again, thank you so much for time in this matter. I am looking forward to your response.
Sincerely,
-Anonymous
A.K.A. ScammedByChiropractor[at]gmail.com
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 03:50 pm Post Subject:
The thing that worries me the most about all of these posts is the lawyer with dollar signs in his eyes. I sincerely hope you didn't find your lawyer from a TV ad, or one of the fancy ads in the yellow pages. If so, once this is all over, the Chiro will be the least of your worries.
It really sounds like you need to start getting stuff in writing from both the insurance company and the chiro for when this case goes to court. It sounds like the insurance company has already taken the position that they are not paying a $12k+ chiro bill, so you need to get that fact in writing along with the entire, line-item bill that was submitted to them by the chiro. You also need to request the same line-item bill from the chiro directly. If they are different when compared side-by-side, you already have a case against the chiro for fraud. You may already have this information...it is not clear from your earlier posts.
Anyway, amass as much real, hard evidence as you can at this point so that you will be prepared for a lawsuit from the chiro if it comes to that. Also, you will be prepared to file suit against the chiro if he begins to put pressure on you to pay the bill yourself.
Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 12:30 am Post Subject: Response to recent posts...
Fishman, willheldp and others,
Thank you so much for your responses. I really applaud you for reading through my entire rant. I apologize for it being so long winded. I have been losing so much sleep over this issue and was highly upset when I posted this online (I felt that this was my last resort).
Before, during and since my postings, I have consulted w/several attorneys, INS and other experts. All have stated that working w/the INS company is a complicated one especially in this case since there is very little damage and given what I have stated to them about the exhorbitant, potentially fraudulent bill (note: the bill contains fraud, but I did not tell the INS company this).
I have requested from my INS company the correspondence from the Chiro. Also, I learned that the Chiro just sent the bill in a few weeks ago and we stopped treating in 2007. The info they sent to the INS is far different from what they've given me, which was just a fax showing all kinds of erroroneous charges, etc (mind you they have refused us thus far on getting all of the medical records). I've sent them a request for all records, notes, etc (certified/return receipt) in writing. So far, they have not complied. I already have many things in writing that will aid in our case against the Chiro.
Here's the question for the forum. I have been told that when it comes time to settle w/the Uninsured Claim rep (since we've now exhausted the PIP) that because of the very minor impact we're going to have an uphill battle.
Question: What is the best way to deal w/the INS company re: the settlement? We are not looking for a payout, we just don't want to go into the red for this exhorbitant fraudulent chiro bill. I am unintimidated by litigation from the Chiro. In fact I am looking forward to it, for should he decide to sue me I am certain he will not want all his dirty laundry out there. I am in the process of putting together various complaints (I can't go into details on this yet).
RE: the Chiro, I don't want this to happen to another person, so I am going to do all that I can to shed light on this. Mind you, I did not want to go down this road but I was left no choice. I tried several times to get the chiro to fix the bill to reflect the accurate charges. He stated to me that he will work w/me but that $2k was not enough (I don't know where he came up w/the $2k amount since I never brought that up), but if he charged the normal amounts, the bill should be somewhere between $1,200 and $3,500 --- this amount comprises the chiro visits. In addition, I anticipate charges of approx $750-$900 --- this reflects charges for various X-rays and the initial consultation (I can't go into further detail regarding this at the present time).
I really appreciate everyone that has responded and again apologize for being so long-winded.
-Anonymous :-)
Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 11:36 am Post Subject:
Here's the question for the forum. I have been told that when it comes time to settle w/the Uninsured Claim rep (since we've now exhausted the PIP) that because of the very minor impact we're going to have an uphill battle.
/This is more than likely correct...unfortunately...I would tell them straight up (after they make their inital offer) that 'hey guys here's the deal I just want all these bills wiped out, that's all''....UNLESS of course their inital offer includes them paying all the outstanding bills...What has your adjuster had to say regarding the outstanding bills and more specifically the chiro?
Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 08:15 pm Post Subject:
I was going to a chiro and I went 3 times a week for a while then 2 times a week and then once.It was never ending.A huge amount of people(everyoen I know) quits going eventually because the visits never seems to emd they are ongoing.I of course quit going also. But I do know it only cost me 13 dollars a visit. He was very cheap priced.I don't see any reason the bill should have been that high.
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 02:31 pm Post Subject:
I was going to a chiro and I went 3 times a week for a while then 2 times a week and then once.It was never ending.
This seems like the 'typcial' regement I've seen over the years... and the complaint about it never ending...some ins carriers will put a stop to this...say, 'x' amount of visits that's it...and really if you aren't better after a certain number then perhaps chiro isn't the way to go.Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 09:05 am Post Subject: Try article
I really liked the article, and the very cool blog
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