Dr. Bills

[kw0602]

What is the name of your state?AL

My ex took my four year old to the ER in February. Before she took her I told her that she needed to contact me before she took the child. She did not. I knew that the insurance would not pay for such a visit but she took her anyway. Now I am recieivng bills for Dr. visits. I did not sign consent for treatment. My attorney has told me to tell them that I did not sign.


I know that my ex is not oging to pay the bills. But I do not know how to get these people off my back. I have called them several times and they continue to send me letters. I even sent them a letter stating why I would not pay the bill and who should but i continue to recieve the bills. What more can I do?

 

[cjmom]

Does it state in your court papers anywhere who is responsible to pay? My original order stated 75/25 split then was switched to 50/50 of any amount not covered by insurance. Why wouldn't you want you daughter to be treated? Was it a serious illness/accident or something that could have waited for a regular doctors appointment?

 

[pthalo]

In your orders is there anything in there about emergency procedures.. I don't think that you are required to sign anything in an emergency situation.. You may be responsible for a portion of the expenses if it was an emergency...

 

[JaneyS4]

You just expressed what I was going to say Cjmom.

I understand if it was something that happens alot, with mom running to ER just to jack up the bills for dad, but if its a one time thing, and it was nessasary for the childs well being, just pay the bill and quit complaining.

If my child were ill enough to go to the ER, that last thing I would be doing is calling and asking permission before I left. If it's ER then its emergency.

 

[kw0602]

In our current custody orders it states that we should split all costs 50/50. I am the one who usually pays and nevers gets reimbursed from her.

No it was not an emergency. She took my child in saying that I abused her. An investigation of the "matter" found that she was not telling the truth. She owes me about $350 at this time for unnecessary visits to the ER. I take care of my child every day. I know what she needs. I also know what can wait. But how can I be held responsible for the bills when I did not give consent for treatment?

 

[pthalo]

document everything....

You have a right to all the medical records... Get them and use them in conjunction with documentation od when she took your child for any medical attention... Keep track of everything that you pay and what she pays you in reimbursement... If she gets enough back payments to you and shows no intent to pay, then file for contempt of court orders...

 

[JaneyS4]

In that case...

In our current custody orders it states that we should split all costs 50/50. I am the one who usually pays and nevers gets reimbursed from her.

No it was not an emergency. She took my child in saying that I abused her. An investigation of the "matter" found that she was not telling the truth. She owes me about $350 at this time for unnecessary visits to the ER. I take care of my child every day. I know what she needs. I also know what can wait. But how can I be held responsible for the bills when I did not give consent for treatment?

Didn't you mention having a lawyer? Next time they call, tell them you did not sign for the treatment, and if they persist, give them your attorney's number and tell them to take it up with him. Usually, just mentioning a lawyer gets them off your back when they are in the wrong. They just depend on people not knowing their rights.

 

[pthalo]

Not knowing your rights....

This is the number one way that you can screw yourself over.. Most people will blame it on another person, the system, or any of many things, but it is more often than not, it is attributable to the individual not knowing their rights and how to enforce them...

The system counts on most men not knowing their rights.. Women love taking advantage of men in court who are not aware of their rights, but in turn men can fight back and know their rights.. This is even more damaging to a woman's case b/c it comes as a surprise to her that 1.) Men have rights? and 2.) He knows his rights?.... This may sound like woman bashing and in some cases it may be.. If you as a woman have done anything like this then the comments are directed at you and if not then please disregard and do not respond...

 

[kw0602]

But.....

Since she has written me in as the responisble party, they are threatening to put this onto my credit report. She has several things on my credit report now using my name and SSN to get things, "for the kids". I just do not want more things added to my credit. In the past I have paid but for this one, no can do!

 

[pthalo]

document document document

Put your ducks in a row; documentation, medical records, credit card records, receipts, etc... and file for contempt of court orders against her.. Until you do that you are stuck with what she gives you... The orders are there to help protect you, but if you don't make any efforts to protect yourself, then you are just as much to blame for all of this.. Know your rights and fight for them.. She's walking all over you and it doesn't seem as though you have been putting up much of a fight other than words.. Fight with the law now....

 

[VeronicaGia]

I do believe it is against Federal law to make someone else responsible for medical bills. If not, why couldn't I make my next door neighbor responsible for my medical bills.

Here is a link to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act:


http://www.cardreport.com/laws/fdcpa/fdcpa.html

Hope this helps.

 

[haiku]

we were told that they can go after the other PARENT of the child. in our case my husband paid the bills to save his credit, and so his kids could contnue to get care, BUT he successfully sued her for contempt for her half of the bills.

 

[qtpie]

haiku--even if the NCP doesn't know ANYTHING about the visit? Even if the NCP has not signed ANYTHING at the hospital? That doesn't sound right to me, but then neither do alot of other things that go on in life. We're dealing with a smiliar situation right now, and I'm anxious to see how the hospital responds. The bio-beast is in obvious contempt on this one.

If anyone can just send a bill to anyone else, then I should have been sending all MY bills to MY ex all this time. Think of the money I could've saved!!!

 

[kw0602]

BUT....

I am the CP. She went behind my back took my child to the ER saying that I abused her. Why should I even have to pay 50% of that? I should have known what was going on with my child before anything happened.
I want her to know that any time she does anything with my kids I need to know. The hospital needs to know that she has no legal right to sign anything for my child.
What upsets me the most is like others have said how can you just assign bills to me. If she thought it were a TRUE emergency then she should have sign consent for treatment and assigned responsibility to herself. If I was abusing my child , i would not have gotten her back anyways.

 

[haiku]

Have you gone ot the doctors office, with the court paperwork? have you paid your half?

believe me my husband went round and round with hospital collections on this. And as the other PARENT you can be sued. (it only works for parents, she couldn't pass the bill on to anyone else)

it sounds like you need to do what my husband did. take her to court for contempt for her half of the bills, and modify the agreement so she cannot get away with it in the future.

example-from now on if the treatment is NOT consented by you, she pays in full, and if she does not present your half of the bill to you in 30 days she pays in full.

use the link for fair credit protection act. also go to www.budhibbs.com

if these are collection agency who are harrassing you (NOT the doctors office) you DO NOT have to deal with them and they CANNOT ruin your credit!

Ask them to provide proof that the debt is yours, if they cannot, and most can't, they must drop your case, and send it back to the original creditor, where it will most likely get sent to another collector. This way you can continue to attempt ot work with the original debt.