Missed Dental Appointment

[bbellb00]

I just got a bill in the mail for a missed dental appointment for $180 dollars. This fee is nuts can they send this to collections?

[nothingtolose]

some doctor's offices I've been to specify a penalty/fee for missing an appointment or forgetting to cancel more than 24 hrs in advance but it's usually on the order of $25 or something; sounds like you may have been billed for the procedure itself? look at the itemized bill, if so then I think it is a mistake;

 

I have had to cancel appointments on short notice but I always called ahead and the office manager/s seemed to be okay with it (maybe it depends on how busy the practice is though)

 

yes the doctor's office has the right to send any unpaid accounts to collections; they may not want to do it over a trivial amount, not sure if $180 will do it or not;

 

I definitely wouldn't ignore it but I would write to them requesting an itemized bill and inspect the charges, if they seem off or the penalty for missing the appointment had not be disclosed, I would ask them to reconsider in writing and keep a paper trail

 

good luck with sorting it out!