Billed by error. Now in collections. HELP!!!

[That guy]

Backstory:

12/12/11 - I became a non directed donor.  Surgery went well, recovery was normal;  it was about as uneventful as could be.

6/??/12 (can't remember the exact date) - I go back for my 6 month checkup.  Everything is going great; I'm pretty much back to normal.

Well, the billing department apparently went through a major staff change around the time of my 6 month checkup.  I got a bill for this checkup.  I was kind of half expecting one.  I was constantly getting them during the evaluation process.  I was told that I was going to get bills in error, and to just send them back in to the financial counselor in the Urology department.  So I'd send in any bills I got, and she would take care of them. 

So back to the 6th month checkup.  I get a bill.  I had some time, so I took it in to the Clinic in person.  I met with the financial counselor, and she said she would set it straight.  She always did.  She also said that she was moving departments, and Urology would get a new financial counselor (FC for short).  Well, a month later (August), I get the same bill again.  So I emailed a copy to the new FC, along with one of the transplant coordinators.  September rolls around, and so does the same bill.  So I email a copy to the FC and the same transplant coordinator.  October arrives, and BAM!!  I get a letter from a bill recovery agency, informing me that the bill has been sent to collections. 

TL:DR version - I donated a kidney.  I got bill from my 6 month checkup.  Hospital says it will take care of the bill.  Didn't take care of the bill.  Now the bill is in collections.

What do I do now?

[Michael]

Is the transplant coordinator still in his/her same job? I would start with that person and ask for help. Some hospitals have an ombudsman--that would be another person to contact.

If things just don't work out, you can contact us through the LDO Contact Us page (there's a link toward the top of this page). Give us your contact information (don't post it in the message board, which is searchable) and we'll help you.