My name is Denise Bowen, and I received a call from a collection agency for a debt for $780.77 for the cpap machine I am currently using. My understanding if I used the machine for one year that I would not owe for this machine. It has been less than a year and it went into collection, with no phone call, emails, texts or written letters from Apria. Before the cpap was mailed, I received a phone call from Apria and I gave my new address and email at that time.
I do not know the date the cpap machine was mailed because Apria mailed it to my old address, in another town, that I had not lived at in 3 yrs and I was not told that it went to my old address until weeks later (Feb 8, 2025). I was told, not by Apria, but someone I knew at the old address, that knew me and had my number. I was able to pick it up on Feb 12 at their office at the old address and when I received the package, it smelled strongly of cigar smoke from the place it had been delivered to. I cleaned it and started using it immediately. I had received another phone call from Apria when I had received the phone call from my old place and before I picked it up. As soon as I picked it up, I called this person at Apria to let her know I received it, had to clean it first and then I would be using it. In the meantime, I was still using my old one.
My guess is because I did not use it as soon as it was shipped and showed delivered that my status went as a new patient. I am not a new patient and should not have to pay because Apria messed up. If there is another reason why I must pay, I would like a detailed explanation and not a scripted answer. Also, in writing, mailed to my home address.
I have been using a cpap faithfully for years. I even use it when I take naps since it is very hard to sleep without it. I had a sleep study in 2024 to make sure I did not need supplemental oxygen. I did not need it. I read all the rules pertaining to the cpap and payment and I have not seen anywhere that I need to pay and NOBODY has been able to explain why I owe without a script answer. That script answer does not explain why I must pay when I did everything I was supposed to. I see my Dr. yearly, and he ordered the machine because mine was starting to wear out. He only had my new address and email, so the misdelivery and lack of communication has come directly from Apria. Even over the matter, when I called…twice…many hours spent, I was told by the person I talked to that he would call me when he got an answer. It never happened. I just got another letter from the collection agency. Very unprofessional and I am sending this to Apria and Social Security, and possible other avenues to get this resolved, in writing, to my current address.
Denise Bowen
Desired outcome: Bill out of collection, owing no money
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