Advanced DermCare
reviews and complaints

Before my Dec. 4, 2017 patch testing appointment at Advanced DermCare's ******* office, I called my insurance company to find out how much the procedure would cost me out of pocket. A representative from my insurance company called DermCare and received a code and it it into their "system" to... determine my out-of-pocket cost. The representative told me it would be about $6.90, so I went ahead and got the patch testing done — something I would not have otherwise done if I had known I would wind up being billed $559.98. After receiving the $559.98 bill (statement date Dec. 13, 2017) from DermCare following the procedure, I called my insurance company on Dec. 19. The representative I spoke to said she would look into what happened. She called me back some days later, explaining that the $6.90 amount relayed to me before my Dec. 4 appointment was actually multiplied 81 times ($6.90 x 81) — one time for each individual patch placed on my back for the test. After speaking to the insurance company representative, I called DermCare to fix the matter — and find out why they gave my insurance company only one code when they called to find out how much the test would cost me — because I did, do and will not have money to spend on the testing that was done and I was misinformed — at no fault of my own — about how much it would cost me, and I would not have gotten the test done if I had known the actual out-of-pocket cost. I've been trying to work with DermCare to resolve the matter, but they have been making things extremely difficult for me — despite the fact that one of the people I spoke to there acknowledged that someone at the office gave my insurance company only one code when he or she should have told them to multiply the $6.90 by 81.

I visited Advanced Dermcare in Danbury, CT last June. I was treated by Dr. Perez and charged $1000.00 by her secretary, Jane, for the treatment. I paid this amount in FULL. I gave Jane a check for $500 and had her put the other $500 on my credit card. I was back in the office 2 weeks later for a check up. Jane never said I had a "balance due". I was also back to the office with my daughter another time. Never was I told I had a "balance due".

Five months after my treatment, I received a bill stating I had a $300 balance due and that if did not pay, it would go to collections. I wrote a letter to Dr. Perez because I could not understand this. I was billed $1000 and paid $1000 so why am I being threatened with collections? Someone from billing called me in response to my letter. They said according to the secretary, Jane, I didn't have enough money to pay the $1300 at the time of the treatment in June. This is a lie. Jane had my credit card in her hand and could have put $800 on it just as easily as she put $500 on it. I have been a patient of Dr. Perez for years and have ALWAYS paid her in full. This time was no different. Unfortunately, Jane made a mistake and now wants to blame the patient instead of taking responsibility for her error. Not very good customer service.

My account has now been sent to collections. I called to make an appointment to discuss this with Dr. Perez personally. Jane answered the phone and began yelling at me. This is not the first time she has behaved in a rude and unprofessional manner. Another time I visited Dr. Perez's office, Jane "forgot" I was there and left me sitting in the waiting room for 45 minutes until I reapproached her and reminded her of my appointment.

I am asking Advanced Dermcare to take responsibility for the error made by their employee. Jane made a mistake so either she should be responsible for it and/or the practice should absorb it. I am asking Advanced Dermcare to contact the collection agency and dismiss this claim against me.

UPDATE: After ignoring me, I referred Advanced Dermcare to the Better Business Bureau. The BBB tried contacting Advanced Dermcare several times but each time Advanced Dermcare ignored their requests. The BBB eventually recommended that I refer Advanced Dermcare to the Connecticut State Attorney Generals Office. I recently submitted this complaint and am waiting to hear from someone out of that office.