Aspen Dental review: billing 10

I recently scheduled some dental work for my wife. IT was supposed to be two appointments for which they charged me $1037.00
I used care credit after getting approved for credit line increase. The first appointment was supposed to be a deep cleaning and the second was supposed to be a filling. Turns out my wife told me they couldn't complete the cleaning and had to do a second appointment for cleaning for the right side of her mouth.
I got a phone call from their staff while I was at work telling me it was an Orthodontic consultation and it would cost 437.00 I said no way I never agreed to that it was supposed to be a cleaning and a filling and that my wife told me two visits for the cleaning.
The Lady on the phone told me that it was a cleaning, filling and a follow up. Since the orthodontic consultation was not agreed to it was basically a free visit.
I now get a bill for $343.25 when the original treatment was supposed to be $1037.00 and charged to my care credit account. How do they figure I owe this money when I never agreed to any additional appointments or charges.

In Feb 08, I went to Aspen Dental for dentures, I paid my share of what they said was owed, and the rest they would bill the insurance for. In March of 08, my husband went to Aspen Dental for dentures, he filled out his paperwork and paid his share of the bill that was owed, and they said they would bill his insurance for the rest. I kept receiving bills every month from Aspen Dental for the amount that they said the insurance would cover, so I called them up and asked why. They said that they were waiting on the insurance to settle the bill, and that we would receive a bill til they did. When May came and I received a bill from them, and my husband insurance already settled the oral surgeon's bill just weeks after his surgery, I called and asked what the hold up was. They sent my bill to my husband's insurance instead of mine, they never sent his in. So I called and asked them to send the bills in, but they never did. In July, I received a LATE NOTICE from Aspen Dental. I called my insurance and had asked if they had received a claim from Aspen, and they had not. I called Aspen and they said they sent it in in June and were waiting for it to be processed. I got really upset over the lie that I just told, and told them if they did not send the bills to the insurance company asap, I would report them to the better business bureau. They hung up on me, so I contacted the BBB. Needless to say, the claim was submitted to my insurance company that day, and I'm still waiting on my husband's bill to be submitted, which is under my name. They also sent a letter to the BBB saying that they billed the wrong insurance back in Feb, and wasn't notified until April about it. Then they waited to June to send it to my insurance, but my insurance wanted copies of my x-rays before they would pay. They said they submitted my x-rays to them, but I didn't have any x-rays done when I went to Aspen, so who's x-rays did they send. After talking to my insurance, they said that they never received a claim in June, and had never asked for xrays from Aspen. I have had it with the lies that I have been told over and over by Aspen Dental, I would not ever use them again. If you can't be honest about your mistakes, then you don't get my business.

This is the SECOND time we've had a problem with them. Went for a routine cleaning (which is covered 100%), on my insurance on May 1, 2010. Received a bill for $90.00 today, June 4, 2010. Called immediately and told by Lynette that she would contact corporate to resubmit this... called my insurance to find out that this was NEVER filed with them to begin with. As I stated, this is the second time this has happened. Called Lynette back, just to inform her that a claim for this was never filed...her attitude was very unprofessional and rude. I would like a telephone number for corporate customer complaints. They have had their last shot at me. I have a philosophy that the first time is an accident...the second time is on purpose. Please advise to:
hrowan@att.net

I am having a problem now with them billing me for something that as part of the group program they agree to accept a set fee.
I have called them, filed a complaint and a review of appeal with insurance company. I also got a 140.00 toothbrush handed to me, not asked and billed for...I took back and explained he knewmy situation of no money and you hand me this without even asking? I then got procedures they knew were not covered when I specifically said to ask me first if not covered by my insurance and I not you will decide.
Well, we will see what happens. Would NEVER go again.

Attention: Samantha Fikes

I have received a bill in the amount of $172.40, from Aspen Dental (Mt. Dora) for the replacement partial rec'd recently, which is the difference of $900.00. The $900.00 is what was billed to my insurance company but after receiving my benefit statement and checking with Ameritas Dental on the phone, I was told that the maximum to be billed to me should be $720.00 (eligible charges for PPO). So I would like to know why I am being billed this amount now. Based on the eligible charges applied to me so far, I should have had a credit balance of $726.60 with Aspen Dental.

Furthermore, the $720.00 (in eligible charges) for partial was not covered per the Ameritas rep (Barbara) because the code submitted to them was some miscellaneous generic code that did not indicate that it was a partial replacing the temp one after 6+ months. So they might want to try resubmitting a corrected code, which in that case would mean they (Aspen Dental) would have an additional credit for me if the insurance company covers a part of that.

I am checking with you again because I have very little (if any) confidence in the Mt. Dora office. On what was supposed to be my last visit to receive the partial, after several adjustments, it finally fit comfortably and was then given to someone to polish. When it came back it was then loose in my mouth. The dentist had already left the room so I told this to the assistant, who checked with Dr. Takeda and came back to tell me the dentist said I should wear it like that and make an appt. if there were any other issues...huh? I expressed my displeasure at having to leave with a loose partial but was told repeatedly that per the dentist I have to schedule an appt. So I had to leave the dental chair to go to the front desk and make an appt. to tighten the loose partial that occured while I was in the dentist's office! My next (unnessary) appt. took all of a few minutes to give me a snug fit. I am now curious to know if that appt. is going to be billed to my insurance company, I certainly hope not!

If you could look into the above matter re charges, I would appreciate it and your follow-up as well. Thank you.

Jennifer Ebanks

I truly can’t believe this company.
I had four appointments; the first one was a new patient evaluation, the second one was for a cleaning.
They said I needed a deep cleaning and an antibiotic right away. They checked my insurance and said it was covered. So I let them do it, and paid cash for my part, the insurance company is Aetna. (Another crappy company)
Well Aetna said they don’t cover the root planning, scaling and antibiotic on the same day. Aspen said they do; now I’m stuck with another bill. Aspen kept sending me a bill foe $212.00 but when I called in they would tell me not to worry that the insurance would cover it. This all happened in June of 2009. Just today I received a call from a collection agency for the $212.00 from 2009, I called Aspen and they told me it had been in collection since January 2010, I had never received anything from a collection company informing me of this. Aspen still sends a bill to me and when I call them they say the same thing, don’t worry sir insurance will pay. Now it’s in collections.
Aspen has scammed so many patients, never go to them.

OMG - the same thing happened to me. I had caps/crowns or whatever they are called on all my top teeth. One of the 'stubs' became lose and they told me I had to have ALL my top teeth removed and fitted with a denture. Sent to finance lady, of course they said the most expensive package was best for me. Well, $7, 000 later I have an ill-fitting upper denture. The first one that was made literally fell out of my mouth. The' 'dentist' got really mad, told me there was nothing wrong with it. When he left the area, his assistant bent down and said "make them re-do it". Did and boy was he miffed. I have to re-glue twice a day to keep in my mouth. I use to have a nice smile; now I cover my mouth as the teeth are so out of whack it looks like I've had a stroke. My 2 top center teeth don't even line up with my bottom center teeth. I filed complaint with NY State Attorney General's office, got letter back they received it and have never heard another word. My fault - should have got a second opinion but was new to the area and listened to TV ads!

Hi Jennifer -- I've passed your comments along to Patient Satisfaction, and they will be following up with you today. Thank you,
Kasey @ Aspen Dental

I'm very sorry to hear about your billing experience. The number for the patient satisfaction team is: [protected] or you can e-mail them at patientservices@aspendent.com.

I am also going to pass on your concerns to the team,

Allie

I am glad to hear you filed a complaint with your BBB. When we had our issues, after months of poor excuses, I filed with the BBB, our State Attorney General, and our insurance company, who also had any conversations on record. That was the ONLY way we got resolution. I also sent a letter to the CORPORATE office for Asspen detailing my compliants, my actions, whom I spoke with, and my expected resolutions/refunds. I dropped a letter off at the office for the (conveniently unavailable) office mismanager (a copy of the one sent to corporate). Within a week, I had my refund.