I am extremely creditworthy and have always paid my bills in full and on time. My complaint has nothing to do with being slammed with an incorrect late charge or interest fees. Nor am I "stupid, " as presumptiously assumed by one of the other posters on this blog. (I am always immediately suspicious of those who call others "stupid" for reporting corporate misbehavior and always have to wonder whose side is buttering their bread anyway.)
At any rate, it strikes me that GE Money Bank now has their fingers into everything. They have just taken over my Chevron gas credit card which I have held for years.
I only found out about the GE Money Bank take-over of my Chevron account after recently requesting a copy of my credit report. My credit report is showing TWO different Chevron accounts in my name, and both accounts are showing as currently active and open (I have only ONE Chevron account). One of the postings is showing an account number that I have not yet been apprised of AND the entry is showing that the account was just opened this month, an action that was NOT initiated by the customer.
After contacting Chevron's service representative to question this matter, it was explained that G.E. Money Bank was in the process of taking over my Chevron account and that I would soon be receiving a new Chevron card reflecting the new account number. It was further explained that during the “transition” period, two different accounts would be reporting to the credit bureaus (even though I have only the one) and that the former account would “eventually” reflect as “transferred” to the newly opened account.
In these times of customers having to meticulously monitor the opening of unauthorized accounts in their names, I find it unacceptable that Chevron is already reporting a newly opened account in my name without clearly noting the transition matter in the customer’s records with the credit reporting agencies. While it may be standard procedure for corporations to do this, it is still an extremely poor policy.
The Chevron customer service representative that I spoke with let it slip that they have had a number of phone calls from concerned customers questioning this matter, which is indicative of the great deal of unnecessary time this is taking on the cutomer's part to investigate the situation.
I have written Chevron a letter requesting immediate closure of my long-held account and demanding that my credit records be properly adjusted to reflect the correct status. I don't need this type of aggravation, all because GE Money Bank cannot keep customers properly informed and implement proper reporting measures to the credit bureaus.
It is extremely important for all customers/patients to be aware of their insurance coverage(s) and what all medical providers are allowed to bill. I have found that billing problems occur with many medical providers across the board (not just Quest Diagnostics). Another improper practice many medical providers tend to do occurs when there are TWO medical insurance carriers (both a primary and secondary coverage) and when the provider is an IN-network, contracted provider for BOTH plans. When the secondary carrier happens to have a LOWER negotiated contract fee with the provider for a given service than does the primary carrier (and hence determines a lower amount of patient responsibility than does the primary), most providers believe they have an automatic right to balance bill the patient according to what the primary carrier has deemed patient responsibility. They will do this even though the amount being balance billed is MORE than what their agreement with the secondary carrier allows them to do. What many people do not realize is that unless the provider has some written contractual arrangement allowing them to do otherwise, providers have a lawful obligation to follow the negotiated fees of ALL contracts they sign on to, regardless of primary or secondary status. The patient should not be billed in excess of the negotiated fees of EITHER the primary or secondary plan. This all falls under the rules of contract law. (I have actually spoken with a senior analyst at the State Board of Insurance in my own home state and had this confirmed.) Patients -- know your coverage and don't let any medical provider take advantage of what they believe the patient does not know.
Based upon my own personal experience with Quest Diagnostics and their balance billing tactics, I completely concur that letters should be written to any and all regulatory authorities in addition to all parties named in Krankee Yankee's posted complaint. It may also draw attention to write a letter to the doctor(s) who are utilizing Quest informing them that you no longer want your lab work sent to Quest WITH a copy of ALL said correspondence to the following individual: Surya N. Mohapatra, M.D., Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO of Quest Diagnostics Corporate Office, 1290 Wall Street W., Lyndhurst, NJ, 07071.
Quest is not honoring their contractual obligation with these insurance companies. Be aware also that even when there are multiple insurance companies involved (a primary and a secondary), Quest is STILL obligated to honor EACH contract they have entered into, regardless of primary or secondary status. A contract IS a contract!
If the negotiated rates or co-payment amounts differ between contracted insurance companies, medical providers should not be billing the customer more than what EITHER contract allows. If the contract terms of each insurance company require the medical provider to file claim on behalf of the patient, then Quest should file with EACH insurance company BEFORE automatically attempting to extort funds directly from the patient. It all depends on the contract terms. But -- Quest does not get to pick and choose which portions (or which contracts) they choose to honor and those they do not.
It is also a very safe assumption that Quest is relying on the ignorance of the average patient who often does NOT understand his insurance coverage and who will often just pay up rather than take the time and trouble to stand against what is going on. Quest (and others like them) will continue these unlawful practices as long as customers allow them to get away with it. Unfortunately such practices are common among businesses as such is the world we live in. (I have found medical providers to be among the worst abusers.)
Don't let them get you.
Most persons who get "stuck" with trying to expend this card will completely agree. The cards are NOT user friendly and because most store clerks do not have a clue how to process them, users will continually be told that the card is "declined." The companies who market these cards are counting on the fact that once purchased, most of the people who were “gifted” with these cards will give up using them out of sheer frustration and that only adds to the profit the company has already made on the sale of the card itself. Additionally, the card issuers get to deduct ridiculous monthly fees from the value of the card when not redeemed over a certain length of time. Better to stay clear of them; they are nothing but a source of confusion and trouble.
