Western Mercantile Agency
reviews and complaints

After malpractice from a doctor and constant incorrect billing practices from Curry Health Network... I was left with a $500 bill after a miscarriage. Western mercantile refuses to do payments with me, and eventually the balance grew to $1000... they submitted a judgment against me in 2017. After two years of them "attempting to contact" mind you, I had several jobs in between that time one that was 2 years long... they had not "garnished" my wages. Now in the. Beginning of 2020, they have decided to garnish an amount of right over $1000 due to their ridiculous interest charges... the fact I'm paying this much for the loss of a baby while I was covered under TWO medical insurances that would have covered almost all the cost... it's ridiculous. The way they have chosen to go after me for this payment is insanely unethical, and they embarrassed me on several accounts by showing up to my work to serve me a "writ of garnishment" 3 DAYS AFTER SERVING ONE TO MY BOSS. This practice was so unnecessary.

I received a call from Western Mercantile about a hospital bill that had gone to collections. When I went to the hospital, I expected to get a $600-800 bill, which I would have and could have paid in full. When I saw the bill, however, it was ridiculous! I went to the emergency room having gone through a miscarriage a week earlier and still not feeling quite right. I took another pregnancy test that morning and it showed up positive still, so I thought I better get checked out so that no nasty infections happen later. I waited around the waiting room for 2 1/2 hours... Spent a total of 30-40 minutes with actual, breathing people. They did a urine pregnancy test, a blood panel (CBC and HCG) and 2 ultrasounds. Yes, 2. The first was simply running the imaging machine over my lower abdomen. Apparently, that wasn't detailed enough, so they did a transvaginal ultrasound. That's it. They said I would be okay, my body was just a little slow at cleaning itself out. No medications and I am a phlebotomist's wet dream. Great veins that don't move, roll, etc. I received a bill from the hospital for $2383.00 and a separate bill from the lab for $276.00. I have had a heck of a time getting any help with this. However, I did finally find healthcarebluebook.com and I was able to look up the usual, customary and reasonable rates. Since I couldn't find a listing for HCG, I priced a complete female hormone panel. Even then, the usual, customary and reasonable bill would have totaled about 800-$1200 TOTAL! Likely closer to the $800 end of that since they billed me for a Level IV visit. (I am pretty sure having an emergency appendectomy was a Level IV visit, so simple diagnostics seems like it should be a Level I or Level II visit.) When the lady from Western Mercantile called me, she said that I needed to fill out an application for a payment plan (while I hoped to get the hospital to revamp my bills). I did fill out all of their paperwork and they told me that I don't qualify for a payment plan. (My bills totaled $2659. I made $23K last year, so it's 12% of my last year's entire income for 40 minutes of their time). They told me I need to pay in full or I will be sued. I sent them a letter back explaining that damage to my credit affects my occupation and I can't live on 75% of my income if they get a judgement, so it wouldn't be worth it to work any more. I've sent in $50 a month, which is what I told them I could afford. Got a letter yesterday saying we applied your payment, but we are still pursuing litigation.