WARNING - I have had to report Lakeside Dental to the North Carolina Department of Insurance, the NC Department of Justice, and the Better Business Bureau for fraudulent practices.
My experience with Lakeside and Dr. Harrison was awful. They would push services on me that other dentists told me I do not need (three different services on three separate occasions). I believe they care more about maximizing their billable services than they do about their patients.
I have been fighting the charge from my last visit for 2 years. The Dentist told me I needed an Occlusal Guard to prevent grinding at night. He brought in the lady from their billing department and she had told me they had done a pre-authorization, and that my responsibility would be $40.
I got fitted and went on my way. A week or so later I went back to pick up the device. Three months after that they called me to inform me that my insurance company had denied the claim. They were asking for another $400 out of pocket. I called my insurance company to inquire about the denial, and why it would come months after the service was "pre-authorized". My insurance company informed me that as an in-network provider my dentist was well aware that the service was not covered. They had never submitted any authorization and furthermore, since they were in-network, they had a contract which negotiated a rate for billing night guards as a "non-covered service".
I told them that what they had done was completely unethical, and that they would need to honor the rate of $40 since I was told by their billing department that they were authorized to perform this service at that rate. I simply would not have agreed to have the service performed for $400, as it was a solution to a problem that I didn't even know existed. I offered to return the device as well. The lady from billing asked me if I was refusing to pay the charge, and I told her I would absolutely not pay it. She replied, "Oh yeah, we will see about that when I send you to collections". I informed her that she was choosing to lose a patient and long term business over a one time dispute. It all seemed very petty, particularly when you take into consideration how much billable revenue I generate when I walk in their door for 30 minutes twice a year.
This charge-off has not bothered me. My credit score went from a 790 to a 740. I can still get loans at 3% APR and no lender has ever questioned the $400 charge-off. I could certainly afford to pay the $400. However, I refuse to pay for this charge based on principle. The business was procured fraudulently therefore the creditor has no legal right to the debt.
Last week, I called to get the names and date relevant to the visit that resulted in the fraudulent charge. The new office manager heard my grievance and offered to help resolve the situation. She was very polite and informed me that they had a completely new staff in the office. I told her since the staff was new, I would be willing to give them another chance to earn my business as a patient if we could resolve the $400 charge off.
The lady in billing was outright disrespectful after I spoke to the manager. Not only was she unhelpful, but she was also rude. She basically suggested that it was my problem because I did not pay my bill. She claimed there is nothing she can do for me because the account had already been sent to collection. I calmly asked how we would resolve the situation to help earn back my business, as her office manager had suggested. I was going to propose that they report the debt was inaccurate to the collection agency, but I was rudely hung up on (with an audible grunt/sigh) before I could get another word out.
I don't mind being told that they are not going to help me, but don't waste my time under false pretense. If you do not want to do right by your patients I can accept that. I only ask that you be upfront about it so I can seek care from a dentist that is fair and honest.
You can't drive half a mile without passing a dentist's office... so yourself a favor and pass right by this one!!! read more