Our family of four and I have been very happy customers of The Schiff Dental Group since 2015. They came highly recommended and did not disappoint. Karen, Dr. Ali, Dr. Moniz, and Dr. Zurek have been professional, caring and competent, as has the office staff. Yesterday I received a bill for a service that was rendered in October 2020. This was the first bill that I received for the treatment and it had a $20 finance charge included. Prior to the new year, I had called the office to make an appointment for my husband and also asked about our bill since I had recently had dental surgery and was told there was no balance due. At that time, I commented that I was surprised and was told it may still be in process with the insurance company. The first bill I had in hand arrived yesterday. Today I called Schiff Dental office and explained that this was the first bill I received and that I would appreciate the removal of the finance charge. The bill is dated 1/1/21 but arrived yesterday. There were no prior bills received. I called in good conscience to review my bill and from the start I felt accused and attacked by the office manager. I tried to explain that with a pandemic and a postal service issues, I had not received a bill. She told me I knew I had $XXXX worth of service in October and since I knew, it should have been paid and I was responsible for the entire $XXXX. I advised that I will submit a payment of $XXXX today and follow up in my next pay period to pay in full. I was also told today that multiple attempts were made to contact me by phone, but after reviewing my phone records, I have received no calls from the Schiff Dental Office since the follow up call after the procedure in October. I have always been treated kindly and professionally by the office staff, but the office manager was difficult and accusatory. I called today with the intention of paying my bill today, but asked in good conscience to have the finance charge removed since it was the first bill that I received. Our call was frustrating and I struggled to discuss my issue because of the obstinate attitude. I have every intention of paying my bill and my appointment in October 2020 was scheduled to coincide with a lump sum deposit into my HSA at year end. The appointment timing was planned with that in mind and the funds remains in my account to pay for my procedure. I asked to please speak to a supervisor and was told that Dr. Schiff was her supervisor and there was "no way" that he would call me back. I advised that I would like to speak to someone else prior to sending my payment and the office manager stated that perhaps I should get a lawyer. I again reiterated that I want to pay my bill, but should not have been charged a finance charge. She stated that she is the office manager and that there is no other supervisor, adding it was her job to collect the bills and because that is her job, there was no way she would let Dr. Schiff know that she was not doing her job. I will reiterate that I fully intend to pay my bill and it was the finance charge that I was questioning, but my conversation with the office manager was so unlike any other conversation with anyone else at Schiff Dental Office and as a customer, I feel it's necessary to have a conversation with someone else. I have never before been treated so coldly by any other member of The Schiff Dental Group staff.
It is sad that our family is going to have a find a new Dental Care provider over a $20 finance charge. I'm sure it's also not the intention of The Schiff Dental Group to lose a family of four, three of whom have significant dental needs, over $20. We loved going to our dental visits, but as the office manager said, I knew about my $2000 worth of treatment and should have paid my bill already, so that leaves things feeling quite awkward, doesn't it? read more
