ComplaintsforAssociated Dental Care Providers, PC -Mission

• Initial Complaint

  01/06/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Went to see dentist. Suggested Invisalign for my teeth. They rushed me to the front to get a care credit card for 2510.00. to pay for my portion of the Invisalign. I asked don't you need to see if my insurance will approve for the Invisaligns. That will be no problem, they will. They took my payment. Just like I thought Cigna didn't approve the Invisalign. I have been calling and asking for a refund. No let us resubmit to get approval. They keep denying it. I called again once I talked with Cigna and it was denied. This was on October 19th. They measured me, it will take a couple of weeks before they come in and we will start you on the Invisalign. I called them on November 9th stating that I received in the mail a denial claim. They said they knew nothing about it. They called me back saying that my Invisalign are in and set up an appointment to start them. I told them I would not start since my claim was denied from my insurance. We are working on it. We filed the wrong claim number we will resubmit the paperwork. I told them no I will not start, I will not be responsible for the remaining balance of like 6000.00. I told you guys I didn't want to pay you anything until it got approved. Now I am paying on the credit card and have nothing for it. No we will get back to you. They never called. I keep asking for my 2510.00 back. I talked with ****** I believe. She said she would work for on it. Then on the last call with them just prior to the holidays, she said she would call the orthodontist Manu Aroar. I have not heard back.

  Business response

  01/17/2023

  Hello - I have spoken to Ms. P****** today and have refunded her Care Credit account.  

  Associated Dental -South Mission Rd

   

  Customer response

  01/19/2023

  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 18697866, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me.  I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.
  
  Regards,
  
  ****** P******
  
   
  

• Initial Complaint

  10/25/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  They made a Bridge for my missing right front tooth and anchored it to a 30 year old crown which brock. then they gave me a sure fit partial in Oct. of 2021, which they attached to a 30 year old crown. I asked the Dentist about the stability . He said we should change that next. In Feb. of 2022 the crown brock. the first Dentist said that they should replace it at no cost, especially since it was under warranty and the Insurance wouldn't pay for it again, but he had to clear it with the manager. I talked to the ***** the manager. After several conversations with ***** she agreed to replace it at no cost. However when I went in I had a new Dentist (who talked to me like I was 5 or feeble) while she was in my mouth a women came and introduced herself as ***** and said give it to me for what I paid last time,. I told her ***** said there would be no charge. she said " I know but she was wrong, we can't just give it to you" I realized when I could finally turn around she was *****! I paid $499.00 that day as I left in tears. I got the broken tooth and crown removed and my new teeth in March. I went to billing where she charged me $84.00, she said I was paid in full. I went in 2 more times to have my teeth adjusted asked if there was a charge? they answered " no your all set. " I've gone to them for a while, and I can tell you they are not about to let you leave with your teeth if your bill is not paid! Now over six months later I get a bill for $499.00. I truly believe I was and am being taken advantage of. Oh and just FYI when all this was going on before I actually got my teeth the new Dentist tried to talk me into a bridge of 4 of my front teeth attached to a bridge on each side, I'm not a Dentist but even I know that would be a bad Idea. This is a south side dentist, and the majority of the patients are low income or retired and living on a fixed income. I truly believe they are taking advantage of that.

• Initial Complaint

  10/25/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  My daughter, ****** ** ******* began this whole ordeal when she was still 17, I cover her medical and dental insurance under my employer policy, I am her father. ****** needed a tooth crown/cap for a tooth ache she was having, and since then over a period of at least 7-8 months, she has been there for several follow up visits with no success for all that has happened! ****** has been uncomfortable with her tooth, unable to chew properly, and the Associated Dental Care has treated her very poorly. The lead dentist, Dr. ****** I believe her name is, has treated ****** very poor with her brief non-empathetic patient care and customer service as a whole. ****** has asked for a refund, approx. $380 dollars, and has had to seek out a dental specialist which after consulting, has estimated her required oral surgery to repair the damage that Associated Dental did by cutting too much of the tooth, at $1300. I would like Associated Dental to reimburse us the $380, and to cover the specialist costs that she now needs due to their negligence, and for her emotional and physical pain and suffering over this past year! Thank you very much and I look forward to hearing from you, Sincerely, ******* ******* PS: They have avoided talking with me now that she is 18, and they have been using a bully approach with her trying to seek out the refund and now the new surgery she needs because of them. I am not happy!

• Initial Complaint

  10/18/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  In August 2022, I received an emailed statement from the dental office that I owe $160 and that the account is 90 days overdue. The statement did not mention what the charge was for or the date of service, or who the patient was. This was surprising, since the first and last time my husband and I visited the dental office was in October 2021, for preventative care, and were fully covered by our insurance (the office is an in-network provider). I telephoned the dental office in August 2022, asking them to clarify what I was being charged for. I was told that they will pass on the information to the manager, who will get back to me in a couple of days. After a week of silence, I called again and was told the same thing. During my third phone call, I was told that they had a lot of customer inquiries and will get back to us eventually. No one ever called me to explain anything about the charge. Almost two months later, on October 18, 2022, I received another emailed statement, telling me to pay the overdue $160 in two weeks. I called the office and was put on hold, then was hung up on. When I called again, the office was unable to provide any information and told me again that they will pass on the information and that they are experiencing high call volume. I am not able to receive any clarifying information from the dental office as to why I am being charged and feel harassed by their emails. It is unprofessional to make promises and ignore customers who are legitimately concerned about being overcharged. The office is not communicative and my only recourse is to file a formal complaint with BBB. If the business is not able to explain what the charge is, I would like to hear from them, in writing, that my account is settled and to stop receiving their communications.

  Business response

  11/04/2022

  Hello Ms. ***** -

  My apologies for this late response. I reviewed your account and discovered a few errors in processing the payment received from your insurance company.  I have made two (2) adjustments in the amount of $106.00 to your account.  This brings your balance to zero. 

  The difference between the contracted rate from your insurance company and our providers is not patient responsibility- it was applied to your account and corrected today.

  During this time we went through a computer software change and it appears that your account was not processed correctly. 

  Please see the attached statement to confirm the account is at a zero balance. 

   

  Thank you for bringing this to my attention!

  Associated Dental - South Mission Rd

   

  Customer response

  11/08/2022

  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 18242626, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me.  I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.
  
  Regards,
  
  ********* *****
  
   
  

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩