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Business Profile

Diagnostic Testing

Empire City Laboratories, Inc.

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

Find BBB Accredited Businesses in Diagnostic Testing.

Complaints

Customer Complaints Summary

  • 27 total complaints in the last 3 years.
  • 17 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

If you've experienced an issue

Submit a Complaint

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. 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.

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Complaint status

Complaint type

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:04/22/2024

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    Answered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I received an invoice from Empire City Laboratories dated April 4, 2024 in the amount of $1145.00 for labwork performed on November 11, 2022. The invoice also stated "PAST DUE" and "FIRST NOTICE." I unequivocally contest the validity and legitimacy of this invoice. Any assistance you can provide in this matter is greatly appreciated.

    Business Response

    Date: 05/07/2024

    As we performed services for this patient on behalf of the doctor's ****** and were not paid by the doctor's ****** for these charges, the doctor's ****** instructed us to switch the charges to the patient.  Please see the attached document for proof of service for these unpaid charges.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:04/15/2024

    Type:Billing Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I am not liable for this Debt with Empire City Laboratories. I do not have a contract with the collection Agency! They did not provide with the original contract as requested.

    Customer Answer

    Date: 05/10/2024

    Better Business Bureau:

    At this time, I have not been contacted by Empire City Laboratories, Inc. regarding complaint ID ********.

    Sincerely,

    *************************

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:03/04/2024

    Type:Billing Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    Im not sure what facility it is claiming I went to, I had a urine analysis done at an emergency care center, months ago. And I just received a letter saying I owe almost $200 for that and other tests that Im sure I didnt even take. From Empire City Laboratories.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:01/29/2024

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    Hello... I have attached a copy of the invoice I was provided for services never rendered. The invoice from Empire City Laboratories claims I had a 'Dermatomycosis Panel' done on January 26, 2023. Now I had to look that up to see what exactly that was, and I can say with 100% certainty that this was not me. I would have remembered having an unsightly rash, and a condition affecting my muscle tone. Not to mention that this lab is in Brooklyn, ** and I have lived in ******* since 2012.I have not tried to contact the facility, as I really didn't know what steps to take first. Bounced around doing searches on the web, and landed here. I'm hoping you can help me resolve this, as I can only imagine this is some sort of fraud being perpetrated.The invoice I have attached also does not reference the name of the doctor that ordered the 'panel', so that seemed suspect to me as well.My goal is to get this to go away, and to avoid it having any negative impact on my credit, as I have worked hard to get it to where it is now.Please let me know if you are able to help.Best regards,***************************

    Customer Answer

    Date: 02/23/2024

    Better Business Bureau:

    At this time, I have not been contacted by Empire City Laboratories, Inc. regarding complaint ID ********.

    I have not checked my mail today, but as of yesterday I have received no correspondence from Empire City Laboratories.  My initial thought was that this was potentially fraud, looking for me to send them money without questioning it.

    Have you been able to determine whether the original PDF I uploaded was fraudulent??

    I would like to put this to bed and throw away these notices they've mailed me.

    I appreciate your help.


    Sincerely,

    ***************************


  • Initial Complaint

    Date:08/29/2023

    Type:Billing Issues
    Status:
    Resolved
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I'm not liable for this debt with credit collection services, I do not have a contract with Empire City Laboratories, they did not provide me with the original contract as I requested

    Customer Answer

    Date: 09/12/2023

    Better Business Bureau:

    I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.

    Sincerely,

    *****************



     

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:08/25/2023

    Type:Product Issues
    Status:
    Resolved
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    - Blood was drawn at Liquividia **********, ** on June 13, 2023 - Blood results were discussed over phone on June 22, 2023 by Liquividia **********, ** of which they told me to contact my primary care given the Critical Levels provided by Empire *********** Lab Results were sent to me on June 22, 2023 by Liquividia **********, ** (Attached)- On June 22, 2023, I called my primary care who told me to rush immediately over to the ** given the Critical Levels in my blood results by Empire *********** On June 22, 2023, I admitted myself to ** and had blood drawn to find out my blood work was fine - Received accurate blood results by Riverview Medical on June 22, 2023 (Attached)I am a client of liquividia and had blood drawn of which I found out had inaccurate results after a visit to the emergency room. I received a call from one of the Nurse Practitioners at liquividia advising me of critical levels. The sodium and potassium levels were the most critical and they advised me to contact my primary care physician of which I did. My primary physician was curious why Empire Labs did not notify me immediately once the critical levels were found in my blood results of which I did not have an answer. They advised me to go straight to the ** since the results were at critical levels. I admitted myself into the ** and a little over an hour later found out my blood results were completely fine and the blood results by empire lab were inaccurate.The reason why Im contacting you is due to a bill I received from Empire Labs for $9 and the $470 bill I received from the ** visit. Given the inaccuracies in your blood work results and time I wasted going to the **, Im looking for Empire Labs to take care of and pay both bills. At the end of the day, I really dont like writing and sending this email to you but I thought you should know for future similar situations. The fact is the inaccurate results from Empire Lab forced me to spend additional money and time not needed.

    Business Response

    Date: 09/13/2023

    We understand the frustration and inconvenience you have experienced due to the abnormal test results you received from our facility. Please accept our sincere apology for any stress or inconvenience this situation may have caused.
    Upon conducting an internal review of the testing process, we found no specific instrument causes the abnormal results you received. It is possible that abnormal results arose from factors such as incomplete centrifugation, failing to wait for the specimen to clot for ***** minutes after blood collection, or delayed or otherwise transportation of the samples. While we take responsibility for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of our testing procedures, we recognize that in rare cases unexpected issues may occur. We are working to resolve this issue to your satisfaction.

    Customer Answer

    Date: 11/22/2023

    Better Business Bureau:

    I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

    Hi BBB,

     

    I recently filed the following complaint back in August and the BBB helped me obtain a letter from the company I filed the complaint against to refund me.  Unfortunately, I have yet to receive any refund and even contacted the Empire Labs but still nothing.  I would like for you to reopen my complaint until I receive the refund.  Thank you so much for your help so far.  Please let me know next steps.  

     

    Complaint ID: ********
     

     

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone 

     

     

     

    In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.


    Sincerely,
    ******* *******  



     

    Business Response

    Date: 11/27/2023

    Good afternoon,

    Could you please provide us with an address where we can send a check for the refund?

    Thank you,

    *****

    Customer Answer

    Date: 12/04/2023

    Better Business Bureau and Empire City Labs

    Please provide the following address to Empire City Labs.  ** ****** ***** *********** ** ***** so they can mail the check. I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.

    Sincerely,

    ******* *******



     

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:06/23/2023

    Type:Billing Issues
    Status:
    Answered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I made an appointment with a doctor for a covid test on 4/25/22. I paid $250 at the time of service and have a receipt. Nearly 6 months later I received a bill from Empire City Laboratories to pay for the "labwork" for the covid test again citing the same date of service. I communicated to the lab that there must be some billing mistake because I already paid the doctor for the covid test. They said the lab work is a separate fee and demanded the money. They are running some type of scam and double billing. This bill should be directed to the doctor who provided the service and was already paid $250 for a test that takes less than 30 seconds. I have been harassed by collection companies and demanded that I pay the $50 bill even after explaining that this was an obvious billing error. I have never had any business with nor contacted empire city laboratories at any time, only with *************** want them to credit this bill and remove any negative marks on my credit. Empire City Laboratories should be investigated for the obviously fraudulent activity they are doing. I have spent hours on the phone, writing letters to fix this error and they are unwilling to be reasonable, I also wish to be reimbursed for my time spent fighting against their criminal activity in the amount of $500.

    Business Response

    Date: 06/23/2023

    Hi,

     

    After reviewing the information provided, we have found out he following. 

    This patient does NOT have insurance. We are a reference laboratory. We have no affiliation with the doctors office this patient went to for the visit. Our policy is that when we receive specimens for processing our job is to provide quick and reliable results to the doctor and the patient first. Then we must bill either the insurance on file for this patient or the patient themselves if they don't have insurance. In this case this patient does not have insurance so billed them directly. This is why a bill was sent out. Whatever this patient paid directly to the doctor is between the patient and the doctor. We are not involved in that.

    I hope this information helps. Please let us know if anything else is needed. 

    *************************

     

     

     

Empire City Laboratories, Inc. is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.

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