Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Kansas

Our local hospital had an express care center I went to and had several stitches put in my arm. I went there since I do not have health insurance and the lady at the desk told me it would cost me 100. The nurse that sewed me up also told me the 100 included coming back in to get the stitches removed and I told her that was a good thing since I didn't have health insurance. That was July 17th 2011. A couple months later I get a bill from the hospital for an additional 325. I went back into the express care center and questioned them about it and the lady at the desk said she didn't know what the hospital charges were but that there might be some. There was NEVER any mention of addition charges at the time of service from anyone in the center. When I went in I did sign a financial consent form when I paid the 100 never even giving a thought there would be any addition charges. I went to the hospital and talked to the lady that is the patient accounts supervisor. I told her there was never ever mention of any other charges and was told the 100 was for the service and to come back and get the stitches out. I also told her when a person gives you there word what something cost that's what I felt was the correct amount to pay. She came back with the consent form I signed. I "told" her if I repaired her car for 100 did the work and then a few months later charged her another 325 she's be upset too. Again she brought up the financial consent I signed. I received letter from her a few weeks later stating" I apologize for the confusion that your 100 deposit was not a guarantee of the total charges. I called and told her I was taking them to small claims court next since their word is no good and now since she admitted there was a misunderstanding, which I told her there was NO misunderstanding on my part. It�s not the amount that upsets me, it�s the woman in charge I�m not happy with at all and would just as soon take her to court but all I want is the extra charges dropped since that�s what they TOLD me in the first place.

Any advice???


Asked on 1/02/12, 3:56 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Anthony Smith LawSmith

You might be able to get the declaratory judgment you seek (judge tell them I only owed $100) through small claims court, if yrou complaint is worded just the right way. Otherwise, the hospital or the doctor may sue you in limited actions for th eotustanding bill. If you bring your small claims case a fraud claim, you might do better. These are strategic issues for you and yrou attorney to dicuss. Unfortunately, you cannto take a lawyer into small claims court to argue yrou case for you. But, you may be able to pay one to help you prepare your small claims case. Hopefully, that will not cost more than $325.

Good luck

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Answered on 1/05/12, 9:06 am


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