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Pay or be threatened
I'm sure my credit score isn't perfect - whose is? - but I've always made it a point to meet the various deadlines imposed by my creditors.
Of course, that often is easier said than done. This time of year, for example, I'd rather watch a "Jersey Shore" marathon than write a check to the U.S. Treasury. But the IRS received my hard-earned cash with days to spare.
Utilities, credit cards, home-equity loan: It's painful, but I do it month after month, Jackson after Grant after Franklin.
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I submitted my co-payment at the time services were rendered, but of course, that never quite covers everything these days. And so I eventually received an invoice from the organization in question.
Without hesitation, I created a new payment account through the magic of online banking and entered all the information that was on the bill. I submitted the amount due and thought nothing more about it until the nasty letter arrived:
"We recognize the financial burden medical bills can represent," it begins, making it eminently clear that my cash is coveted. The correspondence concludes: "If we have not heard from you within 10 days to resolve your past due account, your account will be forwarded to our attorney and/or collections agency for further legal proceedings."
The letter is signed by the company's patient accounting department, which has either the chutzpah or dark sense of humor to label the valediction: "Cordially."
Yep. They're my pals.
Meanwhile, I know I submitted the online payment, so ... what's this? Another envelope, marked "Return to sender, no such number, unable to forward."
Silly me. I must've made a typo when setting up my online payment account.
But wait a minute. The address I entered is in Ohio. The threatening letter came from West Virginia.
I'm fairly certain I didn't pull that Ohio address out of ... let's say, thin air. I guess I should have saved the original bill, but I'm confident that I typed in whatever was written on it.
At any rate, I amended the address and resent the payment. I'm hoping the "urgent care" conglomerate receives it before I start hearing from its attorney.
After all, there's a huge sum involved: $3.12.
Yes, the decimal point is in the proper place. That's three dollars. And twelve cents.
Geez, I hope the delay doesn't bankrupt anyone.
Online editor Harry Funk can be reached at hfunk@observer-reporter.com.
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