Complaint Review: Bay Area Credit Services

Bay Area Credit Services (BACS) contacted me by phone claiming that they had purchased an unpaid account concerning me (for an ambulance ride) from American Medical Response (AMR), an ambulance service.

On 10-06-2004. Yes 2004, AMR picked me up at my home and dropped me off at one of the local hospitals, Inland Valley Hospital, (this was a non-emergency), where I was admitted for the day.

I had full medical coverage with United Health Care (UNC). Of course I contacted UNC about this claim. The Service Rep. searched my records for 2004 & 2005 and found out that AMR DID NOT FILE A CLAIM!

I then contacted AMR and was told to contact BACS because they had purchased the account. So I contacted BACS and they confirmed what UHC told me that AMR DID NOT FILE A CLAIM!

Now they both claim that I didn't give AMR my medical info. THIS IS A LIE! The hospital I was admitted to filed their claim and was PAID. Confirmed by UHC. Also knowing that I was going to be admitted into the hospital I definitely had my medical insurance card with me.

Now, after 4+ years BACS is demanding (or trying to extort) payment + interest (over $1,150 and growing). Not once in the 4+ yrs. did AMR contact me. BACS says that AMR did not know how to get a hold of me. Really? AMR had my home address; after all they picked me up there! Not once did AMR contact me, NOT ONCE!

UHC says that it is now too late for this claim to be paid. I can not and WILL NOT be held responsible for the negligence behavior of AMR's employees! I believe that BACS and AMR are working together to extort this payment from me by threatening to ruin my credit.

I've filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau of Los Angles, where American Medical Response is located, and with the Better business Bureau of Metro Atlanta, where Bay Area Credit Services is located. What a surprise, each business is not a member. Since these businesses are not members of BBB they are not able to do anything further than contacting the companies. Nothing happened.

I don't know where else to turn for help and would be thankful for any advice by any one who knows what can be done so I can turn the table on these crooks.

The threatening phone calls continue.

Keith
Fletcher, North Carolina
U.S.A.