Complaint Review: Sharp Rees Stealy - San Diego California

Avoid this Health Care Provider at all costs, as they give you false promises, threaten you with Collections if you disagree with them, damage your credit rating and leave you no viable recourse within their biased system.

My original complaint was that I was being charged for a routine, preventative care, Physical (usually cost free) by my Dr. including all tests.   I complained, received apologies for mistakes, claims to fix problem, all to no avail, even after going to Supervisors, Patient Liason.  I am left with the impression Sharp Rees Steely (SRS) is God, they do not make mistakes!  The customer is always wrong.

This has been going on for 14 months.  Every time I phone them numerous times in past 10 months I am told that they made a mistake and will remedy problem, never a reply.  Then I receive same bill with Collections notice.  I complain to supervisors & patient liaison that this is routine preventive tests, I have not had a physical for 4 years, my wifes physical cost $0.00, why am I paying for everything?  I am told others informed me incorrectly that they would remedy problem, pay or we will collect, no other available option.

I contact my Health Care Provider who informs me that these tests are routine & preventative except for 1 test and that SRS ought to have simply corrected the file.  They refund me more than 2/3 of my bill which I paid in full as they threatened to ruin my credit.  It has been 2 months and I still have not received check.

Further, after more than 12 hours on phone, SRS unfairly complaining about my aggressiveness/harassing them and filed a report with my Health Care Provider about my unreasonable behavior, also stating I can Appeal their findings if I wish.

One more side complaint - at no time are you able to speak directly with your Drs. Office.  They require you go  through their antiquated system of forwarding messages and a nurse will occasionally phone you back.  And, the Staff you deal with regarding complaints/questions etc. officially are unable to speak directly with your Dr..  Even my Health Care Provider states all you should have to do is contact your Dr. to change inappropriately applied codes to remedy the situation, but not with SRS, you are unable to contact your Dr. directly ever unless you make and pay for an appt.

SRS Customer Services basic premise is the Customer is always wrong, promises of remedying problem and doing nothing abounds.  SRS takes no responsibility for their actions, follow their billing practices without recourse and Customer Service ends at receiving the Medical process, no adequate recourse afterwords to accommodate patients concerns. 

I wholeheartedly recommend to all to avoid obtaining Health Care Services from this Company.  They used to have a good reputation, but even their Patient Liason is beholding to SRS when policing themselves, obviously a "conflict of interest".  They may provide adequate Health Care but their Billing practices and communication systems leave alot to be desired and you will undoubtedly have to pay for their mistakes.