Billing Errors Could Be Stealing Your Money

Do you review your bills when they arrive or do you do what many people do and just pay them? If you answered yes to this question, you may be losing money without even realizing it due to billing errors. Here are several ways you might be losing money and how to keep it where it belongs – in your wallet.

Review your credit card bills

Make sure you carefully review every credit card statement. You may find errors that are costing you big time. If you spot an error, you may be able to resolve it with just one phone call. For example, you might have eaten at a restaurant but received a bill from its parent company that has a different name.

If you find an error

If you find a genuine error, one phone won’t solve the problem. If you disagree with an item, you must dispute it in writing and within 60 days. While the credit card company is investigating your claim it can’t report it as delinquent even though you haven’t paid it. It also cannot try to collect the bill.

Unauthorized use

You could look in your wallet one day and find you’re missing a credit card. Or you might review your bill and find charges you don’t recognize. Either of these would fall in the category of unauthorized usage. Don’t panic. Your liability here is capped at $50. Plus, you can invoke your rights and dispute the item(s) with just a phone call. You don’t have to make the call within 60 days though it’s a good idea to do so – as you would want to stop the theft before someone continues to rack up charges.

Your card will be cancelled

In most cases, the credit card company will cancel your card to prevent further usage. And it’s not obligated to send you a new one. If it believes you’re a risk for some reason it could close your account or reduce your credit limit. You should be sure to discuss this with the credit card company so you will know what to expect.

Medical billing errors

Medical billing errors are probably more common these days than credit card errors. Hospitals, clinics and doctors are required to code every procedure for billing purposes and mistakes can and often do happen. Whenever you receive a medical bill you need to examine it very carefully. You could easily have been billed for a procedure you didn’t have or a medication you never received. If you have insurance make sure you read your Explanation of Benefits (EOB). It’s important to know what is and what’s not covered – especially before you have a procedure performed.

Rejected or denied?

If you file a claim with an insurance company and it comes back marked either rejected or denied, it’s important to know the difference between these terms. Rejected usually means that no one even reviewed you claim due to some mistake. This could be as simple as the wrong date of birth or a mismatch between the way the procedure was coded and how the diagnosis was coded. In any event, you should call the insurance provider and ask why the claim was rejected. On the other hand if the claim was marked denied it’s because the insurance company believes you didn’t have the necessary coverage. Again, you will need to contact your provider to learn why you were denied. If you disagree with what you’re told, you have the right to appeal.

When bills get out of control

If your credit card or medical bills have spun out of control, contact us. We’ll explain debt settlement and how it might help you. We charge nothing up front so you have nothing to lose by letting us tackle your debt problems.