Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/12/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I received a letter from Century Credit & Collections, LLC dated May 5, 2023 stating I owed $865.88 related to healthcare services rendered, plus additional undisclosed charges, for an invoice "total" of $1047.15. I called the company on May 19, 2023 and spoke with a female rep who informed me the additional amount is a fee from their agency. I asked her to consider this my notice to their office within 30-days after receiving the letter that I am disputing the validity of the debt or any portion thereof. I also asked her for an email address so I could follow up in writing, and she provided: [email protected] (see other BBB complaint from 2/14/23 where the company refers to this as their "other" email address).
  
  On May 19, 2023 and May 23, 2023, I sent emails to the provided email address informing them that I am disputing the debt and also requesting an itemized breakdown of the total amount indicated on the invoice, including any interest or fees charged by the collections company. I also requested them to provide the legal authority or contractual agreement that would permit them to charge any fees on top of this medical debt.
  
  After receiving no response from the company to my questions or inquiry, I received a second letter from them in the mail dated June 5, 2023. The letter indicated the new total to be paid was $1060.39. It also indicated that the amount would soon be reported to the credit bureaus as I had "chosen to ignore the request for payment."
  
  As described above, I spoke with a representative and sent two follow up emails to dispute the debt and request a breakdown of the total amounts billed. My actions have been far from ignoring the request for payment. It is incumbent upon them by law, after receiving notification that I am disputing the debt, to cease collections until information validating the debt has been sent to me. In addition, I do not believe they are legally allowed to charge interest / fees for this medical debt.

  Business Response

  Date: 06/13/2023

  When we spoke to debtor we gave her all the information we were able to give her. We verbally gave her the breakdown of how the interest and agency fee. We also tried to give her a settlement on account but she refused to pay anything other than $400. We told her not possible since she owes our client $865.88 as she stated on her complaint. We cannot take less than original since we still have to pay our client. She refused to hear us out on the settlement stating she only wanted to pay $400. Our client is not willing to take less than what she owes them. We were willing to take off some of the fees and interest but she would not listen. She is more than welcome to call us again and work a settlement. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/14/2023

  
  
  Complaint: 20172444
  
  
  
  I am rejecting this response because: The representative I spoke with did not provide a breakdown of the additional amount as the company asserts. If the company is disputing this fact, they should respond to this question in writing; however, this information was still not contained in their BBB response. Since notifying the company that I am disputing the amount charged, they have yet to fulfill their obligation to provide documentation of the principal amount billed, as well as the aforementioned breakdown of additional fees and/or interest; rather, they assert that I have ignored their request and indicate that it will soon be reflected on my credit report. In the company's response to my initial BBB complaint, they indicate they were willing to "take off some of the fees and interest". I would like to clarify that this never occurred in the conversation I had with them over the phone, and they did not offer any kind of settlement.
  
  
  
  Regards,
  
  
  
  N***** ********
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Business Response

  Date: 06/14/2023

  We did give debtor Nicole a breakdown of the fees we added. She would not let us speak. We charge a 1.5% interest fee monthly plus an agency fee. As for the settlement how were we suppose to offer any settlement when she kept talking over us and said she would only pay $400 as settlement as we had told her we would not take. She has to understand she owes $865.88 to our client. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/14/2023

  
  
  
  
  Complaint: 20172444
  
  
  
  I am rejecting this response because: After several communications, this is the first time you have told me that you charge a 1.5% monthly interest fee. You still haven't told me what your agency fee is, and you still haven't responded to my emails. You have been given multiple opportunities to explain the charges, but you have not. Instead, you are more focused on saying I was speaking over you. I can't speak over you in a BBB complaint, so why have you delivered no full breakdown of the charges?

  The Attorney General's website states, "Debt collectors may collect interest, fees, charges, or other expenses to your debt only if they are expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or are otherwise permitted by law. If you ask, the debt collector must tell you how much it is charging you and why." I asked you in an email to cite where you are authorized in my agreement to collect interest / fees. Still, you have not responded to that email. Maybe you will finally respond here on BBB? Or perhaps you will say I am typing over you. 

  Further from the AG's website, "Make sure you dispute the debt in writing within 30 days of when the debt collector first contacted you. If you do so, the debt collector must stop trying to collect the debt until it can show you verification of the debt. You should dispute a debt in writing if: You do not owe the debt; You already paid the debt; You want more information about the debt; or You want the debt collector to stop contacting you or to limit its contact with you." I have told you both over the phone, over email, and now in this BBB complaint that I am disputing the debt. You are required to stop collecting the debt until you show me verification of the debt, specifically your belief that you can charge interest / fees for this medical debt. 

  Your business is far more concerned with the false perception that every customer is out to get them, rather than spending a few moments to answer legitimate questions. 

  
  Regards,
  
  
  
  N***** ********
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/14/2023

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I was informed by Century Credit specifically L**** ****** that I have a dental bill from Northridge Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery with the amount of $2023.55. The cause of this issue was due to my dentist lacking the info they needed to get my dental insurance to process the claim. I paid this bill on December 22, 2022 by faxing a check to Centur Credit. I have proof of payment letter from Century Credit and receipt of the cashed check from my bank.
  
  While this happened I partnered up with my insurance - Delta Dental of Washington, so that they can reprocess my claim. They agreed to pay their share of $1,342.80, and they told me they would mail the check to my dentist on December 22, 2022. I called my insurance in early January 2023 to ask if the check has been cleared and it did.
  
  With the payments over with, I took the next step which was to request my refund from Northridge Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. I called my dentist and spoke to Lorna, who handles all the dental billing, on 2/7/2023 and they told me they still have not received the check from Linda but that they are ready to refund me. I am not sure why it's taking more than 60 days for Linda to send the check when I was able to fax it and her being able to cash it out the next day because the amount got deducted from my account on 12/13/2023.
  
  I have recently mailed the attorney general and waiting for a response from Attorney Search Network to assist me on this because clearly Linda doesn't know how to send my check or my dentist is lying that they haven't received the check. Linda can't even give me a yes or no answer when I asked her if she's sent the check to them.
  
  Here is breakdown of the bill/payment:
  Based on the EOB:
  Amount Billed - $1,780
  Network Discount - $288
  Paid By My Dental Plan - $1,342.80
  My Share - $149.20
  *My other share is the interest accrued from late payment of the bill
  The refund amount that I’m requesting is $1,342.80.
  
  My Contact Info:
  M*** Vincent Constantino Tel: ###-###-#### Email: m***[email protected]
  **** ********* ***** **** ***** *****, CA 91343
  
  Century Credit and Collections, LLC Tel: ###-###-#### Fax: 805-6581034
  
  Northridge Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Tel: ###-###-#### Fax: ###-###-#### **** ***** ***. Northridge, CA 91324

  Business Response

  Date: 02/22/2023

  We did respond to complaint back last month when M*** sent a complaint. We got complaint through our other email [email protected]. As we had stated on the last response we paid our client and we have nothing to do with the refund at this point. Check was sent to our client and was cashed. We have no idea how much the client will refund M***. We also do not know what their refund policy is. M*** need to stop sending derogatory comments to our company.