FINAL NOTICE FOR THE PAST DUE ACCOUNT INCLUDING INTERESTS

MY MOTHER UNDERWENT A MAJOR TENDON OF ACHILLES SURGERY AND WAS CONFINED FOR FIVE (5)DAYS IN A HOSPITAL HERE IN OUR PLACE SOMETIME IN JANUARY 2010. THE HOSPITAL BILLINGS AMOUNTED TO PHP 24K. WE PAID PHP 10K AND UPON SIGNING THE PROMISSORY DOCUMENT, MY MOTHER WAS RELEASED. AFTER A WEEK, THE CHIEF, ADMIN AND FINANCE OF THE HOSPITAL PERSONALLY COLLECTED US PHP 10K FOR OUR REMAINING BALANCE WHICH WE HANDED HIM THE MONEY EVEN WITHOUT RECEIPT AS HE PROMISED TO GIVE US DISCOUNT OF THE TOTAL BILLINGS. WE TRUSTED HIM BECAUSE OF HIS BIG POSITION IN THE SAID HOSPITAL BUT WE STILL REQUIRED HIM TO SIGN AT THE BACK OF THE BILLING AS OUR EVIDENCE THAT HE RECEIVE THE MONEY. OUR SUPPOSED REMAINING BALANCE IS ONLY PHP 4K.

LATELY, THIS MONTH OF OCTOBER, WE RECEIVED FINAL NOTICE FROM THE SAID HOSPITAL INFORMING US THAT OUR PAST DUE ACCOUNT IS AMOUNTING TO PHP 28K INCLUDING THE INTEREST AND THREATENED US THAT OUR ACCOUNT WILL BE FORWARDED TO THEIR ATTORNEY FOR LEGAL ACTION WITHIN FIFTEEN (15) DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THAT NOTICE AND 25%WILL BE ADDED FOR LEGAL FEES.WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PAYMENT WE MADE TO THEIR CHIEF, ADMIN AND FINANCE WAS NOT ACCOUNTED FOR.WE LEARNED LATER THAT THE CHIEF, ADMIN AND FINANCE WAS FIRED OUT BY THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SAID HOSPITAL DUE TO HIS BAD DOINGS. OUR QUESTION IS,

WILL OUR PAYMENT (PHP 10K) MADE TO THEIR FORMER CHIEF, ADMIN AND FINANCE BE ACCREDITED/ACCOUNTED INASMUCH THAT THIS PERSON WAS ONLY FIRED-OUT LAST JULY 2010 AND OUR PAYMENT WAS MADE IN JANUARY 2010?

SOMETIME IN JULY 2010, WE INFORMED THE BILL COLLECTOR THRU TEXT MSG THAT WE PAID TO THEIR CHIEF, ADMIN AND FINANCE BUT ONLY REPLIED OK, THANKS. HE/SHE DID NOT INFORMED US THAT THEIR CHIEF, ADMIN AND FINANCE WAS ALREADY TERMINATED AND OUR PAYMENT MADE TO HIM WAS NOT ACCREDITED/ACCOUNTED BY THE HOSPITAL.

YOUR EARLY REPLY TO THIS QUERY WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED. THANKS AND BEST REGARDS.

it's a good thing you have that written evidence. what you should do is to write back to the attorney and state everything that happened. give a copy of your proof of payment.

this is not fool proof, but it seems they were also negligent in allowing their management employee to make collections.

Thank your attorney for your prompt reply. Yesterday, I was able to talk to the billing officer of the hospital and she said that our payment made to their former chief, admin and finance could not be considered valid as it was accordingly considered as personal transaction between us. What do you think attorney?

Godspeed!

if you plan to fight the hospital, you have to come up with proof that that the company has been allowing the chief to make personal collections of payments, or some other proof that the company made it appear that he was authorized to do so. while no guarantees, his title alone can be argued as authorization. you can even argue that if they really removed him from the position because of similar dealings, why did they not file a criminal case against the hospital, and if they did, then they should claim from the chief and not you.

do not just rely on calling them. you should write to them and explain your position. this may lead to a small claims case being filed, and you will need proof that you replied to their letter.

Thank you very much attyLLL. Will keep you posted on the results of your comments and advices. Best regards.