Dropped like hot potato. After almost a year of being with the practice, being in the process of…read moreadding my husband as a patient, providing the office with a decent income from my care, they decided that $50 in an outstanding payment was more important than the patient/dentist relationship.
For an office that stresses the importance of empathetic care, putting patients first and not allowing finances to be a barrier to care, I was dismissed from the practice and sent to collections for $50.
I understand my part in lack of communication in what I had going on in my life, however to simply be dropped and basically told to no longer contact the office, I'm extremely hurt.
I received the letter yesterday in the mail and I was prepared to call and explain my situation, when I got an email today from the debt collector requesting payment. So despite the office sending an itemized bill which stated that the payment was "due upon receipt" their attached letter contradicted the bill.
The outstanding bill has been paid.
It has become blatantly obvious that their top priority is not dental care and they certainly haven't "inspired health, happiness or smiles" within myself. Their top priority is their bottom line. They have clearly communicated that at the end of the day their business and income are at the top of their list.
It is all starting to make sense, the fancy office and their social media that made me want to be "apart of the team", is a smoke show.
I accept my responsibility for not being more communicative regarding my bill, but to dismiss someone over $50??!! Wow.
Just so Lifestyle is aware (since I have no interest in calling to explain my side of things), during the times you all tried to reach out, I was dealing with both of my parents struggling with their health, very severely, in fact both of them are still in the recovery process after both being admitted to the hospital, one right after the other. My husband and I dropped everything to go out and help them, seeing as they live out of state.
My apologies that my bill and calling you all back wasn't at the top of my priority list, while I was looking after my parents, working, and managing life from two states away. I am not someone who enjoys sharing what I'm going through and often times use avoidance as my coping mechanism because I was so caught up in taking care of my parents and being concerned that I may lose my mother, that getting back to the office was put on the back burner and that's on me. For my lack of communication, I apologize.
It's as my husband said, we dodged a bullet. The office has shown their true colors. I will thank you for making the decision easy to no longer be seen by you. Despite the hundreds of dollars that has been paid, you all decided that the patient/dentist relationship was less important than the $50 that was owed.
It reminds me of the movie "Confessions of a Shopaholic" -- "I was once a valued customer...now they send me hate mail."
I was truly prepared to make Lifestyle my family dentist, for myself and my husband and potentially future children. It truly saddens me to know that it came down to this. Almost feels like being broken up with via text message.
The care and empathy was removed and their bottom line was number one. I understand them being a business and yes you are allowed to make whatever decisions you feel benefit your business. I will say I am hurt, especially as excited as I was to be apart of a team and group of women that inspired me.
I am feeling sincerely stupid for putting my trust and care in your hands. For opening up to them, sharing my life and the name of my perfume that I physically wrote down for them because the ladies loved it so much, I've learned it was a waste and doesn't seem genuine now that I look back on it.
Just a notice to potential and future patients, approach Lifestyle with caution. Don't blindly trust that they will put care ahead of finances. I stopped being of financial value to them, so they dropped me. Thank you ladies for letting me know where I stand with you.