(Photo is not the client; name changed for privacy.)
Thelma Vo, 67, came to JALA after unsuccessfully disputing charges for dental services she had not been provided.
She had X-rays done and was told she would need several crowns. She did not have insurance, so she paid out of pocket. That same day, she signed an agreement with a bank to finance any future dental services she might require.
Vo decided to get a second opinion from an endodontist and, based on this second opinion, then called the dentist office to cancel any further appointments.
She called the dental office repeatedly for weeks, never receiving a return call. In the meantime, she continued to be charged by the bank, which was auto-debiting her account in the amount of $164/month.
Vo finally reached out directly to the lender to cancel her contract. She was told they would need to receive a cancellation report from the dentist before they could close out her account.
The lender received a cancellation report, but it was not completed correctly by the dentist, so they did not act on it. By this time, $640 had been debited from Vo’s account, all for services she did not receive.
The dentist never sent a corrected cancellation report to the lender, and the dentist argued that Vo did owe fees for a provisional crown it had ordered from its own lab. During the initial consult, Vo did not have any impressions done and was not provided with any documents regarding the cost of any additional services.
JALA sent in a dispute letter to both the dentist and the lender, which resulted in the lender finally cancelling the contract. JALA has now opened a second file to assist Vo with the credit reporting, which is continuing despite written confirmation from both the dentist and the lender that Vo owes no money.
About Jacksonville Area Legal Aid
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is a nonprofit law firm focused on delivering economic, social, and housing justice to low-income and at-risk individuals and families on the First Coast.
If you are an attorney wanting to volunteer with probate and heirs property issues, contact JALA Pro Bono Director Aaron Irving, at (904) 356-8371, Ext. 363, or Aaron.Irving@jaxlegalaid.org.
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