I just got a bill from my Chiropractor from 5 years ago. Do I have to legally pay for this?

  1. 21750 POINTS
    Jim Winkler
    CEO/Owner, Winkler Financial Group, Houston, Texas
    That's an interesting question! It sounds as if you admit that you've used the Chiropractor's services, and that you are admitting that the bill in question is legitimate. If that's the case, it also seems like at the time you might have realized there was a mistake in the billing if you'd not had to pay? Perhaps they've had a billing issue , and they've just now found it (stranger things have happened). Unless you can show you have already paid for the service, yes, morally at least you're obligated to pay, and most likely legally also. I'm absolutely certain that paying them will be infinitely better for you than having the bill go to collections and having a debt company buying it and getting a hefty judgement against you while trashing your credit (that's a multibillion dollar business, by the way). If you owe it, pay. Thanks for asking!
    Answered on February 7, 2015
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  2. 11783 POINTS
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    Larry GilmorePRO
    Agent Owner, Gilmore Insurance Services, Marysville, Washington State
    Having been in a similar situation I would say "no". Why? Your chiropractor knows there is a limited amount of time to file with an insurance company for payment. Usually about a year. After that, the insurance company is not obligated to pay the claim. Pretty much neither are you. Why? you didn't hire his/her accounts receivable clerk. Your chiropractor has a professional responsibility to handle the billing end of their practice along with the treatment end. 5 years late is beyond "reasonable" to bill. They screwed up and probably with more than just you. This is sort of a fishing trip to see who bites on their office's lack of follow through.

    It is basically stating "I can't run my business professionally, please cover for my mistakes." I wouldn't ignore them, I would talk to them about it and state why I didn't feel the need to pay.
    Answered on July 13, 2015
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