I signed papers as POA for my dad to move into a new facility memory care on December 10 with a planned move on December 15. On December 12 my dad was found unresponsive, was taken to the hospital and passed on January 17 in hospice care. I notified the facility in December 13 that we would not be able to move. I never received a key nor was anything moved into the facility. On December 17 I met with the admin and the $2000 community fee was returned to me. Imagine my shock the first part of January when I received an $11,000 bill. I contacted the facility and they said not to worry about it because sometimes corporate is not on the same page. I got another bill in February for $3900. I wrote to corporate and explained the situation. I never heard anything until March when I received a bill for $3900 plus’s $500 in late fees. I called the facility and asked for some help with this. They never called be back. Instead I received a call from a debt collector. I explained that I was at the hospital with my husband who had been brought in with a stroke. Two weeks later, the day after my husband passed, they called again and were very rude but told me to send in documentation as to why I thought I didn’t owe the money. I sent a timeline with documentation. Now a month later a get a letter saying I owed the money. My past experience with senior facilities has been that the clock doesn’t start ticking until you move something in. Thoughts??
The billing department has to tell you why you are being charged. The collection company does not have this info, just the amt they feel is owed,