A patient who failed to pay a $25 x-ray bill may walk away with tens of thousands of dollars in damages for the haranguing to which he says he was subsequently subjected by a dogged third-party debt collector.
The potential windfall payout—$34,500—would be the sum of 69 collections phone calls assessed at $500 apiece.
The pending lawsuit is explained at insideARM.com, which is published by a debt-industry group, the iA Institute. (ARM stands for accounts receivable management.)
“This case provides a lot of things for ARM companies to consider,” writes insideARM president Tim Bauer. “First, the risk/reward of time and effort expended on a small balance accounts. Sixty-nine phone calls for a $25 claim?”
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Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.