Posted by Chabomb on 11/13/03

More | Report Post

My wife worked for a Dentist who provided free orthodontics
for the children of employees. She had some issues with
this office as the Dentist was deceptive to clients about
being a licensed Orthodontist (he is not) and told my wife
to lie to clients or to not directly answer the question.
She was very uncomfortable with this and refused to do it.
For two weeks in a row the paychecks were several days late
and creditors were calling the office on a daily basis. I
advised my wife to leave and find something else as this
guy would either go under very soon or be sued for
misrepresenting his license. She promptly quit one morning
after waiting several hours for the Dentist's wife to come
in so she could tell her in person, she didn't show.

Later that day my wife received a phone call from the
Dentist in which he used several four letter words and
threatened that he would get her and spread the word that
she was a bad employee so she could never work in this town
again. In addition he said he wanted some uniforms that he
had given her by 5pm or else. She advised him that after
he had talked to her like that she no longer felt save
going to the office alone and therefore he would get the
uniforms the next morning when I was available to go with
her, he said fine. Later that night my wife received a
call from the local police who said they had been called
out about stolen property, the Dentist had stated to the
police that my wife didn't have a problem returning the
items however they wanted them that day. The officer said
he wasnt going to write a report as it sounded kind of
crazy to him and he asked if we would return the items the
next morning as we had originally planned, my wife answered
yes.

The next morning I went alone to the office after advising
police to be available in case of trouble as he was very
threatening on the phone the night before, they said they
would sit in the parking lot across the street just in case.
I returned the items to the Dentist and advised him that if
he should ever talk to me or my wife in a threatening
manner again I would have him brought up on charges, I also
asked where her last check was because once again it was
late, he said the payroll company said they sent it.

A week later we have now received a bill for orthodonic
work done to my son to the tune of 1900.00 dollars, even
though my wife has the copy of the employee handbook that
states the orthodonic work is free and there is no
employment stipulation anywhere in the handbook. The other
thing is he charged my insurance for a large portion of
that bill and was paid for some of it. He is sending this
bill out of spite as he is very upset that my wife quit his
practice.

My response was to turn in a claim to the Workforce
Coommission as it is a law that employers must pay the last
pay check in this state. In addition I have submitted a
complaint to the State Dental Board for him advertising
ortho work and saying he is an Orthodontist when he is not,
as when the work was done on my son I too thought he was an
actual licensed Orthodontist.

My questions (finally):
Is this not becoming harassement on his part and do I have
a case to claim such? How do I fight a bill when its
against a vindictive ex-employer who knows I will have to
get a lawyer to fight it? Also what is the best course to
dispute this bill?

Sorry so long, Thanks for advice in advance

Unfair billing, 11/13/03, by Chabomb.

Business Law Chatboard

LATEST POSTS | BY TOPICS | SUBMIT A POST