Recent Feedback
Is it legal for a service provider (hospital) to apply payments made for a specific invoice/account to a different invoice/account for the same patient or family without prior approval? The check in question had the invoice/account numbers in the memo field of the check.
Optional Information: State/Country of Question: New Jersey Already Tried: complaining to the CFO of the hospital--
The creditor need not apply it to the invoice the debtor wants it applied to unless both sides agree otherwise.
what constitutes "agreed" in this case--If I noted a specific account/invoice number, I am assuming that that is where the payment will be applied. It fels like the hospital is making a unilateral decision to apply it as it chooses, without notifying me that it is doing so. It has totally screwed up my records and resulted in a collection agency dunning me for payments I did not know were due.
You would need a policy from the hospital or something in writing from them in which they agree to apply payment as payor wishes. This would be rare.
Experience: Licensed attorney helping individuals and businesses