BBB Warns Residents About Medical Office's Billing Practices

By Kristal Dixon (Patch Staff)

The Better Business Bureau’s Metro Atlanta, Athens & Northeast Georgia office is warning residents “to be wary of the billing practices” of a medical office with locations across north Georgia.

BBB says during its standard 36-month reporting period, it’s received 140 complaints against Lilburn-based Family Dermatology, according to its alertissued Jan. 7.

The company has offices in Douglasville, Cartersville, Fayetteville, Conyers, Atlanta, Marietta, Smyrna and Peachtree City.

While some of the complaints are pending, of the 125 that have been closed, 107 have received no response from the company resulting in an F rating, BBB states.

“Additionally, some complaints have been closed as resolved but there was still no response received from the business,” BBB writes in its alert. “In these instances the consumers notified BBB that the complaint had been resolved.”

According to BBB, customers allege they’ve been billed for services for which they’ve already paid, and many of the complainants note the accounts have been turned over to a collection agency.

When they try to contact the company by phone to straighten out the billing, ”they are put on hold indefinitely by an automated answering service,” BBB says. Consumers have also stated that emails sent to the company remain unanswered, the Bureau added.

BBB also says Family Dermatology did not respond to its request for background information on its business.

“Our office has not been able to contact this firm nor verify information received about this business,” BBB writes.

BBB’s review of this business can be found on its website.

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