Dang it, Vent time.!

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Last Sept, my son was at the police station in a small small town in Ohio. This is where his mother lives. The police called me about him threating someone with bodily harm. This town is about a 45 minuet drive. <br /><br />Once I pulled into the lot there was an ambulance there, his mom was there, and Carl was in the ambulance. They wanted to take him to the hospital in Cleveland (55 miles away @ $5 a mile, but didn't mention at the time the cost). He was lightheaded so the police called the ambulance. I didn't authorize nothing. I refused to have him transported to the hospital. I know my son, he has done this before just to change the focus on him.<br /><br />Later on in early December, I had not received anything from the police dept there. So I called and they said there was no record of him there. So I waited a couple of days and called again to make sure. Still not anything to show he was there, except for this friggin $430 ambulance fee. <br /><br />Am I responsible for this ambulance call? It is billed to my son Carl, and he is still a minor.<br />I need some thoughts on this before I call them. <br />Thanks

 

[11 footer]

Re: Dang it, Vent time.!

A few years ago my cousant was stung my a bee while walking home in the city of Medford, MA. Some old lady called a ambulance and they came and MADE him go with him, being a minor he had to go. It was 13 or 14 at the time, I remember my aunt ranting and raveing about how she wasn't going to pay this outragous ambulance bill and don't think she ever payed it. Since my cousant has since took his own life its kind of a touchey subjest, so I'm not asking about it. But I don't think she had to pay.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Dang it, Vent time.!

My buddy is an EMT and he says that (in his county), you only get charged if it's not an emergency call and need to be taken somewhere.<br /><br />Other than that, what are you paying taxes for?!<br /><br />Maybe where you live is different though.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Dang it, Vent time.!

You pay for the ride here, no matter if it is an emergency or not. When a car of mine got totalled, I was taken to the hospital by ambulance, I only had a concusion and a tweeked neck, and the ride was only a few blocks. The bill was almost $900. My auto insurance paid for it thankfully.

 

[gonfishn]

Re: Dang it, Vent time.!

Sounds Like he was transported by Private Ambulance Service(Non code Service)and yes they can bill you..Your Insurance should pick it up..If not Emergency Privates are called into transport.. Find out name SS and let me Know or town..Use to co-own private Ambulance service in the 80s..A typical Er run with meds can easily go over 800 bucks real quick not counting mileage factor..

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Dang it, Vent time.!

The Police were the ones that called the ambulance. They said they called them because he felt nausas and light headed. Hardly reason to call an ambulance, at least to me it is. <br /><br />All the paramedic did was take his temp, bp, and pulse. They did not transport him anywhere. I told Carl to get his butt up and out of there. It was a miracle, he regained his color, no more dizziness, or nausa. The paramedics said he seemed so sick, but all his vitals are fine. DUH! You guys have been had.<br /><br />Oh yeah, I forgot to mention they are charging for 16 miles. Through Rand/McNally and Mapquest, I used the police station address and the ambulance service address to get the mileage. One way is .2 miles. Their base rate is $350. <br /><br />Now to find out the police made a mistake on picking my son up. He was not at fault and no charges were filed. If the police didn't screw up, I wouldn't have this friggin,&*^%$^&*(* BILL! <br /><br />I did sign a form releasing them from any liability if something was wrong. <br /><br />Idiots.......

 

[gonfishn]

Re: Dang it, Vent time.!

If your son was not transported no bill should have been sent...No service no charge..At least that was the law when i was in the business..Privates can charge what ever they want for services involved with transporation but can't charge for services not rendered... the Attorney General Office have rules reguarding and regulating private Ambulance Services<br /><br />If you can give me name of private provider that is billing you i may be able to help you..

 

[Snailman]

Re: Dang it, Vent time.!

All the name calling upsets me... If you think that the police falsely arrested your son then hire an attorney and sue them for false arrest. However if they had knowledge of a crime and there was reasonable suspicion that your son committed that crime then they were justified in arresting him and holding him until it could be determined that he was no longer a reasonable suspect .<br /><br />Now, with that said.... If your son was in the custody of the police (read: city, state ) then his health and welfare are their responsibility. If they called an ambulance for him while he was in custody then it could be argued that the municipality is responsible for the cost of the ambulance and subsequent medical care.<br /><br />Good luck ...

 

[bobingardner]

Re: Dang it, Vent time.!

Last year I passed out at work and two ambulance services showed up to take me to the hospital. I didn't want to go but there was a policeman present and he said that if he saw me driving home he'd pull me over and have my car towed. So, I reluctantly went . About a month later the bills started coming in. I was charged $500 each by both ambulance services. When I questioned the bill I was told that one of the paramedics from the second ambulance service rode with me to the hospital so both services were entitled to charge me.<br /><br />In my opinion there was no need for the EMT from the non-transporting service to ride to the hospital. This was a simple case of padding the bill and I've refused to pay the non-transporting service. I told them they'll have to sue me to get the money.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Dang it, Vent time.!

Snailman please understand that New London has no record of the events that had happened that night. NO RECORD, NONE! The policeman that said my son was involved with an incident was fired the next day. Just a plain case of hokie pokie in Hooterville.<br /><br />Gonfishn, the name of the service is Firelands Ambulance Service, New London, Oh.

 

[SCO]

Re: Dang it, Vent time.!

Wish I was a lawyer right now, but regardless of the waiver you signed(must have been under duress seeing your son in the ambulance being attended to...bet they had you sign the waiver first thing...probably in the EMT manual), sounds like the police made the contract and should have to pay. If the police really did have reason to arrest him, if he did in fact threaten someone with bodily harm regardless of whether or not charges were filed, then I as a juror might think the responsibility for the bill shifted back to him(you/ex). If someone falsely accused him, then they might be responsible for the bill. Good luck

 

[gonfishn]

Re: Dang it, Vent time.!

SS.. I am still a member of The Ohio Abulance Association..I am waiting for a return call from a friend who is still in the business.<br /><br />In a non Emergency situation privates are called in to transport. This allows Life support squads to be able to respond to more life threatening calls..<br />Laws that govern City squads fall under different guide lines than the privates. If your son was not transported there should be no charges unless he was transported. As for taking B/P,pulses and doing an evaluation before transporting falls under a protocol set up by doctors who are directors who oversee these types of transfers.<br /><br />Give me a little more time and I will give you a number to call..<br /><br />Beg to diff with you Snailman on one issue. Yes if the city tranports they are and can be held liable. But if a private comes in all liabilities are nil. If a person refuses to be transported a person must sign off releasing city or private from any other liabilities..<br /><br />In my time many privates have had hefty fines given for false billing practices such as i think in SS Mayfloats case..