Just got a HSE bill referring to 2006!!

Sarahaw

Hi guys - I'm just after getting a bill in the post from the HSE stating that I owe them €60 for a visit to the emergency department in mid 2006!! Thats nearly 5 years ago and I don't even think I was in A&E then. Even if I was I'm pretty sure that I would have paid for my visit since that's what i've done any other time i've had to visit the hospital.

It seems crazy that they can demand payment for something so long ago, especially when I have no way of checking whether or not I actually paid this or even was in A&E at that time. €60 is a small amount but they could have wrote to me asking for €600 and I would have no proof against their claim! I mean, who keeps there receipts for 5 years?

Just wondering do I have to pay this? What about the Statute of Limitations etc?

Our man in Havana

They have 6 years.

Unless you have a receipt then you should pay it.

Bosco boy

Maybe you had concusion when you went in and that's why you can't remember it!

Tom Young

Pay the bill.

drkpower

You can confirm you were there pretty easily - ask your GP if he has a discharge summary for that date from the hospital or even ask the hospital to confirm the date/time of your attendance.

If you probably didnt pay, just pay the damn thing. But if you genuinely are very likely to have paid, then you should write to them, tell them that your invariable practice is to pay at the time of your visit & that you would have paid on this occasion but that you do not keep receipts for a period of 5 years. Ask them what their usual practice as regards contacting people to settle accounts and, if it involves contacting the patient in less than 5 years, ask them to explain the reason why they did not do so on this occasion. I expect you wont hear from them again.

James Jones

drkpower wrote: »

You can confirm you were there pretty easily - ask your GP if he has a discharge summary for that date from the hospital or even ask the hospital to confirm the date/time of your attendance.

If you probably didnt pay, just pay the damn thing. But if you genuinely are very likely to have paid, then you should write to them, tell them that your invariable practice is to pay at the time of your visit & that you would have paid on this occasion but that you do not keep receipts for a period of 5 years. Ask them what their usual practice as regards contacting people to settle accounts and, if it involves contacting the patient in less than 5 years, ask them to explain the reason why they did not do so on this occasion. I expect you wont hear from them again.

To add to this you might seek your records through Freedom of Information or Data Protection. Your records will include your reason fro attending, treatment and any bill issued.

Bosco boy

James Jones wrote: »

To add to this you might seek your records through Freedom of Information or Data Protection. Your records will include your reason fro attending, treatment and any bill issued.

There's a fee for a freedom of info request so maybe you should talk to the gp first, no point wasting money if you are going to have to pay up anyway.

Our man in Havana

There is no fee where the information is personal information about the applicant.