What are my rights when contesting the amount of a bill?
My father is a famous surgeon who recently sustained a head injury. When we first hired some caregivers, they quoted me a price. However, when I got the bill it was more than double of what I was quoted. My father, the cognitively injured patient, signed off on the hours and bill, but I did not sign the contract since it stipulated more than what was agreed upon. What rights do I,the daughter with full Power of Attorney, have to contest this bill?
Expert Answer
If your father suffered from significant cognitive impairment at the time that he agreed to the bill, he would not be considered by the law to be of sufficiently sound mind to make a contract and his assent to the charges would not be valid. If your Durable Power of Attorney is in effect at this time, you most likely have the authority (depending on the terms of the particular Durable Power of Attorney) to dispute the charges. You may also consider bringing a claim for an unfair and deceptive trade practice against the company based upon them quoting you a price that was half of what they billed you for. In any event, you should contact a lawyer to assist you in this matter.