Man's Car Gets Hit and Gets the Bill

[Shem]

This is so messed up:

 

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/08/crash-tax-bill-sent-to-man-after-minor-accident-you-could-get/?icid=main|htmlws-main-w|dl8|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.autoblog.com%2F2010%2F04%2F08%2Fcrash-tax-bill-sent-to-man-after-minor-accident-you-could-get%2F

 

If you are involved in or are a witness to an accident, what's the first thing you should do? Call #911, right? While we're certainly not advising against using the emergency service, making that call may wind up being rather costly to either yourself or the victim. Proof of such can be seen in the case of Cary Feldman, who was traveling through Chicago Heights, IL on his motor scooter when he was stuck from behind.

 

As CBS 2 Chicago tells it, a witness to Feldman's accident called #911, as you might hope and expect them to do. "There was no fire, there was no explosion, there was no debris," according to Feldman. "From what I saw, they came, they saw, and they left."

 

Still, the Chicago Heights Fire Department responded and examined the scene before they left. Shortly thereafter, Feldman received a bill for $200 while the person who hit him, who lives in Chicago Heights, got a bill for $100.

 

Don't think you can just avoid the issue by not paying. Feldman reports that officials were "sending me letters and they even turned it over to collections without sending a final notice... So this is what I call extortion. This is how they get you to pay it."

[Darth Avlectus]

 

Wow. If it isn't ridiculous overprice all around, it's blame the victim if it gets cheaper.

 

...bunch of schmucks...

[True_Avery]

*Shrugs* You get an ambulance, etc, called over and get you/someone treated you pay for their services and time. The ride to the hospital can cost you around $400 alone, and it goes up from there. In comparison, he got off cheap with a $200 bill. Someone has to pay them for their time so its either you, insurance, or tax money and since most people don't like the idea of taxes being used... guess who gets the bill?

 

Aaannndddd, things like this are why it is important to have health insurance. Two months or so ago I crashed and flipped my car, got taken to the hospital, and was treated and the end bill was quite impressive. Luckily insurance took care of 75% of it.

[Darth Avlectus]

Meh, the arse who caused it ought to have paid more was all I was getting at.

 

IIRC you mentioned you were driving a bit fast in that freakish storm or something like that.

[urluckyday]

I really can't believe the guy who hit him only had to pay $100 in the first place...

[JediAthos]

Personally if a government funded (i.e city) fire department responds to the call why is any payment at all required...I mean we all pay taxes and don't taxes already fund public safety departments? Maybe I'm being unrealistic, but they already take my money every pay day, why should I have to give them more?

 

I'm going to go ahead and agree with the gentlemen from the article and call it a scam.

[Totenkopf]

What's really stupid is also that neither party called 911 and still got stuck with a bill. If they wanted to place a fine on someone, it might as well have been the person who made the call. Since it is a city service, tax money should have covered it in the first place. I'd say scam is a reaonable word for it.

[Jae Onasi]

The problem is Illinois is bankrupt--financially and morally, and that's why this is happening. Actually, the guy probably could take the person who hit him to small claims court to recover the $200 fee.

[Totenkopf]

Given the state many state and likely municipal budgets are in, I'd not be surprised to see more speed traps and increased ticketing, in addition to any taxes they try to raise. I'd agree, though, that charging someone for an unrequested service and being high handedly self-righteous about it is morally (or at least ethically) bankrupt. What's next, if your house burns down or is burgled, are you going to get a bill from the city for services (ostensibly funded by taxes) rendered?

[JesusIsGonnaOwnSatan]

I...

 

Wow.

[Darth Avlectus]

It seems states everywhere are doing stuff like this. Fines are increasing heavily everywhere.

[urluckyday]

It seems states everywhere are doing stuff like this. Fines are increasing heavily everywhere.

 

It's all about the bottom-line now in money-strapped states...

[mimartin]

Much ado about nothing

 

Mr. Feldman does not live in Chicago Heights.

 

The guy that hit him does live in Chicago Heights.

 

Mr. Feldman does not pay Chicago Heights Taxes.

 

The guy that hit Mr. Feldman does pay Chicago Height Taxes.

 

So Mr. Feldman was billed more for the incident than the guy who already pays taxes. So what? Mr. Feldman needs to file an insurance claim against the party that hit him or take the other guy to small claims court to recoup his damages, including the $200.00.

 

At least that is how it would work in conservative Texas.

[Totenkopf]

Regardless of whether he can file in small claims court or not, city shouldn't be allowed to charge people for a service not requested by them that's usally already covered by taxes or incorprated into other fee structures (like licenses). Especially when there were no damages that required the use of 911 in the first place.

[mimartin]

Well the Tax Payer should not be stuck footing the bill either, so ultimately the way the system works now is the responsible party will foot the bill. Provided the injured party does a little leg work (like picking up the phone and filing an insurance claim against the other party).

 

I guess we could just forget calling 911 and go with something like this.

 

(This BBCode requires its accompanying plugin to work properly.)

[Totenkopf]

While that's actually a funny skit, the tax payer funds a lot city services via fees and taxes. Should we send a bill to you if you call 911 b/c your house is on fire? Should we send it to the person who made the call (assuming you were asleep/away from your house at time of fire)? In this case, it seems like little more than a fender bender took place. If 911 wishes to send a bill for a "friviolous use" issue of the system, perhaps they should check the phone logs and target the person making the call. Either that, or the politicians should be more straightforward about their new "taxing schemes" (yeah, ain't holding my breath waiting for something like that either).

[urluckyday]

This is the one thing that I do think the tax payer should front the bill for...taxpayers pay out for a lot more useless and pointless taxes that should be elimated and it could be replaced by emergency services. I don't know...just how I stand.

[mimartin]

Should we send a bill to you if you call 911 b/c your house is on fire?

 

Don't know about everywhere, but they do send you a bill should the fire department or police use certain material on a 911 call in Texas. Should a city supplied fire extinguisher or oxygen tank be used, you will get the bill to recharge it. Most homeowners policies in Texas do provide coverage for this up to $500.00.

[Darth Avlectus]

This is the one thing that I do think the tax payer should front the bill for...taxpayers pay out for a lot more useless and pointless taxes that should be elimated and it could be replaced by emergency services. I don't know...just how I stand.

 

Necessities only? Yeah, I'm not opposed to necessities. Excellent idea. Still, fat chance on it happening but that doesn't mean I'll stop fighting for it.

 

Also there is a difference between what is viewed as essential from one entity to the next. Even individuals largely in political agreement don't see anything quite the same.

 

But yes I agree by-and-large in cutting down.

[Totenkopf]

Don't know about everywhere, but they do send you a bill should the fire department or police use certain material on a 911 call in Texas. Should a city supplied fire extinguisher or oxygen tank be used, you will get the bill to recharge it. Most homeowners policies in Texas do provide coverage for this up to $500.00.

 

Does the Water Dept send you a bill if you're house is burning too? Afteralll, the Fire Dept often has to tap into a city's water supply to fight fires... But, it might just be that many people don't see some charges out of pocket b/c, as you say, their homeowner's policy covers things.

[mimartin]

More likely they don't see these charges because they don't have an accident or a fire. Should they then they would see the charges because the bill would be their responsibility until they file an insurance claim. Just like Mr. Feldman.

 

I'm in the insurance industry and I did not even know about it until the city volunteer fire department sent my stepdad a bill for oxygen after a 911 call. I moaned about it at first since I already paid my parents’ fire department tax, but after they explained it I coughed up the $25.00.