Posted on 01/13/2014 2:54:38 AM PST by Gen.Blather
A friend was notified that the health plan shed been with for over twenty years, Capital Health Plan, was cancelled due to not meeting the Obamacare requirements. So she bought a Blue Cross Blue Shield policy off the exchange and paid for the first month using auto-deduction from her checking account. When she was notified she could keep her old plan for another year she decided thats what she wanted. She renewed her Capital Health Plan then called Blue Cross and asked them to cancel her new Obamacare policy. They told her they could stop her coverage but could not stop the automatic deduction from her checking account. She would have to do that through the exchange. After spending seven hours on the phone (this woman runs a couple of businesses and works seven days a week) she was told there was no way to stop the deductions from her account. She said, Everyone was extremely pleasant and helpful but all concluded it couldnt be done.
Today shes closing her checking account. For added security, given the thinking behind Obamacare, shes moving her account to a different bank.
Sure she’s not getting this confused with XM/Sirius radio?
“Isnt it possible to stop it from the bank side?”
I have no idea. Anybody know?
Why go to the hassle of having to close an re-open an account when every other business has an OBLIGATION to stop pulling from your account when you notify them?
Because they have her personal information, they will run it to see if she’s opened any new accounts. Then they will track down her new bank account, take out missed payments and fine her for closing her original account.
Sadly, she is in for a real big surprise. When you have authorized auto-deduct closing your account won’t stop the deductions. Auto-deduct will force the account to reopen and she will incur overdraft charges in addition to paying for an 0bamacare policy she doesn’t want or need.
The consumer has no power to stop the once authorized deductions.
Many years back I remember someone I knew set-up the monthly auto-deductions from checking for a Bally’s health and fitness, and had trouble getting them to stop doing it.
The better route is the banks electronic bill pay system where the customer controls all the transactions from their computers.
I also have one credit card just for periodic monthly billing transactions.
But I am not giving out my bank account info.
As of now, the IRS can only take money from your tax refund. So of course, the wise taxpayer will adjust their withholding to be slightly less than necessary to pay off the balance of their tax bill on April 15....no refund.
Of course, then the Senate will pass a bill, with the help of 6 RINOs, which will let the IRS garnish your wages, or if you are retired, take your scooter, in payment of your penalty.
What a pitiful flock of sheeple we have become.
Obamacare hasn’t implemented withholding “yet”.
The bank will tell you that the business has to cancel the auto-pay, then they’ll thank you for calling and hang up.
Seriously, what does it matter what the law actually states?
Obama’s been changing it at will and on a whim wherever the political winds are blowing.
A good reason to not give out your banking info. I never liked the idea of it
I do the same thing for all my bill payments.
However, I am also currently getting COBRA coverage (until 8/1) A prerequisite was automatic payment - NO OTHER OPTION. I had to do it..and believe me, that money is pulled at 12:01 on the first of the month.
Right now, I’m getting all of my ‘annual’ checkups done. The big tests were done last year before my layoff date.
I went to my annual physical on the 6th with my favorite doctor. If you think we have it bad, listen to their side for awhile. I told her if she decides to go ‘boutique’ that I want to sign up. She looked at me very seriously and responded “I will keep that in mind.” This pos system we have is going to force doctors out. She doesn’t know if her family will be covered next year. She and her family are covered on her husband’s policy currently. No one knows.
I will have to pick up retiree insurance on 8/1. But if IBM can throw their retirees onto the exchanges, it will only be a matter of time before they all do it.
Yes, first thing I thought of was to cancel her bank account.
If she uses that account for auto-pay of her utility bills, phone, car insurance, etc, etc, she may have been trying to avoid the hassle of switching all of those billings over to a new account.
“...and having to change all the other auto-deductions.”
Exactly. Many of us probably have our accounts set up that way. Makes it very convenient at the end of the month...just tallying up the automatic payments rather than writing checks and mailing them.
It would be a nightmare to cancel and restart those...especially if changing checking accounts and banks at the same time.
Theoretically its easier to cancel one auto-pay than get a new account and get all of her legitimate auto-pay bills (and direct deposits) to point to that new account.
Changing accounts or banks can be a non-trivial task. I could easily see myself investing quite a bit of time to not have to do it, if I could.
Which do you think would be easier, getting the Obamacare to stop the auto deduct from her account or contacting the utility companies?
Next, the car insurance should not be a consideration. She should have that paid up for the whole year to take advantage of the discount offered for doing so.
With the utility bills all that needs to be done is wait for the bill in the mail and then send a check.
Are you sure you are not trying to make this one more difficult than it really is?
Because this one happens to be the Obamacare agency that requires (from what we have been told) a seven hour effort and the objective has still not been reached.
Oh, no you have that way wrong. I've been posting on here without reading since 2000.
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