Karel van der Molen
Karel is an admitted attorney and a Master Human Resource Practitioner and Registered Mentor with the South African Board for People Practice, having obtained completed various qualifications in law, human resource management and financial services. Read more
Recent Questions
QUESTION
Hello Karel
I resigned from a medical aid and need to repay a certain amount that was over from the savings - no problem there.
I have been paying the outstanding amount at the mutally agreed rated of R100.00 per month, which I have been doing timeously.
Now six months down the road I am suddenly being inundated with sms, emails and telephone calls from a firm of attorneys who say that the account has been handed over and I must now pay my monthly installments directly to them.
Needless to say they are also wanting to increase the monthly payments.
My question is please, am I legally obliged to now pay the attorney and will I be billed for the 12 sms, 4 emails that I receive between the 25th - 30th of each month?
Thanking you
Regards
Charmaine
ANSWER
This is indeed a very unpleasant situation in which you find yourself at this time.
This is not strictly an issue dealt with on the Women24 Careers, but my advice would be that you should first exhaust all the remedies with the medical scheme and the attorneys. I presume that you have forwarded all the correspondence to the attorneys to advise them that you have an arrangement with your former medical aid society whereby you are paying the agreed amount? It is important that they are aware of this situation.
I also think that you should also make contact with the Council for Medical Schemes (http://www.medicalschemes.com/Content.aspx?110) and advise them of the situation and request their assistance to resolve this issue.
I trust that this matter will be quickly brought to a satisfactory conclusion – good luck!