“Widespread Overbilling” by Western Dental
In 1997, the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspectors Office conducted raids on two Western Dental clinics. The Los Angeles Times indicated that the feds were searching for evidence of “widespread overbilling” by Western Dental offices throughout California. (Source: Los Angeles Times, June 7, 1997)
Lawsuits Against Western Dental for Collection Harassment
Since then, consumers have filed lawsuits against Western Dental regarding billing disputes and the company’s collection practices.
Below are a few examples of collection abuse cases:
Calling Over 400 times
In, Rusin v. Western Dental Services, Inc., #20CV2220 (S.D. Cal. November 13, 2020), the consumer claimed that Western Dental called his cell phone over 400 times using a pre-recorded voice or automated telephone dialing system, despite being told to stop calling.
The consumer alleged that Western Dental kept contacting him even though his attorney sent a letter to Western Dental requesting to cease calling him and his verbal request that Western Dental stop calling him.
Calling Several Times a Day
In Williamson v. Western Dental Services, Inc., #37-2018-00048352 (Sup. Ct. San Diego, September 25, 2018), the consumer alleges that Western Dental repeatedly called her, averaging several calls per day.
At one point, she answered the call and told Western Dental to stop calling.
Despite her request, it’s alleged that Western Dental continued to call her without her consent.
The consumer also alleges that several of the calls were in Japanese or Spanish, two languages she does not speak.
Calling Up to Three Times a Day
In King v. Western Dental Services, Inc., #BC661485 (Sup. Ct. Los Angeles, May 16, 2017), the consumer alleged that she set up an automated payment plan with Western Dental.
The company was authorized to debit the same amount each month. The consumer claimed that all payments were made as agreed, but regardless of the timeliness and regularity of her payments, she alleged that Western Dental would call her cell phone in a harassing and excessive manner to collect the alleged debt.
The consumer alleged that they would call up to three times per day. A similar allegation was made in Cohen-Saperstein v. Western Dental Services, Inc., #37-2019-00020761 (Sup. Ct. San Diego, April 4, 2019), where the consumer alleged excessive and harassing calls from Western Dental.
Harassing Phone Calls Multiple Times a Day
In Ryan v. Western Dental Services, Inc., #19-cv-04362 (N.D. Cal. July 30, 2019), the consumer claimed that she couldn’t pay a $1,275 balance on her account and began receiving calls to her cell phone from Western Dental.
She answered one of the calls and requested that Western Dental stop calling.
However, the company allegedly continued to place harassing phone calls multiple times a day, despite her request.
Calling 73 times in a Three Month Period
In Govender v. Western Dental Services, Inc., #19-cv-00406 (N.D. Cal. January 23, 2019), the consumer alleged that he initially agreed to pay Western Dental $200 per month but later canceled any contract with the company.
Despite this, it’s alleged that Western Dental called to collect on the disputed debt.
The consumer claimed to have told a Western Dental supervisor to stop calling his cell phone.
However, Western Dental allegedly called his cell phone no less than 73 times in a three-month period using a pre-recorded voice and automated dialing system.
Other Cases to Consider
- Koska v. Western Dental Services Inc., #20CV0556 (S.D. Cal. March 24, 2020): The consumer claimed that Western Dental continued to contact her despite thirteen (13) requests to cease contact made through her attorney.
- Turk v. Western Dental Services, Inc., #18CV2704 (S.D. Cal. November 30, 2018): The consumer claimed that he informed Western Dental about his inability to pay. He alleges that Western Dental made repeated and relentless phone calls to his cell phone using a pre-recorded message or automatic telephone dialing system, despite being told to stop calling.
- Pringle v. Western Dental Services, Inc., #19-cv-02190 (E.D. Cal. October 29, 2019): The consumer claimed that Western Dental made two to four phone calls a day to the consumer’s cellphone using a prerecorded voice or automatic telephone dialing system for over a year, despite being told to stop calling.
- Mack v. Western Dental Services, Inc., #18-cv-00468 (E.D. Cal. March 2, 2018): The consumer claimed that Western Dental kept calling her cellphone using an automatic telephone dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice, despite her request to stop calling.
- Leyva v. Western Dental Services, Inc., #19-cv-04693 (C.D. Cal. May 30, 2019): Despite the consumer’s request to stop calling, its alleged that Western Dental frequently called her cellphone using an automated telephone dialing system. The consumer was unable to pay.
- Caldera v. Western Dental Services Inc., #19-cv-00234(E.D. Cal. February 15, 2019): The consumer claimed that on several occasions, the consumer requested Western Dental to stop calling, but Western Dental allegedly kept calling her daily.