As I walk along..

Some times ago, I was referred by my GP to see a Specialist. Normally the consultation fee charged was higher than that allowed for by Medicare and I was expected to pay the difference. After the consultation and the paper work, the lady at the admin section asked me to pay the difference which I did. I was told that the portion to be paid by Medicare would be sent as a cheque made payable to the doctor, but the cheque would be sent to my house. I then had to bring the cheque to them. The arrangement seemed fine.

Two weeks later, I received the cheque in my mail box. Unfortunately, the cheque was made to my name and not the doctor's name. So I rang the Specialist Centre to enquire what I needed to do next. I was told that I need to contact Medicare and request Medicare to cancel this cheque and reissue a new cheque to the doctor's name. When I rang Medicare, the officer checked and advised me that the admin lady from the Specialist Centre had made a mistake in the submission of the request form. Hence the cheque was issued to my name. I was told that for Medicare to cancel this cheque and reissue a new one to the Doctor's name, I had to write in officially to make the request. The process would take at least a few weeks. I was advised that the easiest way out of this issue was for me to cash up the cheque and take the money to the Doctor.

A few days later, I cashed the cheque and then took the money to the Centre. The Centre opened from 8am to 5 pm. I was there on Friday afternoon at 4.15 pm. I explained the issue to the admin lady and informed her that I wish to pay the money to her. To my surprise, she started to whinge and complained that Medicare was wrong and they have mess up the thing. I said to her that what ever happened, here was the money and I just wished to pay her. To my further surprise, she said that she had just closed the account for the week and she could not accept my payment. Not either cash payment or credit card payment. I have to come back another day at earlier time. I said " Look, I just want to pay you the money." She said " Sorry, we can't help you". I had no choice but to leave. I would have to come back another time just to pay her the money. Or should I not come back at all?

I felt sorry for the doctor. I cannot imagine the admin lady was so bureaucratic and have no concern for the cash flow of the business. If she was to be my employee, I would have sacked her long ago.