Beware of Fill Center USA Albuquerque

[SullivanFarm 0]

I posted this in the fill doctor section too but thought I should post it in NM also...sorry if you got it twice.

I just wanted to share my experience with Fill Center USA with all of you.

They just acquired a new provider in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Southwest Endocrinology). They called me and notified me that there would be a training day and if I were to get a fill done on that day I would get a reduced cost for the fill. I did not make an appointment for the training day because I paid for my band out of pocket and did not want to risk damage to the band by being used for training. But then about a month or so after this training day I called and made an appointment for fill… thinking they had done a few by then and it would be good. They set up everything for me and when I arrived for my appointment, after a 3 hour drive and almost a 1 hour wait to see the doctor, I was notified that they were doing training that day. They had never said anything about it up until this point. They had already charged me full price for my appointment instead of the reduced training price.

Now they have refused to refund any of my money even though they did their training on me (and others) and they are now refusing to cancel my membership with them because they say it is a “lifetime” membership.

For what its worth, I just thought I should share with anyone considering using Fill Center USA for fills and if you were another of the patients in Albuquerque on Saturday March 28th I wanted to let you know that I had made a complaint about what we were charged.

(The doctor himself was very nice and personable so if anyone in Albuquerque needs a fill doctor I would call him directly instead of the Fill Center…and it would probably be cheaper too!)

[poolplyr 0]

Thank you for your posting - I am really glad to see that I am not the only one who has had such a terrible experience dealing with Fill Centers USA with the new Southwest Endocrinologists filling site.

Surgery Date: 12-12-08

I was one who went on the Feb. 28th, 2009, training day, was charged the discounted rate, but they had no clue. I am certain I was not much help either as this was my first fill ever since the surgery. I was to be the first appointment at 9am, and wasn't seen until 10:30am. I actually ended up with bruising on my abdomen from the constant probing by the 3 people there. They finally determined I needed fluoroscopy at the El Camino Imaging Center. That appointment took over a month to get scheduled.

At the cost of $500, I felt that the radiologist doing the fill would do the appropriate job. However, the orders that came over from Southwest Endocrinology that follow a policy dictated by Fill Centers USA stated that the radiologist could only instill 2cc of Fluid into my band, and the radiologist even commented that I needed at least 4cc put in but he could not fill past what the orders were for. I spoke with the lady at the Imaging Center and was told that they would need another fill order from Southwest Endocrinologists. I contacted Southwest Endocrinologists and they told me I had to contact Fill Centers USA. The next morning following the appointment, well within the 72 hour guarantee window, I contacted Fill Centers USA and was told that they do not have a guarantee for "underfilling" just for "overfilling" but I do not feel it right that they get to dictate how much my band is filled for when they aren't doing the procedure. Finally, 3 weeks later, there was another order written to add 1cc to my band. I went to the imaging center again, but they wanted another $500 - they were not going to correct the problem from the original issue and $500 for 1cc just about knocked me on my bottom! As of yesterday, Fill Centers USA informed me that they were not going to resolve my issue.

All in all, I am out of my money spent and didn't get the services that should have been fully provided, but having to go through 3 places, no one is willing to take responsibility and make the services right.

So, I am still without a place to go and get filled as the Imaging Center told me I had to have a doctor's referral as I could not use their services directly. I am SO overdue and underfilled that if anyone knows where I can go to get filled, I am looking for suggestions. I do not wish to use Fill Centers USA again. This whole situation is why I have only lost 30lbs in the 6 months since the surgery and I am afriad that I will just gain weight if I don't act quickly.

Thanks!