Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  11/26/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I began seeing *** ******** on June 14 for an initial consultation about ****. During this visit, we had an extensive discussion about medication options, and I was billed $208. At my second appointment on July 17, we discussed increasing the dosage and refilling my prescription, which resulted in a charge of $328. Shocked by the cost associated with refilling a prescription, I decided to cancel my next appointment.I later contacted Talkiatry regarding the billing, and they assured me that my insurance would cover the charges. As a result, I rescheduled my September appointment for September 19 to handle my prescription refill. During this visit, I also discussed the billing process and requested to change my pharmacy, which extended the session slightly compared to my previous appointment. However, I was billed an astonishing $550.When I questioned Talkiatry about the charges, they insisted the billing codes were accurate, despite one being labeled as for a "returning client," which my doctor confirmed should not have applied. They also failed to provide a clear explanation for the significant discrepancies in billing, even though the nature of our discussions was consistent across all visits. Their justification was that "therapies" were provided, which I know never occurred.While I understand the need for billing, charging $550 for a prescription refill is excessive, especially for something that should have been on auto-refill. The medication *** ******** prescribed is not my end game because it only helped a little, yet he insisted I stay on it. To continue my treatment, I consulted my general ******* *** prescribed a different medication that has been much more effective. This experience has left me questioning the reliability of online doctor services, and I deeply regret ever trying this method for help.I have not paid this bill yet.

  Customer response

  12/20/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  At this time, I have not been contacted by Talkiatry regarding complaint ID ********.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  **** ********
  

• Initial Complaint

  11/25/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I sought help from this practice for depression and ****. The provider informed me that they did not prescribe stimulant medication for ADHD but that they could prescribe mood stabilizers and antidepressants and provide a referral for ADHD medication. I consented to this treatment plan. I did not receive a referral or a prescription for mood stabilizers or antidepressants. The total cost of my non existent treatment totaled $460. My medical insurance adjusted $194.15 and paid $199.34. They continue to bill me for $66.46. I do not believe that I should have to pay this bill because I received no treatment and I want other patients warned that this practice is unhelpful. I felt psychologically worse after contacting this practice rather than better.

• Initial Complaint

  11/04/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I cancelled an appointment within the appropriate time frame and was notified I was still getting charged. I contacted support 3 times to let them know that I should not have been charged. All three times I was told that the charges would have been taken care of. I then receive information that I have a bill on my account. The charges were from previous appointments that I had already paid on. I contacted customer service again disputing the bills there was not real justification for them. I asked if I could please have the bills removed and I was left hanging.I decided finally after another bill was sent to my email to take care of it and just be done with this terrible company. There was a bill for $55. I paid it, however, I saw a message saying there was a bill in collections. I again contacted support only for them to tell me they can't do anything about the bill in collections. The bill that got sent to collections was from April 2024, I am assuming this was the canceled appointment that never got removed, and the $55 I paid was from February.This makes no sense on the time lines of how something got sent to collections. I want the bill removed from collections and a refund of the $55 I just paid because there is no justification for it.

  Customer response

  11/28/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  At this time, I have not been contacted by Talkiatry regarding complaint ID ********.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***** ******
  

• Initial Complaint

  10/31/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  massively overcharged for an original 40 minute appointment that the provider was late for then spent a lot of time talking about his sneaker collection, a massive scam for the amount charged and the actual service provided

• Initial Complaint

  10/21/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I was a patient through talkiatry for approximately 7 months. I did not have any complaints until suddenly in July without warning talkiatry stopped accepting my insurance leaving me unaware that for my visits in July, August, and September, I would be responsible for 100% of the payment. When I called after receiving nearly a $1,000 bill, I have been repeatedly told that emails were sent telling me they didnt accept my insurance anymore. However, I pulled up the exact email in my email with that date/ time and it stated they were verifying my insurance. I was unaware they didnt accept it. I also explained I got monthly statements through the mail, but nothing in regards to my insurance coverage. They have been unwilling to assist me in this matter when I asked to forward them emails stating my insurance was just being verified. I am now being turned into collections when I have not been able to properly explain that I was not informed of talkiatry not accepting my insurance and cannot speak to anyone anytime I call to try to help me. They keep repeating they sent an email but I did not receive it.

  Customer response

  11/19/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  At this time, I have not been contacted by Talkiatry regarding complaint ID ********. I just wanted to update that I have not heard from talkiatry in regards to my complaint. Please let me know what further action is needed.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ****** *******
  

• Initial Complaint

  10/15/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I was billed $100 for a no show visit to this provider. I paid this bill then called the provider, during which I received a waiving of the $100. Talkiatry told me they would refund me the $100 by 10/11/2024 back to my credit card. I haven't received the refund as of today AND they are billing me $100 now for the old no show visit. I want Talkiatry to remove the charge from my bill and refund the $100 I'm owed back to my credit card as promised.

• Initial Complaint

  09/24/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I signed up for my first appointment with Talkiatry back in December 23. They said they were part of the ******************. I work for a company and our insurance uses the ***************** network though we are under our own name, *******************************. I took Talkiatrys assessment and told them that I am ***************** PPO as that is the network I am using. I gave them my insurance info and booked my first appointment. I have enjoyed working with my provider there, Dr. ***** *****. She helped me find the right med balance in a time I was really struggling with my daily life. Talkiatry has sent me a number of bills, all for $500 a visit. This is not my copay and they have not even made an attempt to submit my bill to my company. I have talked to my insurance and they have told me that if the provider says they accept ********************* then they should accept my insurance. I have tried several times to resolve this with Talkiatry and everytime I have been shut down for different reasons. They have told me 1. I dont have mental health benefits, which I do as I see a therapist regularly and am covered. 2. They have told me I only have dental insurance on two different occasions, and obviously this is not true. 3. Finally a couple weeks ago after several attempts at a time I was really struggling with my mental health they finally told me *************** Assurance is not contracted with them, even though I should be in network. I feel like the billing department does not really know how to process my insurance and are telling me things just so they dont have to do the work. The instructions on the back of my insurance card are clear yet they refuse to submit my bills and keep sending me noticed that I am past due. I wont pay until I know they have made an honest attempt to submit my bills to my insurance which they should be in network with.

• Initial Complaint

  08/20/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Business fraudulently claims to treat conditions on their website and when you see the actual doctor, they claim to not treat the conditions listed in the website, but you are still billed for them providing you no service. After 4 months and hours of time on the phone with their abhorrent customer service department, they continue to send me bills for services that were not rendered. Their physicians are also fraudulently billing for procedures they never performed.

• Initial Complaint

  08/14/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I signed up with Talkiatry as a way that I could receive convenient and affordable online therapy for issues relating to anxiety and depression. I was led to believe that I could have online counseling after having an initial evaluation with a psychiatrist. After having my first appointment randomly cancelled, I was able to make another appointment. I spent 40 minutes with a psychiatrist online as part of their intake for first-time patients and was told that I could have counseling and medication and asked which I preferred. I responded that I was not interested in medication and that I only wanted counseling, and the psychiatrist told me she would write up a referral. After a few days of not hearing anything, I emailed Talkiatry and was told they were looking into things, and then a few days later, I was emailed a list of local counselors in my area to contact. I responded back that I was under the understanding that I could receive online counseling through them and was told that I could only get this if I had agreed to medication. So, now I received a bill that was initially ****** when billed to my insurance and 300 of that was for therapy that I did not receive. I spoke with a representative over the phone and was told that since the psychiatrist has asked me questions about my childhood and my reason for seeking therapy, she added an extra code on top of the intake. They provided me with nothing beyond a diagnosis of "generalized anxiety" and "PTSD" with a list of people to call, but billed my insurance for 700, and I would need to pay ****** of that.

  Customer response

  08/14/2024

  ID #********

  I am responding to your request for a desired outcome which would be for the company to remove the charge of ****** for services not received and remove my balance of ****** as well as reimburse my insurance company for any amount paid toward that fraudulent charge.

   

  *********************;

• Initial Complaint

  08/05/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  The preliminary online assessment is designed as a tool for Talkiatry to help determine whether their services are "right" for you prior to moving forward. I gave all of the information that would've been necessary to determine that they would not be able to provide the only service I was seeking, yet I passed the assessment. I was advised that my medications were accessible through Talkiatry and that I'd be connected with a psychiatrist who would be able to prescribe/manage them, and those things were false. Talkiatry ultimately neglected to inform me of their guaranteed lack of ability to provide what I reported to be seeking in order to ensure I scheduled an appointment. I've now (5 months later) been billed in excess of $400 just for that doctor to tell me that Talkiatry couldn't help **** reached out to the ****************** explaining the situation and they did not address any of the misinformation I was given leading up to the appointment, or the failure of the online assessment to do the only thing it was designed to do. After they asserted it'd be impossible for them to waive/reduce the bill, they also refused to resubmit the claim for a service more in line with what I received. Even having let them know I couldn't afford the bill, they have not offered any assistance or a payment plan. Talkiatry's business practices are predatory, and they deserve to be shut down for misleading/lying to vulnerable people who are seeking mental healthcare in order to line their pockets.

  Customer response

  08/30/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  At this time, I have not been contacted by Talkiatry regarding complaint ID ********.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************
  

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩