Offering to settle it for $30-50 may be the best course of action but given his unethical history, I'd get the account balance paid in full letter.
I confess I don't know too much about the credit industry but my feeling on this is if you ever get a mark on your record, you could write a "letter of explanation" to potential lenders and they wouldn't hold it against you.
If lenders only did business with people with unblemished credit records, they wouldn't do business at all. This is America after all. If you otherwise have good credit and this was a dispute, I know I wouldn't hold it against you.
You may have a small claims case against him but again, I confess I don't know what uncivil action you could charge him with.
Again, if you really want to "hurt him", I'd report the activity to dental board. File a complaint - you can do it onlline. I know my board has regulations on charges and fees written right in my practice acts. Chiropractors years back where advertising free exams and then the pt. would come in and their insurance would get hit. So, they drafted regs against it.
I can tell you - no professional wants to go up against the board, whether they have a case or not.
I would send this letter:
"Dear Dr. Dentist:
I have received repeated requests for demand of payment for $350.00 for a missed appt. This was not disclosed prior to making the appointment and is way out of line for usual and customary for a missed appointment regardless.
If you do not cease and desist in sending me bills, I will write a complaint to the local dental board taking the matter up with them.
My position will be when I go in front of them is that if you as the board think the charges are valid, I will now charge my next dentist $50 for every 10 minutes I wait for him.
What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
I will also contact the local papers for coverage on this as you are making a spectacle of yourself.
Go ahead. . .call my bluff.
Sincerely,
LivingAlmostLarge"
It needs polish but you get the idea.
PS: whoops. . .I can see you did report it to the dental board. I think they have to respond to the complaint but boards generally only meet 1x/quarter so just because they are slow doesn't mean they just threw the complaint out. Most boards are under the Dept of Consumer Affairs. If they don't respond soon, go above their head. That's why states have a Dept. of Consumer Affairs.
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