Naked Day Holdback! :( :(

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jess214
Posts: 82
Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:21 am
Location: Hong Kong

Naked Day Holdback! :( :(

#1 Post by jess214 »

At my most recent visit, my ortho said that by the next appointment (which was supposed to be the beginning of October) my braces would be ready to come off! YAY!

.. except I still owe them $16,000 HKD (approx. $2502 USD), and until that's paid, my braces aren't going anywhere. POOP.

The nurses probably hate me by now, since I go in for adjustments without having anything to pay, but I honestly wish I could do something about it. When I first got braces, my mom and I made an agreement that I'd pay for it "first" and she would pay me back. But considering I only teach part-time for a few hours a week and that I don't ask the parents for living/shopping/entertainment/travel expenses, the fact that I've already managed to pay $10,000 out of my own pocket is quite a feat. And needless to say, my parents now owe me even more money.

Well.. un-brace day is here, and my braces are still hooking onto the inside of my mouth and cutting it when I fall on my face doing yoga arm balances. What do I do? :(

I've thought about explaining my situation to my dentist, but don't really want to embarass my mom since he's sort of a distant family friend. And I've also considered loaning from my credit card company but that's really the last resort.

I guess I could always fly to ever-so-cheap Thailand and get them illegally removed.. :roll:
braced w/ ceramic brackets & wire ligs - 28th Nov, 06
debanded! + Essix retainers - 5th Nov, 08

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TumbleDryLow
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#2 Post by TumbleDryLow »

I wouldn't go to Thailand to get them taken off. At least in the states you usually maintain a relationship with your ortho for a year after your braces are off to make sure everything is staying in alignment/to make tweeks to your retainer. You really don't want to ruin the relationship with your doctor. At this point I wouldn't concern myself with embarrassing anyone and be straight up about the money situation with the billing person at your orthos office. Honestly, I would probably find myself a low interest rate credit card and have the orthos office automatically bill the card some prearranged amount once a month until the balance is paid off. I'd live frugally and pay the credit card balance in full each month. This situation should show good faith to the office that you really will pay off the balance, and should provide you with a way to afford the payment. Good luck.
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jess214
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Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:21 am
Location: Hong Kong

#3 Post by jess214 »

By the way, I was totally kidding about the Thailand comment, hence the emoticon. I guess I should've been more clear..

TumbleDryLow - I might do something similar. I already have a low interest rate credit card so I might just withdraw the $16,000 HKD from it and pay it in one go. The thing about my ortho's office is that they don't accept ATM cards OR credit cards, or I would've gone with that from the start. Paying the balance off would be a pain as well, especially since I'm now juggling two jobs, one being a no-pay internship. BAH!
braced w/ ceramic brackets & wire ligs - 28th Nov, 06
debanded! + Essix retainers - 5th Nov, 08

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TumbleDryLow
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#4 Post by TumbleDryLow »

By the way, I was totally kidding about the Thailand comment, hence the emoticon. I guess I should've been more clear..
Ha! Message boards are tricky that way. Would your parents be willing to put the balance on their credit card?
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jess214
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Location: Hong Kong

#5 Post by jess214 »

That's the thing. I'm the only one in the family with a credit card as I got it with a student plan. And while my mom works (dad's retired) she's also the one paying rent and bills, groceries, pretty much every essential living expense.. so when I get things that are personal AND fall under family expenses at the same time, ie. my own computer or BRACES ahem, I'll pay for it first and she'll promise to pay me back.. when she can. Which explains why I don't ask my parents for money.

GAH This is frustrating :(
braced w/ ceramic brackets & wire ligs - 28th Nov, 06
debanded! + Essix retainers - 5th Nov, 08

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TumbleDryLow
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#6 Post by TumbleDryLow »

Yes, I agree, frustrating. Puts a damper on getting your braces off which should be an exciting time. I know it's a drag to be in debt, but I still would go with the credit card option and hopefully your mom will be able to help you with some or part of the payments.
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Gennel
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#7 Post by Gennel »

Awww I would be very bummed out also and I can't compare what I went through. I thought I was ready to be debanded two times but I was finally ready this month!

Well to my surprise I got a call from the ortho's office saying that since Ihad a balance that I would have to pay it in full by debanding date! Icalculated and it $580 USD. Not much to some people but I dont have that money right now. I put over $3,000 USD down payment at first because I had the money.Then they would withdraw an automatic payment from my checking account each month.It's something a little embaressing to have to talk about the lack of money. I found that if you are totally honest and upfront that they will try to work something out.My ortho decided to continue to withdraw $75 monthly until it's paid off.

Is there anyway that they could withdraw money from your bank account every month on a certain date?This way they don't have to expect you to send a payment. I also told my ortho's office jokingly " You have my checking account info, I would have to cancel about 18 + accounts that also withdraw payments every month. Plus close my checking account and reopen a new one and then call every freaking company again to give them my new checking account info...
They called me the next day to tell me that the ortho said my braces were coming off as scheduled and they would continue to withdraw the payments.
You mentioned the last resort would be charging it on your card? I know you probably pay interest but imagine wearing braces for God knows how many more months because you can't pay off the account? :(
I would talk with your ortho & your parents. If that has no positive outcome then charge it on your card. You will be thrilled with your new super star smile and continue to pay your card. Or keep the braces on and be miserable and worry about how to pay it all off?

Sorry for the super long post but this got my attention and I feel so bad because I owed money at debanding date even though it wasn't that much I still worried if they would be willing to compromise with me :(


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SilentReader
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Joined: Wed Nov 05, 2008 12:35 pm
Location: Hong Kong

#8 Post by SilentReader »

Didn't think I'd see someone from Hong Kong as well on these boards.
My ortho doesn't accept credit card either, I have to pull out HKD$1000 each time I visit which is rather annoying. It would be much easier if he'd take plastic.

How much does your treatment cost?
I got braced with In-Ovation and they cost HKD$320,000 I think. I already got discounted as well...
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Gennel
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#9 Post by Gennel »

My treatment was $5,500


Gennel
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adrienne
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#10 Post by adrienne »

jess214, SilentReader: I'm from HK too.. weird how your ortho's don't accept credit card. $320,000?! I hope you mean $32,000! Cause if its really that much, that's just crazy. Mine was about $48,000 haha. My mom's paying for me though :) (still a teen)
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RPE for one month: 45 turns
quad-helix, lingual arch
ceramic braces for 18 months

braces off!
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jess214
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Location: Hong Kong

#11 Post by jess214 »

HK brace-buddies: woah and I thought I was paying a lot. I was quoted $26,000 HKD for ceramic braces (which I'm finally done with, woohoo!) but I had to pay for it all by myself - hello, tutoring/teaching jobs - so I guess it just FELT a lot more expensive than it really is. I was given a discount tho, since my dentist/ortho is a distant family friend. where/who are your orthos?

adrienne, I vaguely remember talking to you about orthodontic choices in Argyle Center when you first joined.. or was that someone else?
braced w/ ceramic brackets & wire ligs - 28th Nov, 06
debanded! + Essix retainers - 5th Nov, 08

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jess214
Posts: 82
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Location: Hong Kong

#12 Post by jess214 »

by the way, I finally resolved my issue by taking out $13,000 HKD from my credit card so my limit is pretty much maxed out, meaning I can't use it for online shopping/anything else, until I start paying my monthly installments. Still owe $3000 but they were super nice and took my braces off for me anyway as long as I pay it within the next month. :) YAY!
braced w/ ceramic brackets & wire ligs - 28th Nov, 06
debanded! + Essix retainers - 5th Nov, 08

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adrienne
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#13 Post by adrienne »

yep thats me.
I chose to go with my dentist's recommendation in the One Grand Tower building next to Langham Place.

Anyway, I saw your pictures.. no longer with braces!! Congrats! 8)
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;ADRIENNE
*
RPE for one month: 45 turns
quad-helix, lingual arch
ceramic braces for 18 months

braces off!
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SilentReader
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Nov 05, 2008 12:35 pm
Location: Hong Kong

#14 Post by SilentReader »

adrienne wrote:jess214, SilentReader: I'm from HK too.. weird how your ortho's don't accept credit card. $320,000?! I hope you mean $32,000! Cause if its really that much, that's just crazy. Mine was about $48,000 haha. My mom's paying for me though :) (still a teen)
ahh whoops my bad, you're right; I meant 32,000

That includes the In-ovation braces and essix retainers.
My mom's paying for the whole thing as well.

My ortho has two offices, one at Central and the other at Sino Center in Mong Kok
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