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Post by pattyraindrops on Nov 6, 2017 22:31:33 GMT
When my husband was working in France last he ended up in 2 different hospitals, saw a couple of doctors and bought some Rx. Some of them he was able to pay in full there. Nothing major. Just a kidney stone.
For one of them we just received a bill in the mail. It asks for us to mail a check. My understanding was that checks were totally abnormal for most of Europe. I would much rather call and pay by credit card than have that check going international.
Obviously the only way to know is to call them, but since they will be closed at this particular moment and I will have to wait till they will be open during their time - is it likely they won't take a credit card over the phone?
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:07:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2017 22:33:05 GMT
Go to the hr dept and see how to deal with it.
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scrappinmama
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,672
Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Nov 6, 2017 22:34:21 GMT
I agree with megmc. HR should be able to advice him.
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Post by pattyraindrops on Nov 6, 2017 22:35:43 GMT
I know what I need to do with it - pay the bill. Then I have special forms I need to fill out for the insurance etc. so that we can get reimbursed from the insurance. That part is all covered. I'm just curious if French doctors usually take credit cards or is it likely I will need to send in a check.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:07:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2017 22:50:29 GMT
I would go to the hr to see if they can send your payment or your bank to see if they can send a transfer.
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Post by busy on Nov 6, 2017 22:53:44 GMT
They'll probably take your credit card. But be sure you check with your card issuer first for any foreign exchange fees. Some cards have none and some have pretty high ones.
I wouldn't do a wire transfer - once the money is gone, it's gone. If something crazy goes wrong, it's much easier to deal with a credit card than a wire.
You may also want to call your card issuer's customer service line to inform them that an international card-not-present charge will be coming through. It's likely it will get flagged for fraud otherwise.
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Post by pattyraindrops on Nov 7, 2017 1:03:24 GMT
They'll probably take your credit card. But be sure you check with your card issuer first for any foreign exchange fees. Some cards have none and some have pretty high ones. I wouldn't do a wire transfer - once the money is gone, it's gone. If something crazy goes wrong, it's much easier to deal with a credit card than a wire. You may also want to call your card issuer's customer service line to inform them that an international card-not-present charge will be coming through. It's likely it will get flagged for fraud otherwise. Thanks. I'm not worried about the fees or fraud. He goes often enough that we have made sure we have a card that has no foreign transatin fees and a couple of times I've forgotten this last year to let them know he was going and things went through. He was able to pay several of the bills while there so medical things are a pattern as well now, but I do think it would be wise to let them know just in case. Thanks! |
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Post by pattyraindrops on Nov 7, 2017 1:06:13 GMT
I would go to the hr to see if they can send your payment or your bank to see if they can send a transfer. I'm actually really hoping they will take a credit card so I can get the flier miles for it. We should be reimbursed for most of it. That and I just don't like sending checks in the mail anyway. |
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Post by busy on Nov 7, 2017 1:11:37 GMT
They'll probably take your credit card. But be sure you check with your card issuer first for any foreign exchange fees. Some cards have none and some have pretty high ones. I wouldn't do a wire transfer - once the money is gone, it's gone. If something crazy goes wrong, it's much easier to deal with a credit card than a wire. You may also want to call your card issuer's customer service line to inform them that an international card-not-present charge will be coming through. It's likely it will get flagged for fraud otherwise. Thanks. I'm not worried about the fees or fraud. He goes often enough that we have made sure we have a card that has no foreign transatin fees and a couple of times I've forgotten this last year to let them know he was going and things went through. He was able to pay several of the bills while there so medical things are a pattern as well now, but I do think it would be wise to let them know just in case. Thanks! Card-not-present charges are a common fraud indicator and regardless of how often he travels there, that is still fairly likely to get flagged and not go through without advance warning. Especially if it’s a larger dollar amount. |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:07:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 1:12:24 GMT
Most of Europe do still take cheques in payment of bills although stores have mostly stopped taking them in the UK but that is mainly because card transactions have become so common to use and far more convenient both for the customer and the retailer. I would ring them and ask if they take card payments over the phone and if not send them a cheque as requested.
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Post by Really Red on Nov 7, 2017 1:14:45 GMT
It just depends. It is pretty rare in France that people pay medical bills with credit cards. It doesn't mean they don't do it, it's just not the norm, so unfortunately, you have to call the office. I'm not quite sure how you'd pay with a check anyway. They don't take those for sure!
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:07:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 2:17:19 GMT
I would go to the hr to see if they can send your payment or your bank to see if they can send a transfer. I'm actually really hoping they will take a credit card so I can get the flier miles for it. We should be reimbursed for most of it. That and I just don't like sending checks in the mail anyway. Deeeeamn I like the way you think. I buy everything on Amex. For the miles. |
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Post by pattyraindrops on Nov 7, 2017 4:05:46 GMT
Thanks. I'm not worried about the fees or fraud. He goes often enough that we have made sure we have a card that has no foreign transatin fees and a couple of times I've forgotten this last year to let them know he was going and things went through. He was able to pay several of the bills while there so medical things are a pattern as well now, but I do think it would be wise to let them know just in case. Thanks! Card-not-present charges are a common fraud indicator and regardless of how often he travels there, that is still fairly likely to get flagged and not go through without advance warning. Especially if it’s a larger dollar amount. Aw. Ok. Didn't think of that. Makes sense. Fortunately, the bills are not large. I was expecting US bills. These are nothing. I will be sure to call. Unfortunately. ... I'm actually really hoping they will take a credit card so I can get the flier miles for it. We should be reimbursed for most of it. That and I just don't like sending checks in the mail anyway. Deeeeamn I like the way you think. I buy everything on Amex. For the miles. I was quite excited to pay them all up front for the miles, but since the bills are so low it isn't quite as exciting. Lol |
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Post by 950nancy on Nov 7, 2017 4:27:29 GMT
I'm actually really hoping they will take a credit card so I can get the flier miles for it. We should be reimbursed for most of it. That and I just don't like sending checks in the mail anyway. Deeeeamn I like the way you think. I buy everything on Amex. For the miles. I am always ticked every time the college tuition bills show up and I have to pay with a check or pay a couple of hundred more for using my credit card. I don't think they should be able to charge more for using a credit card. (I mean I realize they can, but everyone else loves my credit card.) I am missing out on THOUSANDS of dollars of points. |
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tanya2
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1604
Posts: 4,486 
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Post by tanya2 on Nov 7, 2017 4:42:50 GMT
only one way to find out for sure - call them to see if they'll take it!!
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Post by pattyraindrops on Nov 7, 2017 4:57:11 GMT
Deeeeamn I like the way you think. I buy everything on Amex. For the miles. I am always ticked every time the college tuition bills show up and I have to pay with a check or pay a couple of hundred more for using my credit card. I don't think they should be able to charge more for using a credit card. (I mean I realize they can, but everyone else loves my credit card.) I am missing out on THOUSANDS of dollars of points. I'm not ticked because I realize it costs them money, but I am disappointed! DD has a scholarship so a good part of hers is paid, but it would be really nice to use a CC, especially since DH is also getting his masters. It was hard the fall of 2016. DD had her normal tuition. Instead of one 3 credit class DH took two 4 credit classes. Some of this is reimbursed through his work if he gets a good grade so if I could have paid no fees it would have been great. On top of that my van was totalled and the insurance gave us a good amount on it. I had planned to see if any of the dealerships would let me pay for some or all of it on my credit, but then I got referred to a guy who does auctions. We got such a good deal that it didn't make sense to try to do it with a card at a dealer. So we saved money by not using a card, but it about killed me! |
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purplebee
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,955
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Post by purplebee on Nov 7, 2017 11:01:45 GMT
Good luck in using your CC hope it works out.
Am I the only one who thought, uh oh, those crazy French teenagers are at it again??!!
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:07:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 11:27:56 GMT
Call your credit card company and let them know prior to making the payment. An international payment like this will very likely trigger a red flag and be held up if you don’t let them know in advance.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:07:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 13:17:08 GMT
I would call your credit card company and see if they have a "check" you can use with the French hospital. It meets all the needs:
- French doctor gets paid by check.
- You get to pay by credit card.
- You get the reward points.
However, please heed the advice of a previous poster - double check what the exchange rates may be because they can be pricey.
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