.: It's difficult to be able to sort out who owes what here. When you start mixing elective surgery (tummy tuck) with required surgery of the replacement and implant, sorting out those responsibilities requires someone on the scene and possibly the ability to negotiate.
The area that I can help you address is talking to someone. Rather than calling every time you receive a bill, send a photocopy of that bill with a letter stating that you have differences of opinion and need further information and must speak to a person rather than a computer, and until such time as those conversations take place, you are putting the bills in contest. The next time you get a bill, photocopy the bill and your original letter. Eventually, someone will contact you.
Don't be intimidated by threats of contacting and ruining your credit. Continue the correspondence until you are contacted. Alternatively, make an appointment with the chief hospital administrator in his/her office.
: I thought it was going to be health-care costs, but it's the oil companies that have me wondering if buying a house is worth it. It was just reported that natural gas will be going up 71 percent and I hear heating oil in the north could be $2.75 a gallon. I just paid $3.52 for a gallon of gas.
I'm a single guy in my mid 40s and earn about $29,000 a year. I have almost $50,000 to put down and excellent credit. I have a company car so my transportation is taken care of. I'm beginning to think renting at $400-$500 a month might be the smarter choice. I think the people who bought houses for investments and paid foolish prices for them could lose.
: I have no quarrel with any of your observations. However, the only question here is are you better off buying or renting? Very often one of the most overlooked bargains in this country right now is the relative modest cost of rental versus buying. Real estate is like any other supply-and-demand product.
The price right now, in part because of supply and part because people feel it's a one-way trip, which is not true. This, coupled with low-cost mortgage money, has fueled a very hot real estate market. Whether it will continue is another matter. One fact is clear, if you're living in the north you're going to pay for heat whether it's directly to a company or indirectly through your rent. The cost for providing that energy is going to rise.
Send your questions to: Bruce Williams, c/o The Post, 125 E. Court St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, or e-mail bruce@brucewilliams.com . Personal replies cannot be provided.
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