Am I legally bound to pay my doctor's visit cancellation fee?

I scheduled an appointment by phone with a doctor I was refered to by a service last week because of pain I was experiencing in my left testicle. When I made the appointment I was told there would be a fee if I canceled less than 24 hours before the appointment. Well, the pain got worse and I felt I needed to see someone immediately. I first called the doctor's office and ask them if they could push my appointment forward. They told me they couldn't and that I would have to pay the cancellation fee if I didn't show up the next day. I decided I had to go to urgent care. Now I had never seen this doctor before. I had never signed anything, hadn't given them a credit card number and when I recieved the bill for the fee it even had my name spelled incorrectly. Do they have the legal right to force me to pay this?

If its relevent for the laws involved, I'm located in NY.

By the way, my testicle is fine after taking antibiotics...

I don't think so.. I would tell them to shove off.. They couldn't see you, you needed care.. You asked for it and they denied it.. Call them up and tell them you are going to ask them to pay your urgent care bill because they couldn't take you in when you needed them. That should squash the bill.

Glad that you are all better!

No, I think you have an exceptional issue and the appointment you made is not your responsibility to honor. You have the advantage here, especially if you can prove you went to urgent care and have the records to show it. You should be OK on this one. Let us know the outcome

Also check if you can charge him a you did not keep my wait to them my appointment was scheduled - ex you were there on time and you had to wait an hour for him to see you. I f they want a cancellation fee - you should be able to hold them to the same regard for your time too.

glad Ur OK, tell them to bug off, glad it wasn't any worst. if they busted after u waiting would they pay the hospital bill.??????????