Medical bills: making people crazy since forever!

I knew I had two CT scans to pay off from last month. I had received the billing for the first, just today I received the billing for the second. I wanted to set up a payment plan to take care of what I owed (since no, I don't have $876.76 lying around). They gave two customer service phone#s on the bills, a local call and an 800#. They stressed that you could reach a customer service rep at these #s between the hours of 7am and 8pm. I started trying to call before 7pm.

It's a highly-detailed automated phone system. Up front, they tell you about the hours for reaching a rep. Then you have to dance through giving your account#, followed by your date of birth. Then there are other options.

None of which appear to include actually being able to contact those elusive customer service reps.

I then went online, set up my account there, they offered a "payment plan" that was really high, and gave you the option to call their customer service #s to set up a plan different from what was on the screen. The same #s I had already tried.

They did give an e-mail address, so I have e-mailed them to ask how I'm supposed to talk to someone when the automated service won't give me that option. The automated reply to my e-mail claims I will hear from them within two business days. Can't wait to see what options they give me! < / sarcasm >