Pissed Off Custy Pays $25 Medical Bill In Pennies and Ends Up With $140 Fine

From HuffPo: Jason Robert West got a lesson in common cents. The 40-year-old Vernal, Utah, man paid a disputed $25 medical bill with 2,500 pennies. But he wound up having to cough up an extra $140 for the surly way he did it, according to reports.

A judge ruled Thursday that West alarmed the Basin Clinic staff and patients enough to merit a disorderly conduct conviction -- and the fine.

According to testimony reported by KSL-TV, West entered the office in May 2011 and verbally abused the receptionist over the bill and caused worry by apologizing in advance for what he was about to do as he reached into a bag. He then dumped the pennies on the desk. They landed with a thud as loud as a gun shot, scattering on the desk and floor.

Perhaps West could have taken a cue from those who settle up in memorable ways, but still manage to maintain their dignity.

In July, Thomas Daigle of Milford, Mass., made the last mortgage payment on his home with 62,000 pennies and didn't throw a hissy.

Earlier this month, a man paid a $137 traffic ticket with 137 dollar bills folded into origami pigs. Even the cop (pig, get it?) who ticketed him appreciated the effort.

But West's theatrics entertained no one the day he spilled the copper coinage. "I can't understand why a reasonable person would do that," Vernal City Justice Court Judge Ray Richards said.

West has 30 days to decide whether to ask for a new trial, the Deseret News wrote.

via www.huffingtonpost.com

 

Comments

[Ryker]

Shame we can't do that stuff in Canada: pennies are only legal tender up to 25 cents, unless they are rolled.

[CashierBtch]

What a way to be a dick. :/

[Hiedi]

Geez, did he have to be an ass about it?

[Skittles]

Yeah paying in pennies is one thing, dumping them all over the place is way over the line.

[Evie]

Ugh. I *hate* patients like that. I've actually had assholes look me in the eye and state, "You'll never see a dime of my money, and if you try to collect it I'll lie and say the doctor malpracticed." You know what I do? If it's under $100, I write it off. Then I officially dismiss the patient from the practice for delinquency. We're the best clinic in the area, and the only one with late hours, so they inevitably come crawling back, begging to be seen. Even wanting to pay their old bill. At which point I tell them they can go wait in the ER, I'm not doing business with cheats.

[photoslave]

My dad once paid a very large bill in all pennies once. But he was civilized about it and put them all in a large tote. The place deserved it, though. It was a collection agency that was trying to double dip. The place called the cops on him, and they got told that if they tried to press charges, THEY would get fined. He was paying in legal tender and didn't break any laws. The dude in the story, he was just an ass.

[Nocturnesthesia]

The judge is right, a REASONABLE person wouldn't do that.

[WMDKitty]

No. Dude paid his bill in legal tender, and it's not illegal to be a giant dick. The judge was waaay out of line on this one.

Or are we going to arrest and charge EVERYONE who has EVER uttered a curse word, now?

[textbook]

It actually is illegal because it wasn't rolled up. However, I would like to hear his side of the story. This post says it was a medical bill, maybe he thought he shouldn't have to pay? Or was so upset about something health-related that he took it out on the hospital? Still unreasonable, but everyone is human

[Michael Chandra]

When you toss a buncha coins all over the place and scare the living bejeesus out of patients, legal tender ain't the issue. Has nothing to do with curse words, WMD, please don't ask like a crusty by twisting the truth.