Dear Editor:

On April 9 you printed a letter about billing disasters at Aspen Valley Hospital. While I don’t have any of the problems Ms. Singer brought out, I was discouraged to learn in the midst of AVH billing chaos, they have no sense of humor.

For years I have received bills in an envelope with a return envelope enclosed. The bills says to pay this amount upon receipt. Guess what – the amount was $0.00. Sometimes I would return the bill and suggest they stop wasting money sending me bills with zeros. I’ll bet it cost $5 to $10 to generate a zero bill and mail it.

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So, what’s a guy like me going to do? Since I believe that “laughter is the best medicine,” I decided to pay one of these stupid zero bills with a check from an old personal checking account that was closed years ago. I enclosed a note requesting a payment receipt as I did not want to be late and cause the AVH to damage what’s left of credit rating.

What did I hear back? Nothing, not even a laugh.

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Richard C. Goodwin

Snowmass Village