Isabel Paniagua comes to the appointment with a mask covering her mouth. After she hides her lips puckered, and the absence of teeth and molars, in which only the looming four screws on the upper gum and the other four in the bottom of a few implants, unfinished. iDental we pulled out all the pieces. Isabel, the security guard of 57 years, is one of the victims of the alleged scam of the dental clinics iDental, which left thousands of people with treatment half-finished, teeth shattered, or prosthesis broken, after taking the closure of the last 14 June. The case is investigated in the National court.
To the serious physical problems that dragged Elizabeth from months ago only feeds on porridge, and suffers from pains in the jaw, add up the pressures that receives “almost daily”, the financial institution that granted the credit 5.650 euros for his treatment. The financial transaction is facilitated iDental like many other patients. When the centers closed, Isabel stopped to pay the fees of 153 euros per month, as he was advised legally. On June 19 sent a letter to Evo Finance asking it to overturn the funding destined “exclusively for the payment of such treatment” that had not been concluded.
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Detained the managers of iDental by trying to mount another macroestafa communities speak of more than 400,000 potential affected in the alleged scam of iDental
The 28 of August we reported from the National Association of Credit Financial Establishments (Asnef), which manages databases (lists of arrears) delinquencies of businesses and individuals, that Evo had requested “the high in your file”. “Don’t stop sending me emails”. In the last, of the 21st of November, the company Cobralia stating: “By the express instructions of our client Evo Finance, has filed a lawsuit against you” by default. Sent the request as a “last management out of court to avoid damages and expenses involved in the judicial process”.
The case, in the National Audience
Mode of action : The clinical iDental offered oral treatments low costque appealed to people with low economic resources. One of the operations consisted in removing all the teeth and place multiple implants that served as support to the prosthesis. The company provided loans to customers with financial institutions. They claimed that the actual cost of the treatment was up to 20,000 euro, which fell to 20% because they had grants.
Closing clinics : on June 14, the company closed all of its clinics, which had been instituted in 11 communities. Left the patients with complicated treatments without end, with important consequences that many still crawl.
The case arrives to the National court : In July of 2018, the judge José de la Mata decided to take on the investigation for the alleged fraud of the clinics iDental by “the extraordinary amount of the cause”, the existence of thousands or tens of thousands of losers,” distributed by all Spain, and the existence of a complex corporate structure.
Protests against Health : The affected marched in July to the ministry to claim the involvement of the Government. Requested the recovery of their clinical records, free legal advice and the repair of the damage.
Attempt to replicate the network : on 10 October, the Unit of Economic Crime and Fiscal (UDEF) of the National Police arrested ten people connected with the scam of iDental, accused of attempting to orchestrate another network to repeat the macroestafa. Among those arrested was Luis Sans, who was ceo of the clinics.
The case of Isabel is repeated in other affected. It is estimated that there were 400,000 in total. With the attitude of some of the financial entities, the Ministry of Health sent out this week a circular to the 11 communities in which there were clinical of iDental. Warning them of the pressures and threats to the patients, something that violates the law, because the billing is improper. Rubén Sánchez, spokesman for the consumer association Facua reports that complaints have been filed in the Agency of Protection of Data against Maksibet the entities that treat these people deadbeats.
Pilar Pericas, a nurse for 48 years, never set foot on a clinic iDental, but pays for the treatment of his brother Javier, who committed suicide on the 26th of last December. Suffered from schizophrenia, but was treated and with his pension of 800 euros was decided to arrange the mouth in iDental. When the clinic of Valencia closed stayed with the treatment medium. He continued to pay the credit of 3,800 euros, although “not even he had been given false teeth and could not eat.”
“I pressed. Do not chalk his death exclusively to it, but he always said that he had very bad luck,” says his sister. Pilar continues to pay 106 euros a month. Stopped to pay five months. “I called every day at all hours, including weekends, and I had to pay 700 euros, with interest”, he explains.
Debt of others
The Banco Sabadell holds that this debt is outside the closure of iDental, because the credit is asked for directly to your entity. “Your sister assumed the debt and iDental we certified that the treatment had been carried out,” he says. The Sabadell has 5.405 customers affected by iDental. Of them, to 1,440 cases have been resolved with agreement and other 805 are in the process of solution. The rest is pending information to analyze the claim. “Our intention is to negotiate. Financial institutions are also losers; it is a problem for all of us” indicate.
The retired Jesus Martinez, murcia 66 years, also pursued him. Your treatment cost 3.900 euros which funded for three years and were payable to 1400. You left your teeth shattered, and the prosthesis is broken. “I’ve had to go to a new dentist to have something to eat,” he says indignantly. Stopped paying and now they call daily. “Send Me mobile messages and letters threatening that the interest rates go up and that I’m going to put you on a list of deadbeats.”
Mercedes Andres, 58 years old, continues to receive calls and messages every day despite the fact that her clinic, Zaragoza, closed in June. Went to iDental, thanks to “a campaign of television, very compelling.” We funded 76% of the treatment, which stayed at € 3,500, with monthly fees of up to 87 euros, which paid half of the loan. “I suspended the payments in April. I asked that I return the last two invoices, and then began the pressure. I even included in the list of defaulters,” he admits.
EVO Finance ensures to have a specific protocol for patients of iDental. Months ago activated a channel of communication with those affected and has been placed at their disposal so that they can cancel or continue their treatments at other clinics, indicate. In this period the entity has been temporarily suspended, the receipts associated with these loans. “At the time that the patients have been brought back to your situation, the loans to be reactivated in conditions of normality and will be subject to practice recovery always.”
Antonio Montero, president of the College of Dentists of Madrid, says that what is happening is “regrettable”, but warns that users should read the small print before you sign. “In some cases the financial load all the responsibility to the patient and wash their hands if the clinic does not meet”.
“does Not have the right to require the payment of the credits”
The law firm of José Antonio González, lawyer specialized in consumer law, argues that financial firms are acting “outside the law”, since “not entitled” to demand that users keep paying. “The law of consumer credit, says that the contracts are subject are linked to the treatment. If this is unfinished or has not been done should be null”, clarifies. “Should be suspended until that is resolved the claims court and have the duty to return the money collected from the treatments were not completed,” he says. Remember that “many charge non-contributory pension and can not afford a legal advice and scare them.”
His firm represents nearly 300 affected in the macroproceso open in the Audiencia Nacional against iDental for crimes of fraud, money laundering, the rise of property, personal injury, against the public health, misappropriation, fraudulent administration and falsehood documentary.
