More questions... - medical collections

[Maygen13]

Okay so I decided to call my OC on my medical collections to see if there was anything I could do with them instead of dealing with the CA. I tell them the amt's and dates of service and nothing is matching up with them. I have called two separate departments of the hospital and they have no records of the amts that are on my credit report; furthermore, the one amt they have for me in no way shape or form matches the other two and the collection companies don't match. What do I do with these? Should I dispute them with the CRA and see what happens or sent them DV letters? They are within the SOL but no one can verify where it came from...

[Trish]

You could actually do both if you want to........OR you can just dispute them with the CRA first and see what happens.

You dispute medical accounts this way:

Dear CRA,
My name is xxxxx xxxxxx , my SS # is xxx xx xxxx.
I am sending this dispute certified mail # xxxx to make sure you receive it.
I have no knowledge or records of account # xxxxx from xxxxxx on my report # xxxxx.
Please advise me as to the name and address of the medical provider, the date and type of service,and to whom the service was provided, as any account I might have had would be obsolete.
If you can obtain this information, I also would need the name of the person providing this data, and the manner in which it was provided in order that I may pursue additional legal remedies.

Very truly yours,
xxxxxx

Make sure you HAND ADDRESS the envelope, use personalized stationery and purple or teal font, ( preferably italic).
DO NOT send it RR -WAIT FOR THE FULL RESPONSE FROM THE CRA BEFORE CONTINUING WITH THE HIPAA LETTER PROCESS


If you decide to DV the CA, use this letter:

LETTER TO COLLECTION AGENCY

Use this IN ITS ENTIRETY. DO NOT call them .
Use this letter and the included form to make the agency verify that the debt is actually yours and owed by you. Keep a copy for your files and send the letter registered mail return receipt requested.

Your Name

123 Your Street Address

Your City, ST 01234

ABC Collections

123 NotOnYourLife Ave

Chicago, IL

Date: _________ CRRR#____________

Re: Acct # XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is being sent to you in response to your attached letter.
(If you have nothing in writing use the phrase "recent communication)

This is not a refusal to pay, but a notice that your claim is disputed.

Under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), I have the right to request validation of the debt you say I owe you. I am requesting proof that I am indeed the party you are asking to pay this debt, and there is some contractual obligation which is binding on me to pay this debt.

Your legal staff will agree that compliance with this request is required under the laws of (State name) and Federal Statutes.

In addition to the questionnaire below, please attach copies of:

Agreement with your client that grants you the authority to collect on this alleged debt,or proof of acquisition by purchase or assignment.

Agreement that bears the signature of the alleged debtor wherein he or she agreed to pay the creditor.

Please also be advised that this letter is not only a formal dispute, but a request that you cease and desist any and all collection activities.

Your receipt of this letter will be considered as having granted consent to the taping of any and all telephone calls to me at my home or business by you or your agents or assigns

I require compliance with the terms and conditions of this letter within 30 days. or a complete withdrawal, in writing, of any claim.

In the event of noncompliance, I reserve the right to file charges and/or complaints with appropriate County, State & Federal authorities ,the BBB and State Bar associations for violations of the FDCPA, FCRA, and Federal and State statutes on fraudulent extortion .

I also hereby reserve my right to take private civil action against you to recover damages.

Sincerely,

Your Name(PRINT OR TYPE DO NOT SIGN)

-------------------------------------------

Debt Validation Form
Questionnaire to be returned :
Account #: ____________________
Original Creditor's Name: _________________________________
Name of Debtor: ______________________________________
Address of Debtor: ___________________________________
Balance of Account: __________________________________
Date you acquired this debt: _________________________
This Debt was: assigned ___purchased___
Please indicated any credit bureaus to which you have reported on this account:
Experian ______
Equifax ______
TransUnion _____


*This is a special purpose letter from Why Chat's credit confusion. Specifically to be used for medical accts.

[Maygen13]

Thank you SO MUCH!! It just seems like there are so many things that aren't adding up on my reports :/

[Trish]

You're welcome. That's what I'm here for.

[CreditCrisis]

my husband has some medical accounts that are reporting by CMRE financial services, an outside medical collections agency. they never sent us anything about this debt. just added it to his credit

anything suggestions?

:D

[Trish]

You can try contacting the OC if their name is listed on his CR. See if you can find out what the bill is for and why you were never contacted/sent a bill. Then if it is a legitimate bill, you can ask them to recall the debt and work out payments with them.

That's what I would do first before disputing............but you can just dispute it with the medical dispute letter instead if you want to.

[CreditCrisis]

Originally Posted by Trish

You can try contacting the OC if their name is listed on his CR. See if you can find out what the bill is for and why you were never contacted/sent a bill. Then if it is a legitimate bill, you can ask them to recall the debt and work out payments with them.

That's what I would do first before disputing............but you can just dispute it with the medical dispute letter instead if you want to.

When you say "recall the debt" does that mean i can ask them to take it off of my report and just work the payments out that way?

[jjgross]

Originally Posted by CreditCrisis

When you say "recall the debt" does that mean i can ask them to take it off of my report and just work the payments out that way?

It would take it back from the ca,but not off your credit report now if is a bill that slipped through the cracks you might be able to have them remove it.In these cases its usually the provider who closes the billing before this could be added.With a little prodding you can have them remove it

[Trish]

Originally Posted by CreditCrisis

When you say "recall the debt" does that mean i can ask them to take it off of my report and just work the payments out that way?

Yes...like jj said..
If the debt has only been assigned and not sold, then they can pull the account back from the CA. Then the CA has NO right to report it since it is no longer their account. It won't come off on it's own though.....you will have to dispute it off.