Last year, I pulled my and my husband's credit reports to find there was one derogatory remark on his report. I called the collections agency and asked for an explanation. They claimed that it was for a supposed late cancellation of a doctor's appointment for $100 (a doctor I had gone to once for a consultation). I asked about it being removed from his report, because it was erroneous and they said it couldn't be removed, of course. I asked at that point that they send me written verification. No such letter came. Within the month, it was also then reported on my credit report. I disputed it at that time with all the credit bureaus and the collection was validated.
In January, I sent a certified return receipt letter offering payment in full for deletion of the debt without taking on any blame. I received no response. Two months later, I called to follow up on the letter and after a long hold was told that 'I could pay, but it couldn't be removed, because it is ligitimate". I ended the conversation by saying that this will not be paid unless it is removed because it is not ligitimate. I sent a certified return receipt MOV letter to all 3 credit bureaus in parallel with online disputes. Transunion removed the item entirely, almost immediately, from both of our credit reports. However, I've just gotten notice from both Experian and Equifax, after a month, that it remains the same and has even been 'updated'. I haven't received any documents offering verification of the debt, just the same remark with the name and address of the collection agency and the medical provider.
My question is, where do I go from here? I am seriously considered approaching the doctor's office, but I'm not sure it would help because it seems like they no longer own the debt. Is there something I can send the credit reporting agencies to force them to actually check into this?
Thanks so much.
