topic Re: The HIPAA Letter Process not working for me, need help. in Recovering from Medical Debt

The HIPAA Letter Process not working for me, need help.

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:04:39 GMT

I am having a heck of time getting a $54 PAID medical collection removed from Experian.

I started with Step 1, Step 2, Step 3 Pre-Hippa letter. Been messing with this since January. Because this was paid 2 years ago, I went with Scenario #3 by sending the alternate DV Letter. When I received the green card back from the CA I made a copy and handwrote on stationery with a purple pen, the follow up dispute letter to Experian.

Today I received the response from Experian. It simply says to refer to my credit report for the business name, address and phone number of the source that verified the information. Then goes on to quote the FCRA that says I can add a personal statement blah blah blah.

I'm out of steps on HIPPA. Can someone advise me as to my next move? I can't beleive how much time and $ I have already spent in trying to get this meazly $54 PAID collection removed. Did I mention that it was PAID, lol. Its very aggravating, time consuming and I feel as though someone at Experian is picking on me. I don't know why nothing will work.

Someone please advise.

Re: The HIPAA Letter Process not working for me, need help.

fused — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:32:14 GMT

Welcome to the forums!

Why did you handwrite the follow-up dispute letter? This is only to be done with your intial dispute, the pre-HIPAA medical dispute letter.

Is this collection marked as "verified" on your EX report? Who did you pay two years ago? Has the CA ever given you validation of the debt?

Message Edited by fused on 04-14-2009 02:32 PM

Re: The HIPAA Letter Process not working for me, need help.

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:06:23 GMT

My apologies, I should have had my documents in front of me when I was composing my previous post. Thank you for the welcome.

Please allow me to start over. I am also disputing 3 unpaid medicals and confused them. Those were handwritten.

This is regarding the one paid medical collection. After completing Steps 1 and 2, I sent the Pre-Hippa letter computer printed on orange paper with Italic blue font to Experian. The CA verified.

I then mailed CMRRR the Alternative Med DV Letter to the CA. When I received the green RR back in the mail I mailed the Follow-up Dispute letter to Experian and included a copy of the RR.

Today I receive the response from Experian stating that if I question the results of their investigation then I may want to contact the data furnisher directly and that I can refer to my credit report of the source that verified the information.

Now I'm out of steps. Any suggestions on how to proceed?

Re: The HIPAA Letter Process not working for me, need help.

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:07:37 GMT

Sorry, forgot info.

I paid the doctor directly and it is marked as verified on my credit report. They verified it after the Pre-Hippa letter was sent.

Re: The HIPAA Letter Process not working for me, need help.

fused — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:12:08 GMT

Has the collection agency sent you validation on this paid med collection? These would include documents showing dates of service with the OC, amounts billed, amounts paid or unpaid on the OC letterhead, or some documents that clearly came from the OC and not just some bogus documents produced by the CA to look authentic.

Who did you pay? Is this collection marked as disputed and verified on your EX report?

Re: The HIPAA Letter Process not working for me, need help.

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:26:11 GMT

Date of Experian report is yesterday 4/13. It says this paid medical was verified in Feb. 2009 and remains unchanged. Nothing about my dispute.

I have not heard anything from the CA. That letter was mailed 3/27 and signed for on 3/30.

Re: The HIPAA Letter Process not working for me, need help.

fused — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:28:10 GMT

Wait until 4/30 for the CA's response, not that I think they will respond. If by then, the CA does not send you validation, you should file a complaint against EX with the FTC for EX's failure to properly investigate your disputes and their refusal to delete a collection that hasn't been properly validated. Keep in mind filing complaints with FTC, BBB or a state's AG are not part of the HIPAA letter process, but filing these types of complaints can net good results, like deletions.

Re: The HIPAA Letter Process not working for me, need help.

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:16:41 GMT

Thank you. Its looks as though that is what I am going to have to do. I received an updated report today with the entry still on my report with a note from Experian.

"...We are unable to honor your request. If you believe that an item on your personal credit report is inaccurate or incomplete, please notify us. Be sure to indicate the specific item and explain why you believe the information is inaccurate, for example, incorrect name, etc...."

I thought that is what I did. They obviously want me to jump through hoops as the letter continues by telling me that

"...if you write to us, enclose one copy of a government issued identification card, such as a drivers icense, state ID card, military ID card AND one copy of a utility bill, bank or insurance statement, etc. Be sure to include the following identificiation information: your full name including middle initial (and generation such as JR, SR, II, III) previous addresses for the past two years, Social Security number and date of birth...."

They're jacking me around. I've lived at the same address for nearly 8 years and I enclosed a copy of my drivers license and social security card with my letter.

Is there another letter that I can send?

Re: The HIPAA Letter Process not working for me, need help.

fused — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:27:37 GMT

Wait until 4/30 before doing anything.

Re: The HIPAA Letter Process not working for me, need help.

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:56:40 GMT

Oh boy, I am having one of those days.

Just went to the mailbox. There is a letter from the CA. It is a bright yellow dispute form and the letter states..."you have recently advised us that you dispute the validity of the above reference debt. We have conducted an internal investigation and have found the debt to be accurate. For your records and review..."

They attached a computer printout they printed from some website, not proper validation at all. Just has my name, account number they assigned to me but the kicker is....the bill is for $226 and is owed to some medical clinic. It has nothing to do with the account they are reporting.

Now what? Correct their error and they will probably run and put this $226 unpaid collection on my report or just leave the $54 paid one alone?

Re: The HIPAA Letter Process not working for me, need help.

fused — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:16:58 GMT

I think you should file a complaint against EX with the FTC. Its quite clear EX did not properly reinvestigate your follow dispute and they refused to delete a collection that has not been validated.

Re: The HIPAA Letter Process not working for me, need help.

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 02:42:45 GMT

I woke up late this morning. The gas light came on in my car before I even got out of the driveway. My burger at lunch had entirely too much mayo, bun sliding off and ending up in my lap. I thought the final straw was when a birthday cake I ordered chocolate and Walmart made it Vanilla but the final straw was the letter from Experian.

Complaint has been filed with the FTC. Is there anybody else I can file a complaint with while I'm in the mood?

Re: The HIPAA Letter Process not working for me, need help.

fused — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:11:53 GMT

Yikes, you want to nail everyone, don't you.

Re: The HIPAA Letter Process not working for me, need help.

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:43:47 GMT

You are NOT going to believe this. I logged into my bank account and (I'm in Texas), noticed a charge of $274.04 in Hammond, IN at a Food4Less. While I was on the phone canceling my MC debit card the website updated and it was hit again for $139 even in Lansing, IL. at a Kmart.

Could my luck get any worse? I suppose so...I guess this is where the old saying "at least you have your health" applies. (knocking on wood, no, that's particle board made to look like wood.) Aw-Oh.

I did file a complaint with the FTC and with the BBB and I'll post results when I receive them.

Let me ask though.....there are 4 medical collections on my CR. One for $54 paid, the other 3 are unpaid, over 2 years old and all under $200. Credit scores hover around 600 due to some late house payments last year but that account is improving every month. I'm thinking maybe I should just bury the bad with all new good and increase my scores that way. Any opinions?