topic Re: HIPAA questions in Recovering from Medical Debt

HIPAA questions

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:35:20 GMT

Hello. I have 2 questions:

1. I did the first Opt Out process online. For the OPT-OUT ALL CREDITORS process, do I really need to send that letter to EVERY account that I am in good standing with?

2. For the Pre-HIPPA letters, I accidently sent them typed and got an auto validation. Can I resend them again hand written on colored paper or should I just start following the scenarios 1, 2 or 3?

Thank you

Re: HIPAA questions

fused — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:43:49 GMT

Welcome to the forums!

1.) Its highly recommended you opt-out with all of your creditors you're in good standing with. You really want to limit how much of your personal information can be shared with third-parties.

2.) Do not send any new letters. When did the CRAs recieve your pre-HIPAA letters? Has the CA sent you validation of the debt? Is this med collection paid or unpaid?

Re: HIPAA questions

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:05:53 GMT

Thanks! It is GREAT to be here!....sorry for the delay of my response. I have been working all day. I am a school teacher. :-)

1.) Its highly recommended you opt-out with all of your creditors you're in good standing with. You really want to limit how much of your personal information can be shared with third-parties.

Does this include everything like car loans? Every account in good standing....correct?

2.) Do not send any new letters. When did the CRAs recieve your pre-HIPAA letters?

I am guessing about a week ago. TransUnion and Equifax have sent me responses. Experian has not.

TransUnion just gave me my creditor names, addresses, and phone numbers for them. Is that a validation from TransUnion?

Equifax says, "We have reviewed your concerns and our conclusions are: Please be specific with your concerns by listing the account names, numbers, and the nature of the dispute."

Can I resend the pre-HIPAA letter again?

Has the CA sent you validation of the debt? Is this med collection paid or unpaid

I have not DV'ed the CA yet because I thought I was following the HIPAA process. They are unpaid medical debts. Both under $100. I just want them to be deleted the right way.

Thank you soooo much for your advice!!

Message Edited by Mariachidude on 03-24-2009 05:05 PM

Re: HIPAA questions

fused — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:35:57 GMT

Yes, opt-out with all creditors you are in good stabding with

On your credit reports, are these med collections marked as disputed by the consumer and/or verified.

When the CRAs receive your disputes, the CA is supposed to sent you validation of the debt.

Re: HIPAA questions

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:22:19 GMT

On your credit reports, are these med collections marked as disputed by the consumer and/or verified.

Not on the ones I have right now. About two weeks old. Should I buy a whole new set?

When the CRAs receive your disputes, the CA is supposed to sent you validation of the debt.

And if they don't send me validation, what then?

And what do I do about Equifax. Equifax says, "We have reviewed your concerns and our conclusions are: Please be specific with your concerns by listing the account names, numbers, and the nature of the dispute." Resend the pre-HIPAA letter again?

Also, I still have not heard from Experian should I keep waiting?

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!!

Re: HIPAA questions

fused — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:14:51 GMT

Pull your reports directly from the CRAs or annualcreditreport, reports from myfico are not helpful when you need to know something like this.

As for EQ's response, this is first time I have seen a response like this. Lets just see if the dispute/verification notation is reporting on all three reports. Then, we'll go from there.

As for the CA not sending you validation, again we need to know if the CRAs are doing their job. When CRAs receive a dispute, the CA is "supposed" to sent you validation of the debt. A lot times the CA never bothers to send anything.

Re: HIPAA questions

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:22:39 GMT

I will buy them right now....I will get back to you. Thanks....you guys rock!!

Re: HIPAA questions

fused — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:23:25 GMT

Roger!

Re: HIPAA questions

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:01:14 GMT

Ok....I was able to only get my Experian report. They other two would not let me buy them online for some reason. Is it because of the "dispute" from the pre-HIPAA letter?

Also, I have some questions on my Experian report:

CA: ALLIED INTERSTATE INC

Original Creditor: DIRECTV

Date Opened: 11/2004

Reported Since: 12/2004
Date of Status: 12/2004
Last Reported: 12/2004

Status Details: This account is scheduled to continue on record until Apr 2009.

Does this mean it will fall off in April 2009?

CA: FINANCIAL CONTROL SVC
This item is currently being investigated.
Original Creditor: RADIOLOGY IMAGING OF SOUTH
Status: Collection account. $84 past due as of Jan 2004.

Status Details: This account is scheduled to continue on record until Dec 2009.

Will this fall off in December?

CA: NCO-MEDCLR
This item is currently being investigated.
Original Creditor: ACS PRIMARY CARE PHYS SW
Status: Collection account. $325 past due as of Feb 2009

Status Details: This account is scheduled to continue on record until Dec 2009.

Will this also fall off in December?

As far as the HIPAA process, should I assume that Equifax and TransUnion validated and continue with the next steps? Thanks again for your wisdom Fused!

Re: HIPAA questions

fused — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:10:23 GMT

Wow, these collections are old. Do you know your two FICO scores (EQ and TU)?

Re: HIPAA questions

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:22:53 GMT

TransUnion from 3-8-09 is 650

Equifax on Score Watch is 591

Last Experian was 627

I was STUPID and let First Premier Bank slip and accrued some late charges earlier this year. That will not happen again!!! Only baddies I have are these two small medical debts and the DirecTV debt. Will they fall off this year?

Also, I have a short credit history because all my bad accounts were old and fell off. We are trying to by a house soon in about 8 months. What do you suggest? Can I get longer age of accounts by piggy backing on my wife's longer credit history as a AU? Does that not work anymore?

Should I continue the HIPAA process on these 2 medical debts? I can easily afford to PFD them?

Thanks Fused. Sorry to ask so many questions. Just so excited to receive your great advice

Re: HIPAA questions

fused — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:33:10 GMT

Since these med collections are so old, I wouldn't play with them. There must be something else hurting your scores? Do you have lates reporting from earlier this year by first premier? If so, how severe? Do you have high balances on CCs?

AUs still help scores. Tell me about the AU account: CL, reporting balance, any lates and when was the account opened?

Message Edited by fused on 03-24-2009 05:33 PM

Re: HIPAA questions

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:44:33 GMT

Well, on the First Premier I was out of town a couple of times and got 2 30 day lates and 2 60 day lates in Oct 2007 and Feb 2008. No one to blame but myself. I can only look to the future. I have the card sice May 2007. I only charge $30 max to keep it moving. This is the only CC I have. I do not even bother to GW them because I read they do not budge. They offered me a 2nd card though. Think they will drop the lates if I get the 2nd card??

Also, I have an auto loan on auto pay that gets paid early each month. I have an installment loan on an expensive vacuum cleaner (don't ask) that is auto deducted too....it is gets reported too. My credit history as of right now is 2 years old. No past due accounts. I only have these 3 old collections. DirecTV and 2 medical accounts.

So let me get this VERY clear.....these accounts WILL fall off this year and I should just forget about HIPAA process??

Re: HIPAA questions

fused — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:57:53 GMT

This is my gut feeling based on my experiences. Here is what's hurting your FICOs:

- your lates are recent

- short history

- too few positive accounts in relation to your baddies

Your scores are quite low even though these collections are old. They will fall off of your reports by the end of the year. I would leave them alone.

Re: HIPAA questions

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:05:59 GMT

Ok...Thanks Fused. I REALLY appreciate all of your advice. I guess I will stick it out and let them fall off later this year. Hopefully my scores will heal with time.

Thanks!!

Re: HIPAA questions

fused — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:13:55 GMT

No problem! Good Luck!