topic Re: Confusing Phantom Account.... Help!!! in Rebuilding Your Credit

Confusing Phantom Account.... Help!!!

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2013 00:37:57 GMT

This is showing up on my husband's Equifax report (only this one, not reporting to the other two). He doesn't know what it is so we disputed it with EQ and I guess they verified so it remains on his report:

Medical Billing Association
Date opened: 5/2008
Date reported: 9/2010
Balance: $0

So I have my husband call this morning and try to find out what this is... Medical Billing Association says that they sold the debt ($98) to Transworld. They say that they can't remove it and that if my husband pays Transworld, Transworld will contact Medical Billing Association and the they will get it removed. However, there is no mention of any accounts with Transworld on any of his credit reports.

Should I call and ask if Medical Billing Association will take it back from Transworld and do a PFD? Seems odd to go seek out a CA that isn't reporting and try to pay them.. With my luck they will then decide they want to report and then he will have 2 bad accounts.

Any advice?

Re: Confusing Phantom Account.... Help!!!

DaBears — Wed, 01 May 2013 01:20:53 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
This is showing up on my husband's Equifax report (only this one, not reporting to the other two). He doesn't know what it is so we disputed it with EQ and I guess they verified so it remains on his report:

Medical Billing Association
Date opened: 5/2008
Date reported: 9/2010
Balance: $0

So I have my husband call this morning and try to find out what this is... Medical Billing Association says that they sold the debt ($98) to Transworld. They say that they can't remove it and that if my husband pays Transworld, Transworld will contact Medical Billing Association and the they will get it removed. However, there is no mention of any accounts with Transworld on any of his credit reports.

Should I call and ask if Medical Billing Association will take it back from Transworld and do a PFD? Seems odd to go seek out a CA that isn't reporting and try to pay them.. With my luck they will then decide they want to report and then he will have 2 bad accounts.

Any advice?

Medical billing association has to remove their TL as to they don't have collection authority anymore.

Re: Confusing Phantom Account.... Help!!!

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2013 01:21:45 GMT

Isn't Medical Billing a CA also?

Re: Confusing Phantom Account.... Help!!!

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2013 01:36:53 GMT

Thanks for the responses!! Medical Billing Associates is the OC

Re: Confusing Phantom Account.... Help!!!

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2013 01:58:24 GMT

So, are they saying if you pay the CA they will remove their (OC) TL? If so, I would do it.

Re: Confusing Phantom Account.... Help!!!

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2013 02:34:31 GMT

Yes, but like the other poster mentioned, aren't they no longer the collector of this debt?

I would pay the CA and hope that the OC deletes but this seems fishy to me

Re: Confusing Phantom Account.... Help!!!

DaBears — Wed, 01 May 2013 02:43:28 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Yes, but like the other poster mentioned, aren't they no longer the collector of this debt?

I would pay the CA and hope that the OC deletes but this seems fishy to me

It was worded as I read that they were a collection agency. If they are the OC all they are required to do is update their TL accordingly. If they said they would delete after the CA receives payment I would get that in writing.

Re: Confusing Phantom Account.... Help!!!

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2013 02:45:39 GMT

Yes, I believe that Medical Billing Associates is the OC. However, if I pay the CA (who isn't reporting anywhere right now), can't they decide to report it as a paid collection?

Re: Confusing Phantom Account.... Help!!!

DaBears — Wed, 01 May 2013 02:48:30 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Yes, I believe that Medical Billing Associates is the OC. However, if I pay the CA (who isn't reporting anywhere right now), can't they decide to report it as a paid collection?

I highly doubt it they will report as it would be paid to them and once paid their collection authority is over. The OC will however update their TL to Paid

Re: Confusing Phantom Account.... Help!!!

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2013 02:56:42 GMT

Couldn't I just ask Medical Billing Associates if they will take the debt back and I can pay them? Seeing as how they said they would delete it if it's paid. I want to avoid paying the CA if possible.

Re: Confusing Phantom Account.... Help!!!

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2013 02:57:33 GMT

Couldn't I just ask Medical Billing Associates if they will take the debt back and I can pay them? Seeing as how MBA said they would delete it if it's paid. I want to avoid paying the CA if possible since there is always a chance they could decide to report it.

Re: Confusing Phantom Account.... Help!!!

DaBears — Wed, 01 May 2013 03:01:07 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Couldn't I just ask Medical Billing Associates if they will take the debt back and I can pay them? Seeing as how MBA said they would delete it if it's paid. I want to avoid paying the CA if possible since there is always a chance they could decide to report it.

Once the OC list the bal to $0 they no longer own the debt. They will not be able to accept any payment or pull back the account.

Re: Confusing Phantom Account.... Help!!!

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2013 03:04:11 GMT

Okay, thanks Da Bears!!

So I'm best off to get in writing that the OC will delete once the CA is paid and then pay the CA?

Re: Confusing Phantom Account.... Help!!!

DaBears — Wed, 01 May 2013 03:09:18 GMT

I would.