topic Re: Collection Woes in Rebuilding Your Credit

Collection Woes

DDPearson — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:06:41 GMT

I have been on the road of credit cleanup for three years. In all of my credit woes, I've never had anything go to collections on my credit. Around December 2007, I went to the emergency room. I had a $200 bill that was sent to a collection agency around April 2008. I was debating the payment with the insurance company and when I realized it was a losing battle, I paid the bill in July 08. The last week in August it was submitted as a collection on my credit report and my Equifax score dropped 20 pts. When I spoke with the billing collection agency stating I'd paid it before it went to my credit report, they agreed it was a mistake and to remove it from my credit. However, at reporting time they only changed the status to paid. I called, they said they needed to ensure the client received their funds and they would remove it within a week. After two weeks, I called and ended up on the phone with an extremely rude man who said, "It's on your credit and it will be for 7 years. Deal with it".

I called back, explained the situation to someone else who agreed to escalate it to her boss to "see what they could do". I was told about a policy not to remove anything and "so sorry".

Is there anything I can do to get this thing off my report. I paid it before it went to collections with the credit bureaus as far as any documentation that I'd received. I admit to being at a loss as to how it got so far with a collection agency so fast. Is anyone familiar with this collection 'fast track?' Do you know of any steps I can take?

Thanks

Debbie

Message Edited by DDPearson on 10-29-2008 01:06 PM

Re: Collection Woes

Anonymous — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:34:11 GMT

Look up the HIPPA process.

Re: Collection Woes

llecs — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:13:13 GMT

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/fico/board/message?board.id=rebuildingcredit&thread.id=27537

Re: Collection Woes

DDPearson — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:15:53 GMT

Thanks for respondnig so quickly. I'm a bit confused as the intro sait I would be. That first letter that it says to write basically says that I have no knowledge of the collection. Can I send that as I paid it, showing that I had such knowledge or is this just a step to get the ball rolling?

Re: Collection Woes

Veee — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:58:44 GMT

Its just a step ... paid or unpaid, yours or not yours ~ you have to do the first step of the hippa process with all medical.

Re: Collection Woes

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 02:48:32 GMT

My DW had a medical collection that was sent to collections...which was never supposed to be...she called and called....and the status was then updated to paid....but she faxed a simple letter to the CRAs...stating...."the company agreed to delete, it was a mistake on their part and the account should have never been reported"...and it was removed...