topic Re: Daughter's Medical Debt on my CR in Rebuilding Your Credit

Daughter's Medical Debt on my CR

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 17:32:57 GMT

My daughter is a minor and the doctor's office requested both parent's SSNs when we registered her at the MD's office. I am divorced but I took my daughter to the doctor on that visit and my ex's insurance refused to pay a $100 medical charge. Now the CA (Bridgeport Financial) is reporting it on my credit report.

I want to do the HIPAA route but perhaps there is another/faster option I'm unaware of? I'm trying to repair my credit ASAP to apply for a mortgage in the next 2-4 weeks.
Can CAs really come after the parent if the bill is for services rendered to a minor??

Anyway here's information for you:

Is the med collection on your reports? Yes

Is it paid or unpaid? Unpaid

If paid, who did you pay, the OC (original creditor: doctor, dentist, hospital, etc.) or the CA (collection agency)? N/A

If unpaid, do you have the money to pay it off in full? Yes

Do you remember the date(s) of treatment? Not specifically, but I believe it was in 2012

Have you ever disputed the med collection? If yes, when and how? No

If you did dispute the collection, is it currently marked as "disputed and/or verified" on your report(s)? N/A

Have you ever requested debt validation from the CA? If yes, what did they send you and when did you receive it? No

Thanks for your help everyone! I amost called the CA today to offer to PIF in exchange for a PFD. I researched here and realized doing so might waive my privacy rights in HIPAA, so I thought I'd ask for advice. How do you think I should proceed?

Re: Daughter's Medical Debt on my CR

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 17:50:47 GMT

Questions 1 and 2:

1 - Fastest way to get it off is to negotiate a PFD. Often these are hard to get and you may have to go 'up the food chain'. The key is being persistant and having a good reason for the delinquency. PFD for medical bills seems to be much easier than for other bills. Research the collector to find out if they will do PFDs or not.

2 - Yes, the adult bringing a minor in for medical services is fully responsible for the resulting bill.

If your scores are high enough to qualify, lenders are not going to care about a small medical bill. They are mostly concerned with things like unpaid judgments and unpaid utility bills.

Re: Daughter's Medical Debt on my CR

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 18:06:51 GMT

Thanks, Norman. I found contact info for one of the owners of Bridgeport Financial (interestingly enough, he's listed as a "Unit Manager" on the letter they sent me hehe). I have read of a few success stories on this forum from people who successfully got PFDs writing to him so I'll try that now. I just thought perhaps HIPAA was the best way but it seems like you're saying PFD is faster. And fast is good.

(No judgements but I am working on removing an unpaid utility: a $100 PG&E electric bill. Yesterday I googled the VP of Customer Service, called the HQ and the operater transferred me to the VP's assistant. She offered to help get a PFD! She said their team is working on it now. What an amazing experience finding someone willing to help me out.)

Re: Daughter's Medical Debt on my CR

gdale6 — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 18:58:08 GMT

For medical debt the order you would attack them is

1. Call the OC ask them to recall the collector in exchange for full payment

2. Offer the CA the PFD

3. Google the HIPAA Process and contact its creator for help.

Re: Daughter's Medical Debt on my CR

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 19:21:17 GMT

No no pre-HIPAA letter?

Re: Daughter's Medical Debt on my CR

gdale6 — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 19:40:59 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
No no pre-HIPAA letter?

We cannot discuss the HIPAA process on this forum in any way other than to recommend you Google it for medical debt and that you contact its owner.

Re: Daughter's Medical Debt on my CR

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 20:08:05 GMT

As you said you only have a few weeks, and the HIPAA process as I understand it, may take some time.

Re: Daughter's Medical Debt on my CR

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 20:17:33 GMT

Thank you so much. Rebuilding credit AND applying for a first-time mortgage is no easy feat! I appreciate your help, everyone. Off to call the CA and do some tasteful begging...I'll report back.