topic Re: Trying to pay hospital bills! Help! in Rebuilding Your Credit

Trying to pay hospital bills! Help!

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 16:07:20 GMT

Good afternoon! This is my 2nd post already. Everyone is so helpful so I thank you all!

I am trying to take care of my hospital badies. They are from 2015 and reporting each month as not paid. I called the agency on my credit report, they claimed they don't have it anymore and that it was sent back to the hospital. I called the hospital and they said they sent it to the collection agency, the same agency that said they don't have it anymore. The agency is the one reporting on the credit, but when I asked them, they said the hospital is the one reporting? I am confused! Both are only $50 payments, i guess I missed the bill when it came or I would have paid them. I am trying to pay for delete but seems I can't figure out who is lying and who is telling the truth. Apparently someone doesn't want my $100 payment for these dang deletes. Those are the only 2 negs on my EQ report and everytime someone pulls EQ they deny me because of the badies :/ What do I do? I tried disputing but was later added that they are accurate! HELP!

Re: Trying to pay hospital bills! Help!

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 17:34:41 GMT

Hey!

First of all I will write a letter to the collection agency instead of calling them. Wait for their reply. If they mention that they don't own the debt anymore, you can dispute it with the CRAs. Send them a copy of the letter showing that the account on the file is no longer owned by this collection agency and ask for its removal. If CRAs doesn't remove it after the dispute, send them a letter asking to disclose their verification process and all the documents related to verification. You can find such letter on google.

Also you can ask the collection agency to remove it since they are saying they no longer have the account. Tell them if they don't have the account anymore, they can not report it and will have to remove it.

Re: Trying to pay hospital bills! Help!

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 17:43:25 GMT

Thanks! I really appreciate it! I wasn't patient on my lunch break and ended up calling Equifax and disputing it and explained to the rep I spoke with what happen. Do I still need to write a letter to the collection agency. I was just about to call Experian this when I get off work and dispute with them too. I can right a letter instead. And move forward with disputing afterwards.

Re: Trying to pay hospital bills! Help!

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 17:47:19 GMT

You can still call and file a dispute. Mention what CA told you. At the same time, I would recommend writing a letter to the CA. In case, if the outcome of the dispute is not in your favor, you will have a proof in your hand.

Re: Trying to pay hospital bills! Help!

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 18:07:56 GMT

Great! Thanks a ton! My scores are floating around 650 on all agencies and on EQ and EX I have those 2 hospital bills reporting so I am sure those would go up if they weren't. You are super cool! I do have another question, not sure if you can help or not.

I have 1 collection bill AT&T for $84. It came from when I moved and I thought it was cancelled and paid up because I told them I was moving and to cancel. Fast forward years years later now paying attention to my credit reports and trying to be better, I figured I would improve it. It is in collections for $84. I was told I can pay it off and get a letter of paid in full from them. I asked about pay for delete like I see people say they do here but they said they don't do that but they can have it showed paid in full. This is on my Experian report and is from $2014. I also have one from 2016 for Sprint for $327 because Verizon didn't honor the "Switch from Sprint and we will pay blah blah blah". Sprint is on TU and EX.

So all in all 1 Negative with TU which is Sprint
2 Negatives with EQ which is the hospital (now in dispute)
4 Negative with EX which is a combo of the 3 listed above and ATT.

Do paying these have a positive effect. I was told if I can get some paid and removed is good but if they are paid and not removed it doesn't really help or hurt. So I don't want to pay $500 in bills if it won't help.

Re: Trying to pay hospital bills! Help!

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 18:55:06 GMT

Since you already tried PFD and they are refusing, I think you should just pay it off in full. These unpaid accounts updates regularly and hurts your score. Once you pay it off, the account will stay but they will stop updating it monthly, which will help your score IMO. They will close the account and mark it as "paid in full".

You said the account is from 2014, so it will remain on your credit report until 2021. I am not sure about the SOL in your state, but I don't believe they will sue you for such a small amount.

Lastly, if you pay it off in full, it looks good to future lenders. They will see that the account has been paid in full instead of "settled account" or "unpaid account". So, if you have $500, I recommend to just pay it off in full If you don't, you can always settle for less (40-45% in most cases).

Good luck!

Re: Trying to pay hospital bills! Help!

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 19:16:45 GMT

Awesome! Thanks a ton! I will try to get the ATT taken care of. The sprint one might just settle and hospitals are disputed. You are awesome!

Re: Trying to pay hospital bills! Help!

gdale6 — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 00:13:00 GMT

For unpaid medical debt that is reporting on your CR:

1. Call the OC and see if insurance can be billed, if not then
2. see if you qualify for Charity Care, if not then
3. ask that they recall the collection in exchange for full payment
4. Send the reporting CA a PFD offer
5. Google the HIPAA Process and contact its creator for help