topic Re: How DARE they!!!! Need your advice on this... in Rebuilding Your Credit

How DARE they!!!! Need your advice on this...

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:37:35 GMT

I received a bill for $180 for my share of medical bills from an ER visit 3 months ago. I paid 1/3 when I received it and wrote a note explaining that I would pay $60 a month for the next 3 months. I've kept my word and was waiting for the final statement to pay the final 3rd as I had agreed to pay. But, no bill. INSTEAD! I received a notice from HARRIS & HARRIS LTD that Clarian Health Partners has placed me in collections for the final amount. Even though I had been paying as agreed.

1. Do I call the OC and ask them why they sent me to collections when I had been paying as agreed?

2. Do I send a PFD to the OC?

3. Pay it and then go through the HIPAA process?

I'd kind of like to act on this tomorrow since I received it in today's mail. I'll admit, that in the past Harris & Harris do not keep their collections on CRs...at least in my experience.

I just don't want a ding on my report.

Re: How DARE they!!!! Need your advice on this...

LIGHTNIN — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:16:30 GMT

You can contact the OC and see if they own the account and will still accept payment for a PFD.
If they do, ask them to have the account recalled from the CA.

If it's sold to the CA, send a DV letter to the CA.

And if the CA validates, the send them a PFD.

Re: How DARE they!!!! Need your advice on this...

IOBA — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:21:18 GMT

If it were me, I would pay the OC as planned/agreed.

AFTER the payment has cleared the OC, DV the collection agency.

********

I have had that happen to me before. The OC still accepts payment, every time.

Re: How DARE they!!!! Need your advice on this...

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:34:46 GMT

I went ahead and paid the final amount online directly to the OC. I will DV the CA asap. Kills me that this one was a "paid as agreed".

Re: How DARE they!!!! Need your advice on this...

IOBA — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:40:50 GMT

I had one medical facility sorta do that to me. They basically gave me grief when I called in monthly to make a payment that I could afford. They told me to call collections and pay it. I told them I made the debt with them and I would pay them, not a third party. When I called in to make my last payment, they told me to call the CA. I said read the notes on my account. (They did -- it had been duly noted every month for more than a year.) Then I said your CA has never even contacted me - just take my payment.

The other horrible, horrible one was a hospital. I called them as soon as I knew I would have a copay. The insurance had not even settled at that point. The hospital sent it to collections IMMEDIATELY, but still accept payment. Every CA gets a DV letter. That ends that. Until the next CA letter comes. The hospital still accepts monthly payments. Go figure!

The bottom line is I always pay the OC. I always pay my debt. It may not be as fast as they want for medical, but I DO pay it!

PS - since your debt is paid off, you could do something else. You can call the OC, outraged that you received a collection letter, and ask them what that is all about?? They would probably back pedal and say they will pull it back since there is not really anything to collect.

Re: How DARE they!!!! Need your advice on this...

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:23:22 GMT

I actually had thought about doing that! It really ruffled my feathers to get that in the mail!!!! And...this was a hospital. At least it is now paid off in full and I don't have to worry about it.