topic Re: PFD? in Rebuilding Your Credit

PFD?

exoromeo — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:25:33 GMT

Ok- been reading and lurking on here for a while. First time posting though. Thought maybe you fine people could help me here...

Went into the hospital March 2007 for a couple of days. Paid all bills, except for one for $288 I find out.

OC filed too late with insurance, so insurance rejected claim. Got the bill saying as such in August 2007. I THOUGHT I took care of this, but apparently it slipped thru the cracks.

Pulled my credit reports the other day via True Credit and find this on there (only on TransUnion):

Creditor Name: XXXXXX (local lawyer's office name)
Account No.: 4087****
Original Creditor: MED1 02
Responsibility: Individual
Condition: Derogatory
Original Balance: $288
Balance: $0
Date Opened: 11/26/2007
Date Reported: 03/06/2008

[TransUnion] Election of remedy
[Experian]
[Equifax]

I called the original creditor. I offered to pay in full. They said it's been sold to collections. I have no problem paying this right now. So- would a PFD work in this case (call or write...so long as I get something on their letterhead agreeing to delete the tradeline if paid in full)?? I've read the Credit 101 stuff on here; just wondering if PFDing a lawyer's office is good/bad/ugly...

Scott

Message Edited by exoromeo on 03-14-2008 08:25 AM

Re: PFD?

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:33:51 GMT

exoromeo wrote:
Ok- been reading and lurking on here for a while. First time posting though. Thought maybe you fine people could help me here...

Went into the hospital March 2007 for a couple of days. Paid all bills, except for one for $288 I find out.

OC filed too late with insurance, so insurance rejected claim. Got the bill saying as such in August 2007. I THOUGHT I took care of this, but apparently it slipped thru the cracks.

Pulled my credit reports the other day via True Credit and find this on there (only on TransUnion):

Creditor Name: XXXXXX (local lawyer's office name)
Account No.: 4087****
Original Creditor: MED1 02
Responsibility: Individual
Condition: Derogatory
Original Balance: $288
Balance: $0
Date Opened: 11/26/2007
Date Reported: 03/06/2008

[TransUnion] Election of remedy
[Experian]
[Equifax]

I called the original creditor. I offered to pay in full. They said it's been sold to collections. I have no problem paying this right now. So- would a PFD work in this case (call or write...so long as I get something on their letterhead agreeing to delete the tradeline if paid in full)?? I've read the Credit 101 stuff on here; just wondering if PFDing a lawyer's office is good/bad/ugly...

Scott

Message Edited by exoromeo on 03-14-2008 08:25 AM

Is it already paid?

Re: PFD?

exoromeo — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:36:46 GMT

I saw that earlier as well. Nope. Not that Im aware of. I completely forgot about it until I contacted the OC. Havent contacted the CA/lawyer's office yet.

Re: PFD?

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 19:26:10 GMT

exoromeo wrote:
Ok- been reading and lurking on here for a while. First time posting though. Thought maybe you fine people could help me here...

Went into the hospital March 2007 for a couple of days. Paid all bills, except for one for $288 I find out.

OC filed too late with insurance, so insurance rejected claim. Got the bill saying as such in August 2007. I THOUGHT I took care of this, but apparently it slipped thru the cracks.

Pulled my credit reports the other day via True Credit and find this on there (only on TransUnion):

Creditor Name: XXXXXX (local lawyer's office name)
Account No.: 4087****
Original Creditor: MED1 02
Responsibility: Individual
Condition: Derogatory
Original Balance: $288
Balance: $0
Date Opened: 11/26/2007
Date Reported: 03/06/2008

[TransUnion] Election of remedy
[Experian]
[Equifax]

I called the original creditor. I offered to pay in full. They said it's been sold to collections. I have no problem paying this right now. So- would a PFD work in this case (call or write...so long as I get something on their letterhead agreeing to delete the tradeline if paid in full)?? I've read the Credit 101 stuff on here; just wondering if PFDing a lawyer's office is good/bad/ugly...

Scott

Message Edited by exoromeo on 03-14-2008 08:25 AM

Since it has been sold you must deal with the attorney.......do not be surprised if this lawyer is just a CA.

Send them a DV and wait for an answer (within 30 days) CMRRR

do not talk to them everything in writting!!! after you hear from them send a PFD and make sure that they accept it wording matters!!

I do not know that much about med bill not filled wait ti hear from someone like LADY_SCARLET to offer info.

Message Edited by HappyDays on 03-14-2008 12:20 PM

Message Edited by HappyDays on 03-14-2008 12:26 PM

Re: PFD?

exoromeo — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:29:57 GMT

Thanks HD. I''ll see what Lady Scarlet has to say about it as well...

Re: PFD?

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:34:46 GMT

Can you pay this if necessary? if 'yes' =

I am assuming it is ONLY a collection account and not a judgement so DV the Creditor,

Should this have been paid by insurance (you will know once you get the validation). If it is 'accurate' and should have been coverd by insurance then a call to the insurance company is on order as to why it wasn't paid -- if that fails (and you can't get it covered) then a PFD to the CA/lawyer who now owns the debt. Because it was sold the OC can't intervene anymore - they gave up their rights.

Re: PFD?

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:44:07 GMT

Does anyone know where the HIPPA laws come into play here? For example in a DV what is the ideal wording to extract what information they were given that might have violated HIPPA laws?

Something like:

1) What treatment was alledged to be provided in association with this debt.

2) What paperwork was sumbitted by original creditor to an insurance company for reimbursement. Include all paperwork of the filed claim and reason and the response from the insurance provider.

Message Edited by JimmyMagno on 03-15-2008 06:44 AM

Re: PFD?

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 14:01:03 GMT

'technically' because you are requesting the info - they can release it to the CA to be forwarded to you. MOST med OCs will release as little as possible to fulfill the CA's requirements. SOme release verything (then there 'might' be HIPAA violations.

Mine sent my 'intake sheet' -which had why I was being treated - but it was the only document with my signature on it. - Bad on thier part that they aren't separate.

Re: PFD?

exoromeo — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:28:06 GMT

Thanks Lady_Scarlet.

Yeppers- I can pay it if necessary, no problem at all. AFAIK, its only a collection, no judgement that Im aware of.

Ill give the insurance company a call once I get a response to the DV. Only thing Ive heard as to why it wasnt paid by insurance is the OC submitted it too late.

I'll follow your advice, DV first, call to insurance, then PFD and see what happens.

Re: PFD?

exoromeo — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:38:53 GMT

Ok. DV'd the CA. Got nothing back, other than saying "this is an attempt to collect a debt" type thing basically.

Sent PFD to them about 3 weeks ago. Havent heard anything.

Im thinking of maybe calling the OC and seeing for sure if they truly did sell the debt off to the collection agency. Maybe the lady I talked to the first time was confused or didnt understand what I was asking. And if they still own it, perhaps I can PFD with the OC on this. Scott

Message Edited by exoromeo on 04-15-2008 01:38 PM

Re: PFD?

rebuilding — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 01:55:17 GMT

I would recommend trying a Hipaa letter. You can find out more info by doing a web search for the letter.

I know several people here have referenced it and I just started the process myself.

GL

Re: PFD?

exoromeo — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:32:42 GMT

Latest update...

Got home from work last night and in my mailbox I found something from the CA. Basically a bill from the OC showing balance due, etc. Also showing "w/o to collections".....this mean it was sold by chance? Or can I still contact the OC?

And....logged into True Credit. Updated TransUnion report. The collection on there for this, is no longer showing "Balance $0". Its showing "Balance $288" AND the "Date Reported" has been changed/rolled-back to 3/2007 (which is odd because that's when the original services for the medical bill were rendered)

Scott

Re: PFD?

exoromeo — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:12:17 GMT

And...the latest update. No response to a second DV to the CA. And no response to my PFD either.

Checked my TU credit report again, and balance is once again showing $0.

Also, the letter I got from the CA (original response to first DV) said make check payable to the OC (not sure that means anything, just thought I would mention it)

So- Im not entirely certain what the next step should be. Any ideas?

Scott

Message Edited by exoromeo on 04-29-2008 01:12 PM

Re: PFD?

exoromeo — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:55:38 GMT

And today's update...

Talked to the insurance company last night (finally). They said if the OC will refile the claim they will pay it/accept it. I immediately called the OC and informed them of this. Going to follow up with them in a few days...

So- after that, Im hoping it doesnt take too much time/trouble to get it off my CR.

Scott

Re: PFD?

exoromeo — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:29:59 GMT

And the latest update .... OC refiled with insurance. Insurance should pay the bill.

Now- how do I get the CA to remove this from my report (since once insurance pays its technically not in collections anymore)

Scott

Re: PFD?

exoromeo — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:00:47 GMT

And final update. Claim was paid by insurance (even though the OC filed over a year late). OC sent me a receipt showing $0 balance and paid by insurance. They are contacting the CA to have this removed.