HELP!!!!!! New Collections Notice

[Anonymous]

I just received a notice from a Collection Agency dated Jan. 11th with a list of 8 accounts all being owed to a medical facility that I am not sure if I owe. The total amount due is $2316!!!! I have not received any notices of this debt from the medical facility. How do I dispute it? What type of letter do I send? Should I call them to inquire about the charges? I cannot afford to even pay half of this debt, nor can I afford to have another collection acct on my credit!!! I have been working so hard to fix my credit and then this comes out of the blue.

I also had a collections account show on my CR just last month from the same Collections Agency in the amount of $20 that I never received notice of.  I have been working too hard to have let that small amount show on my CR. I sent a PFD letter for that. How do I deal with this Collections Agency? I feel like I am being attacked from out of no where!!  PLEASE HELP!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Start by sending them a DV letter ASAP!!

[Anonymous]

Do you know of any sample DV letters that would work for this situation? The collection amount has not been reported to my CR yet - and I don't want it to be!!!! Any advice?? Thanks!

[Junejer]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Do you know of any sample DV letters that would work for this situation? The collection amount has not been reported to my CR yet - and I don't want it to be!!!! Any advice?? Thanks!

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How long ago was this alleged debt? What's your state's SOL? DV if beyond SOL.

[Anonymous]

*CA thinkin'* I got myself a sucker.

When you PFD them for the $20 they knew they had a squirmer...and someone they could bleed for money.

DV each account - separately.  No more offers to pay until you know what they have in paperwork.

I really am not trying to be rude or mean - they are picking up on the panic from the PFD and using it for all they can.  Stop panicing and start fighting back!

[Anonymous]

That's just it! I don't know how old the debt is. There are no dates of service for any of the accounts. Where do I find out the SOL for my state? I'm in Iowa(in case anyone knows off hand) What is considered acceptable Verification?

Lady_Scarlett is right.....I am totally panicked! I'm sure as hell not going down without a fight!!!! I want great credit one day!!!!!! I am so over being embarassed of my credit score.

[Anonymous]

Check with the servicee provider.  Trust me the alleged hospital still has you in their records...forever.  Ask what the dates of service were.  Advise them that you have just received collection notifications and that you have never been billed.  Hospitals, at least in my experience have been very easy to work with when they are wrong.  Went through this myself.

[Anonymous]

On friday, I received an alert from score watch letting me know that the CA I mentioned previously in this thread reported 18 new collection accounts. What I find strange is that my score did not change in the alert. I DV'd the CA using the sample letter that was provided and received the RR over 2 weeks ago. What should I do? Should I expect another alert today showing my score dropping? I am so mad! Since November, I have increased my score over 100 points. My husband and I want to purchase a house this summer and now I don't think we will be able to. No one will give me a loan with 18 brand new collections. HELP PLEASE!!!

[llecs]

18 from the same CA?! Insane.

Did the collections pop on after or before they signed for it? Maybe I missed it, but was the dunning letter for one account or for 18? By law, they must send 18 individual dunning letters.

A few folks might strongly disagree with me, but the FDCPA clearly states that you have 30 days to respond to a dunning letter. After 30 days, all bets are off (assuming you got a letter to begin with). I also agree with others that placing a CA acct on your CR constitutes collection activity. Therefore, adding a CA after they signed for the DV but before they responded with a DV response is illegal. IMO.

Who was that CA again?

[Anonymous]

It was Automated Accounts Mgmt SE. This orginally started with them sending me 1 bill for $2316 in January of this year. I immediately DV'd them with a simple statement of "Please send me verification of this debt." They replied with an itemized statement listing charges from multiple dates, but that was it. I then followed with a DV letter that I probably should have sent in the first place asking for full verification per a sample letter I got from these forums. I received the RR with a date of delivery of 03/14/08. The alert says that the 18 new collection accounts were reported on 03/01/08. Why am I just now receiving an alert on 03/21/08? This makes no sense. Should I expect the score hit to follow. The alert I received informing of the new collection accounts says my score is unchanged. UGH!!!!!! I am so frustrated!