ARstrat Collection Agency - Medical

[Anonymous]

Hello Forum - Has anyone had any experience working with this collection agency - ARstrat? I have this on my CR and is 1 of 2 collections left on my report. Not much on the internet about them.

It is for a medical bill from 2014 for $1300. I was going to call in to negotiate a PFD but wanted to see if anyone had any past dealings beforehand. Being a fairly recent collection, for a sizeable amount and still within the SOL, I would hate to approach it the wrong way without a chance for PFD and get taken to court in the process of trying to hold out for what I want. Was thinking about sending a letter, but wanted to resolve sooner than later. 

The last 2 medical collections I settled were done by phone, went to the local office, paid, and picked up a deletion letter.  This collector is based in Houston, wont be that simple. Thanks myFICO.

[gdale6]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Hello Forum - Has anyone had any experience working with this collection agency - ARstrat? I have this on my CR and is 1 of 2 collections left on my report. Not much on the internet about them.

It is for a medical bill from 2014 for $1300. I was going to call in to negotiate a PFD but wanted to see if anyone had any past dealings beforehand. Being a fairly recent collection, for a sizeable amount and still within the SOL, I would hate to approach it the wrong way without a chance for PFD and get taken to court in the process of trying to hold out for what I want. Was thinking about sending a letter, but wanted to resolve sooner than later. 

The last 2 medical collections I settled were done by phone, went to the local office, paid, and picked up a deletion letter.  This collector is based in Houston, wont be that simple. Thanks myFICO.

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I would attack this with these steps.

For unpaid medical debt that is reporting on your CR:

1. Call the OC and ask that they recall the collection in exchange for full payment
2. Send the reporting CA a PFD offer
3. Google the HIPAA Process and contact its creator for help

[Anonymous]

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@gdale6 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Hello Forum - Has anyone had any experience working with this collection agency - ARstrat? I have this on my CR and is 1 of 2 collections left on my report. Not much on the internet about them.

It is for a medical bill from 2014 for $1300. I was going to call in to negotiate a PFD but wanted to see if anyone had any past dealings beforehand. Being a fairly recent collection, for a sizeable amount and still within the SOL, I would hate to approach it the wrong way without a chance for PFD and get taken to court in the process of trying to hold out for what I want. Was thinking about sending a letter, but wanted to resolve sooner than later. 

The last 2 medical collections I settled were done by phone, went to the local office, paid, and picked up a deletion letter.  This collector is based in Houston, wont be that simple. Thanks myFICO.

---

I would attack this with these steps.

For unpaid medical debt that is reporting on your CR:

1. Call the OC and ask that they recall the collection in exchange for full payment
2. Send the reporting CA a PFD offer
3. Google the HIPAA Process and contact its creator for help

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Talked to the OC a few weeks ago. They wouldn't take my money and directed me to the CA. I'll work on a PFD letter and do some research on HIPAA over the weekend. Will update soon.

[Anonymous]

Quick update.  I called and asked the agency to send me a statement, summary of charges, signed documents, etc.  I told her I wasnt sure if these charges are mine and even if they were I was insured.  The rep I spoke with said she would request that the hospital send these documents.  This was about 10 days ago.

Today I called in to follow up on the docs.  The rep I spoke with verified a request was put in, but could take 10 more days for delivery.  I asked her when I review the docs, what are the options to clear off my CR if the debt is in fact mine?  She willingly offered a pay for delete but could not send me anything in writing.  Offered that I could verify with a supervisor, but could not send anything writing or even by email.

Thoughts and feedback here are appreciated.  I have a feeling this debt is mine, so I will pay it upon verification, no problem.  Question is, trust her word that they will delete or continue to wait it out?  Draft up a letter with certified funds stating - By depositing this payment you agree to debt is PIF and all credit entries are to be removed?  Will that even work?

Thanks.

[gdale6]

Verbal agreements have the same force as written. Written is the gold standard but if they wont put it in writing and its a common event then record the call and reconfirm it right before you pay. Typically if they say they will do it it gets done and if they dont then there are ways to get it accomplished.

[Anonymous]

Paid acount in full.  Rep I spoke with today said collection account will be removed from all 3 CRA, will send payment receipt, and letter CONFIRMING CRA deletion!

I recorded the whole phone call with mutiple "Just to verify, my paying this in full today will result in all 3 CRA deletions".  Rep verified yes, and was acutally very nice to work with.

Fingers crossed they make good on their word!  Bye, bye, last collection acct!

[RobertEG]

Their concern with putting such agreements in writing is that they technically violate the terms of their credit reporting agreement with the CRAs.

It is routine for both creditors and debt collectors to decline to put such agreements in writing over cncern that it could possible jeopardize their credit reporting agreements with the CRAs, and thus their ability to continue reporting of their accunts.

After receiving your money, the last thing they want is a public airing of the issue of their having deleted.

The CRAs have that policy, not for legal reasons, but rather for their own business purposes.

They sell credit reports, and the more comprehensive and complete the information in their reports, the more their value to their customers.

Arbtrary and subjective deletion of major derogs, if common practice, would undermine the value of the credit reports they sell.