Collection Woes

[DDPearson]

I have been on the road of credit cleanup for three years.  In all of my credit woes, I've never had anything go to collections on my credit.  Around December 2007, I went to the emergency room.  I had a $200 bill that was sent to a collection agency around April 2008.  I was debating the payment with the insurance company and when I realized it was a losing battle, I paid the bill in July 08.  The last week in August it was submitted as a collection on my credit report and my Equifax score dropped 20 pts.  When I spoke with the billing collection agency stating I'd paid it before it went to my credit report, they agreed it was a mistake and to remove it from my credit. However, at reporting time they only changed the status to paid.  I called, they said they needed to ensure the client received their funds and they would remove it within a week. After two weeks, I called and ended up on the phone with an extremely rude man who said, "It's on your credit and it will be for 7 years. Deal with it".

I called back, explained the situation to someone else who agreed to escalate it to her boss to "see what they could do".  I was told about a policy not to remove anything and "so sorry".

Is there anything I can do to get this thing off my report.  I paid it before it went to collections with the credit bureaus as far as any documentation that I'd received.  I admit to being at a loss as to how it got so far with a collection agency so fast.  Is anyone familiar with this collection 'fast track?' Do you know of any steps I can take? 

Thanks

Debbie

Message Edited by DDPearson on 10-29-2008 01:06 PM

[Anonymous]

Look up the HIPPA process. 

[llecs]

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/fico/board/message?board.id=rebuildingcredit&thread.id=27537

[DDPearson]

Thanks for respondnig so quickly.  I'm a bit confused as the intro sait I would be.  That first letter that it says to write basically says that I have no knowledge of the collection. Can I send that as I paid it, showing that I had such knowledge or is this just a step to get the ball rolling?

[Veee]

Its just a step ... paid or unpaid, yours or not yours ~ you have to do the first step of the hippa process with all medical.

[Anonymous]

My DW had a medical collection that was sent to collections...which was never supposed to be...she called and called....and the status was then updated to paid....but she faxed a simple letter to the CRAs...stating...."the company agreed to delete, it was a mistake on their part and the account should have never been reported"...and it was removed...