Collections help

[Anonymous]

I have two recent (under $300 total) medical collections show up on my account on 4/1/15. It resulted in a 2 point drop in my score. I called the OC, and asked them if I paid them could they have it taken from my report. They said they would contat the CA, and they would have to do it by law. She obviously didn't know what she was talking about, but I called the CA,and asked if they would do it anyway. They said no, and added it was against the law to do so. I told her CA's are doing it and have been doing it.

My question is this, if I pay, and it shows a 0 balance, does it help at all or should I just leave it as unpaid? 

[Cynthia1123]

Paying it will not improve or hurt your score, once it's in it's in and the initial damage is done. Your best approach would be to either get a PFD or pay it and goodwill and hope that they take it off once paid. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Cynthia. Like I said before the CA refuses to do a pfd. If I called and paid, should I goodwill the OC?

[seruby]

Since it's a medical collections, google the HIPAA process.    It can't be discussed here, but it's always mentioned in posts asking about medical collections.

[Anonymous]

Should I google HIPPA process collections or just HIPPA process?

[seruby]

HIPAA process collections.   One of the links should take you to whychat.   That page highlights the process and steps pretty well.

[Anonymous]

ok thanks.

[Anonymous]

On a somewhat related note, I had a medical collection for $87 show up on my EQ report in February from a procedure in the fall that my insurance apparently didn't completely cover. I went on the website of the doctor's office and found I was able to still pay the outstanding bill online, which I did. I then disputed the collection and said I paid the OC. After about a week, EQ came back and removed the collection from my report. 

Not sure if that's an option for you, but it's worth a shot.

[Anonymous]

habu, they didn't ask you if it was paid prior to or after the debt was sent to collections? Seems like that would matter.

[Anonymous]

I paid the OC the day I got the notice saying a new account showed up on my report and saw the collection. When I disputed, I just said that I had already paid the OC and attached the receipt. That did it for me. Of course, YMMV, but if you can still pay the OC, it's at least worth looking into. Maybe I just slipped through the cracks, who knows!