DV to include OC pymts?

[IOBA]

Fourteen months ago, had surgery.  It generated a medical bill.  Knowing that there would be a co-pay, I called the hospital and tried to set up a payment plan.  They demanded the money in full, immediately.  They did not even want to wait for the insurance payment.  I explained that was not possible.  The hospital told me that unless I paid $XXX.XX immediately, they were sending it to collections.

They accepted my smaller payment over the phone AND sent it to collections!

I continued to make payments directly to the OC.

A collection letter came.  I DV'd it.  Never heard from that CA again.

I continued to make payments directly to the OC.

Another collection letter came, different company.   I DV'd it.  Never heard from that CA again.

I continued to make payments directly to the OC.

Another collection letter came, different company.   I DV'd it.  Never heard from that CA again.

I continued to make payments directly to the OC.

Fourteen months after surgery, I did another CR pull.  Another CA is reporting the medical bill (original balance, minus the first payment) on my CR.  They have not contacted me directly.

The OC is STILL accepting payments on the account.  It is nearly paid off.  (The CA reports date of service and the date it reported to CB - 08/2009).

My question is that when I DV them, should I include that the OC is STILL accepting payments and the debt is nearly paid off?  Normally, I would not even consider this.  But I have never had a collection agency OR medical center act so underhandedly before.  

If I wait 2 weeks to DV them, the debt will be paid off (finally!!)

Opinions? 

[LIGHTNIN]

I would contact the hospital admin secretary, and they will talk with the admin, and get back with you.

I've worked in a hospital for 20years and the hospital admin and thier staff are very understanding.

Patients are the ones paying thier salaries, and if some clerk in billing is giving the hospital a bad rap, they would want to know about, trust me.

The billing dept may have some old polices and procedures that need updated. The clerk may have her/his hands tied following polices, But i don't think the hopsital admin would like that a patients paying monthly payments getting turned over to CA.

If you contact the hospital admin, let us know.

Good luck to you 

[IOBA]

Oh, I did that.  From the very beginning.  After speaking to a person in billing, then to the billing "supervisor" and being told the same thing -- demand for payment in full immediately or it goes to collections.

I called back, went through the hospital operator to the admin.  The lady told me that the hospital policy is to wait 90 days AFTER the insurance responds before they do anything.  She called them (billing) and they refused to budge from their stance.  She (admin) apologized for their behavior, but said she was unable to do anything about it.

That was fourteen months ago.

I didn't think there would be a problem because I have always successfully paid my medical bills, making payments monthly.  The law says, I think, that as long as you are making regular payments (for example, monthly), they can not send you to collections.

So this is a new situation for me.  I am still making payments to the hospital.  The bill is nearly paid off.  Obviously threatening me does not make money come faster.  And as I point out to the medical places, I made the debt, and I am in good faith, paying on it.  I know that I have options - like not paying anything or letting it go to collections and settling for a lesser amount.  As I point out --- I choose NOT to do that.  They will get their money, all of it, if they work with me.

The hospital has a bad reputation among all the medical providers for being tenacious and very aggressive about collecting money.   Lol - and I have a very good reputation among the medical providers as someone who will pay their bill in full, making monthly payments, just work with me!

Since both places can not own the debt at the same time, I think the hospital still does.  The hospital still accepts payments.

So, do I pay off the bill then DV the collection agency?

OR

Do I DV the CA now?

Do I tell them the amount they are reporting is inaccurate and provide previous payment information?

OR

As suggested, try going back to the Admin and pushing the issue -- the bill is nearly paid off, it should NOT be in collections, and to pull it back?

Thanks! 

[Anonymous]

They do not sell the debt. I would contact your AG office.Ask about state law. Make sure that you tell them that you are making payments.

[IOBA]

Thanks!