Help with CMRE Financial Service for Medical Debt

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I'm new to this community. I recently received a letter from CMRE financial for an unpaid medical debt. I am able to pay the debt. I want to avoid it being reported on my credit report (I just checked and it's not reported as of today but my reports may not be updated yet).  I have read a lot of posts about CMRE and medical debt and the HIPAA process but I it's still unclear to me the best approach I shoud take to protect my credit because I do not understand all the acronyms that are used.

Can anyone please let me know the best way to go about handling this? Should I hire a credit repair agency to handle this? I'm willing to do whatever it takes to keep this collection off my credit report (which has no dings).

Or if anyone has had recent experience working with CMRE that you'd be willing to share I'd be eternally grateful!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

[Remedios]

Hi and welcome! 

Best approach is to pay it before it reports. You have a limited window to do so. If you're planning on paying, do not wait. 

This thread explains timing on medical collections reporting 

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Rebuilding-Your-Credit/PFD-proactive-or-reactive/m-p/5637675#M59101...

Good luck! 

[Anonymous]

Remedios,

Thank you for your response! It's been more than 180 days. I'd pay it now but I'm concerned it's already been reported to the credit agencies and they just haven't updated their reports and that once I've paid I will lose any leverage I might have to not have it reported/removed. Do you have any insight or sugesstions?

[Remedios]

CRAs update relatively quickly. EX takes a couple of days only, EQ maybe 3-5 and TU lags around 5-7 with updates. 

I'd say if you are not seeing it on EX as of today, it's pretty safe to assume that either collection agency reported within last two days or not at all yet. I am leaning towards not at all. 

If there is no reporting, you cannot offer PFD. If you pay, most likely reporting wont even happen. 

If you wait till it's reported, PFD may or may not be possible

I did a brief forum search and it appears some people were able to get PFD and others were not. 

It's really your choice on how you want to proceed, but if you have money, pay it. Stop it before it even starts. 

At some point reporting will be inevitable and a much bigger headache for you. 

[gdale6]

I would suggest a deal of full payment in exchange for it not reporting.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the insight Remedios. The letter I received from CMRE did not say they had reported it nor did they say they would. Do you know if they are required to state so?

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the suggestion gdale6! Should I contact them and ask them if they have reported it? Also, should I dispute it now within the 30 days? Any insight you can provide would be appreciated. 

[Remedios]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Thank you for the insight Remedios. The letter I received from CMRE did not say they had reported it nor did they say they would. Do you know if they are required to state so?

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Not sure, I dont think CA legally has to address reporting in their communication, other than for ones outside SOL and allowed reporting period 

Like I said, if they reported it would be reflected on your CR rather quickly. 

[Anonymous]

OK, thank you. It seems I should negotiate with them to not report it, or to remove the report (just to cover all bases), in exchange for payment? Is that the best course? Do you know if they're likely to agree or am I being too hopeful?

[Remedios]

Call, tell them you're ready to pay, dont mention reporting. 

If you cant resist, call them, ask if you make a payment, will it still be reported?

I would just call and pay. Dont complicate it.