Multiple agencies pursuing same collection

[Anonymous]

I have a collection, originally from the Tennessee Emergency Physicians in 2018, for $1180. I settled it with TEP directly in early 2019. A few months after I paid TEP it appeared on all three credit reports as a collection through Revco Solutions. TEP kept saying it was a mistake and they would send documentation proving it had been paid to Revco and myself. I never got any documentation. In the middle of 2020 I contacted Lexington Law. They were able to get it removed in two months.

It reappeared as soon as I canceled my Lexington subscription (for a number of reasons, mainly I was mislead about what services I would be receiving for what I had paid), from three separate collection agencies. As of this morning these are the collections:

Transunion

Phoenix Collection (opened 11/12/2020)

Elevate Recovery (opened 12/28/2020)

Equifax

Paramount Recovery (opened 11/12/2020)

Phoenix Collection (opened 11/12/2020)

RevCo Solutions (opened 07/2019)

Experian

Paramount Recovery (opened 11/12/2020)

Phoenix Collection (opened 11/12/2020)

All for $1180. When I dispute one and get it removed, it pops back up with one of the others. I've been in this cycle since November. There's always at least two on my report at all times, sometimes all three. I'm using all three agencies to check my reports and reporting to all three directly through their websites. Once again TEP is promising me documentation they never send. 

I am about to lose my mind. 

[OmarGB9]

You don't have the proof of final payment? That can be used to send in as evidence with your disputes. Otherwise, time to start filing complaints with the CFPB and BBB.

[Anonymous]

Nope, TEP never provided me with a statement of any kind showing it had been paid off. There's a bill with a confirmation number on it in my files, which are in a POD container. I've lost count of how many times I've been told I'm being sent proof of payment. 

[RobertEG]

The issue of payment or non-payment is not the determining factor with respect to credit report inclusion/removal.

The controlling issue with respect to credit report inclusion/removal is the CRA policy that only one collection may simultaneously be included in a consumer report on the same debt.

The FCRA permits a debt collector to report their collection at any time after they have obtained collection authority.

The FCRA additionally places no requirement that a reported collection be deleted if a second debt collector later obtains legit collection authority, and also reports to the CRA.

However, the CRAs have an established policy that a first debt collector must delete their reported collection if their collection authority is terminated with the debt remaining unpaid.

The post states that multiple collections are being pursued on the same debt.

However, while multiple collections may be reported, only one debt collector at a time is pursuing active collection.  Thus, the basis is lack of deletion after termination of collection authority, and not that multiple collections are being pursued on the same debt.

Support for such a dispute is not any statutory requirement under the FCRA, but rather lack of compliance with established CRA reporting policy.  Only the last debt collector to whom you paid the delinquent debt should ultimately be shown in your credit report.

[House2021]

What is the benefit of filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau?

[OmarGB9]

If it's a hospital, they don't want a negative reputation, so they may be motivated to cooperate with you and get this resolved. It's not a guarantee, but it can't hurt.

[Anonymous]

The major issue is the debt never should have been sent to collections in the first place. I've received verbal acknowledgment that Tennessee Emergency Physicians (St Francis ER in Memphis for reference) was paid before it was ever sent to collections, but despite being told dozens of times I'd get documentation I've never received it.

Revco was the original collection agency that began attempting to collect about two months after I paid TEP. I had Lexington handle them, and it was removed for an entire glorious month.

Then three new agencies started trying to collect on the original bill, which like I said I paid TEP directly before it was ever incorrectly sent to collections, the month after I canceled my Lexington account.

I've spoken to St Francis directly, they tell me they have to send me to billing (which is TEP), they say it's been paid and they'll get this cleared up. They clearly can't. 

So I can't get them to send me the proof of payment. I've switched banks since I paid the original bill (again before it was ever sent to collections) so I don't have access to any online statements.

I really don't want to get Lexington involved again, they weren't that great, but they were the only ones TEP responded to.

[simplegirl]

Your old bank may be able to get your those statements depending on how long ago it was. Also you can try and see if they will email you a receipt since they are failing at mailing you one.