Paid C/O Medical-How to dispute?

[Anonymous]

Just purchased all 3 myFICO reports and only have ONE EQ baddie left--paid c/o medical. It says company name/account number is unknown or not reported. I think this stems from an ER visit that resulted in a small lab bill or 3rd party Dr. bill that I was unaware my insurance didn't cover. I never recieved an initial bill, only the letter from the CA. If I remember correctly, I called and paid the bill (didn't know any better then). It is reported as $0 balance but it's still a derog. My only one left. I want it GONE. Do I just dispute it as "not mine" or give details? Since there is no company name/account number no longer reported does that mean I have a better shot at getting it removed? I know there are tons of threads here but It gets confusing to me. Any help is appreciated. I was just going to use the myFICO-generated dispute letter for this. Is that wise? Also, is it beneficial to also add my home phone and current employer, address, and phone to my report or is it not needed? Should I send it certified or registered mail? Thanks   

[FreedomTrain]

The HIPAA LETTER PROCESS & MEDICAL COLLECTIONS (W/ HAPPYDAYS)

[Anonymous]

Never dispute an account as not mine when it is yours. Discussion of doing such is prohibited on the forums.

The reason that very little information regarding the account is showing on your report is because it is medical and must be masked. If you pulled your reports directly from the CRA, it would likely show much more information.

Since this is medical in nature, as already suggested, check out the HIPAA process.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies. I certainly didn't intend to suggest I was seeking help in doing something unethical or illegal with this dispute. Sorry if i gave that impression. There was basically just no real info on the myFICO-generated report for the 4-year old account in question. Thanks to your post, I did pull from the CRA directly and all the info was there. It is indeed my account from an old ER visit. I did pay this bill as soon as I was aware of it. It's just so frustrating that I was never billed by the hospital for this minor <$100 bill "add-on" bill that for some reason was never submitted to my insurance with the rest of the bills from the same visit. Apparently, it languished with a CA for almost a year before I finally received a bill. This was in my "pre-rebuild" stage, so I just paid the CA right away assuming that was the best thing to do. I have an issue with it sitting on my report for years to come though as it is now my only derog. and I feel this one really isn't my fault (I paid as soon as I received a bill for it). Is HIPAA still the route to take? Or should I just accept the fact that it's there to stay?    

[Anonymous]

I did not know about the HIPPA process, I just wanted the paid neg account gone.  I called the hospital and asked them who I speak to regarding a bill in collections and they gave me a number.  I talked to the guy, explained that I had paid the bill with the collections agency but they had not removed it from my credit report.  It still said unpaid and in collections. 

He asked for proof that I paid the bill and I sent over the PIF letter I got from the CA.  It's been about 5 months and yesterday the one at Exquifax was removed.  The HIPPA process is about the same but you have everything in writing in case something goes wrong and the hospital decides they can't waste their money trying to help you get a neg removed from your credit report.  Plus, it might go faster with the official sounding letters. 

The HIPPA process is spot on about not contacting the CA and going straight to the OC.  I've sucessfully used that concept with other collections accounts and call under the pretense of "Hey, I paid this a while ago with x CA.  Did you get paid?  I just wanted to make sure because it still says it's in collections and unpaid on my CR."  I guess CAs misbehave alot if the OCs jump right on with making it right for you.    My EQ report just went from 5 CO accounts to none. 

Message Edited by shawtycat on 10-22-2008 10:54 AM