Really need some help!!

Anonymous · ‎09-17-2010

Hi all, I need some major help! I just got home from a funeral in DC and open my mail to find a collection letter from a pathologist office that I have never heard of and NEVER received a bill for! What do I do?! ...I googled the office name and its listed in the same city that I live, so I'm guessing that my Dr. sent something off to them and I was never billed or my insurance paid and there was some mix up, I have lived at the same address the whole time I've been in this city so I doubt its a mail mix up.. I can't call till monday, so I'm trying to work out a game plan: I'm going to call the Dr's office and my insurance on monday morning to try to find the source of the mix up, but if it turns out to be my bill what should I do? Pay the OC or the CA? and what do I need to do to insure it doesn't show up on my credit?

BTW: I just pulled all 3 reports a few mins ago, its not there yet and the letter dated sept 9th says that I have 60 days before it goes on my credit

Thanks so much in advance! I really need to get this worked out as fast as I can! My husband and I have our house on the market and as soon as we have a contract we will be buying a new house, which could be any day now! (or any year now with this housing market! haha)

RobertEG · ‎09-17-2010

OK, the facts are few.

You received a collection notice from a debt collector. It specified the name of the original creditor, and the amount of the asserted debt.

The debt collector (CA) could ONLY have posted a collection to your credit report if it was authorized by the original creditor, who is apparently Dr. X.

First step is thus to call the offfice of Dr. X, and ask them the source of any debt with them.

Then, why, in not blling you first, and diirectly, they referred their asserted debt to collection agency?

First get the facts from Dr X

Anonymous · ‎09-18-2010

@RobertEG wrote:
OK, the facts are few.
You received a collection notice from a debt collector. It specified the name of the original creditor, and the amount of the asserted debt. Yes but no date of service, so thats all I have so far.

The debt collector (CA) could ONLY have posted a collection to your credit report if it was authorized by the original creditor, who is apparently Dr. X. I understand that and they seem to have been authorized based on the letter.
First step is thus to call the offfice of Dr. X, and ask them the source of any debt with them. Doing that monday morning as soon as they open, as I said in my post.
Then, why, in not blling you first, and diirectly, they referred their asserted debt to collection agency?
First get the facts from Dr X The question I have is, once they verify its mine(if it is mine) and whatever reason I wasn't billed, what steps do I then take to pay the bill and not have it go on my reports? I have the money its $117 so its not a huge amount, but do I pay OC or CA? and do I need some kind of letter saying its been paid in full and will not post to my reports? I don't trust any CA and I want to make sure I take the proper steps. I've worked so hard to get my credit where it is now I don't want to start all over again over something I didn't even know about! ...Thanks for the help!

RobertEG · ‎09-18-2010

If you call Dr. X, and they convince you of the validity of the debt, I would act fast, and pay them in full, with only one condition.

That they immediately terminate their collection contract with the CA who has previously contacted you.

Since neither has yet reported to your CR, that will satisfy the debt, and foreclose any further reporting of debt.

I would not contact the CA now. That may result in an immediate post to your CR as a colllection tactic on their part.

Anonymous · ‎09-19-2010

@RobertEG wrote:
If you call Dr. X, and they convince you of the validity of the debt, I would act fast, and pay them in full, with only one condition.
That they immediately terminate their collection contract with the CA who has previously contacted you.
Since neither has yet reported to your CR, that will satisfy the debt, and foreclose any further reporting of debt.
I would not contact the CA now. That may result in an immediate post to your CR as a colllection tactic on their part.

Ok great, thank you I will start there tomorrow