Reply from LabCorp on Debt Validation Letter

[Anonymous]

This is what I received in the mail today regarding a DVL

INVOICE # XXXXXXX

SPECIMEN # XXXXXXXXX

DEAR PATIENT;

WE ARE WRITING TO INFORM YOU THAT WE SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO

YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY FOR PROCESSING AND WERE NOTIFIED YOU ARE

RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BALANCE DUE.  IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS

REGARDING YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY'S DETERMINATION, PLEASE CONTACT

YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY DIRECTELY.

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE TESTS ORDERED, THE LAB RESULTS OR

THE DIAGNOSIS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE PHYSICIAN WHO ORDERED THE

SERVICES ON YOUR BEHALF.

PLEASE NOTE THAT PAYMENT ON THIS INVOICE IS NOW DUE.  WE ACCEPT

CHECKS, MONEY ORDERS, VISA, MASTERCARD, DISCOVER AND AMERICAN EXPRESS.

YOU MAY VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.LABCORP.COM/BILLING FOR YOUR PAYMENT

COVENIENCE OR CONTACT OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT

1-800-845-6167 TO MAKE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS.  IF PAYMENT AS RECENTLY

BEEN MADE, PLEASE ACCEPT OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE.

AS ALWAYS, WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET YOUR LABORATORY

TESTING NEEDS.

SINCERELY

PATIENT CUSTOMER SERVICE

This is my take please tell me if I am wrong.:

***Since they sent me invoice# and specimen# they have validated the debt correctly and next I do a paid for deletion letter  and if they will not do that

I do a paid in full letter.  Thanks 

[Anonymous]

You do not send DV letters to the OC but to the CA.  An OC is under no obligation to even look at the letter.

Who is reporting?

[Anonymous]

I sent the letter to the CA  (CMA) and I received this from LabCorp regarding the debt.  Now I am a little confused cause I don't know if I need to send payment to LabCorp or them. 

[DaBears]

I would call the OC to see if they own the debt still or if they can recall the account back from the CA. If they can recall the account then I would pay the OC then the CA would have to delete their trade lines.

[Anonymous]

Call the OC and ask if they will recall the debt if you pay them.

[RobertEG]

If you sent the DV to the debt collector, they are requried to reply to the consumer.

The letter from the OC thus does not constitute verification by the debt collector.

If the DV was timely (i.e., sent without prior dunning notice, or within 30 days of dunning notice), the debt collector remains under a cease collection bar until they provide the requested verification.

As for payment to the OC requiring the debt collector to delete any reported collection, there is no provision of either the FCRA or FDCPA that requires such.

Some opine that payment to the OC requires deletion by the debt collector, but there is no statutory or regulatory basis for disputing if they fail to do so.

In my opinion, the best course would be to obtain a pay for delete from the debt collector, which requires making payment through them, and would resolve the issue of credit reporting without tne need to contest any future lack of deletion.

However, if they are under a cease collection bar, they cannot conduct such negotiations until they have verified the debt. 

Was your DV timely?

[Anonymous]

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@RobertEG wrote:

If you sent the DV to the debt collector, they are requried to reply to the consumer.

The letter from the OC thus does not constitute verification by the debt collector.

If the DV was timely (i.e., sent without prior dunning notice, or within 30 days of dunning notice), the debt collector remains under a cease collection bar until they provide the requested verification.

As for payment to the OC requiring the debt collector to delete any reported collection, there is no provision of either the FCRA or FDCPA that requires such.

Some opine that payment to the OC requires deletion by the debt collector, but there is no statutory or regulatory basis for disputing if they fail to do so.

In my opinion, the best course would be to obtain a pay for delete from the debt collector, which requires making payment through them, and would resolve the issue of credit reporting without tne need to contest any future lack of deletion.

However, if they are under a cease collection bar, they cannot conduct such negotiations until they have verified the debt. 

Was your DV timely?

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Yes there is.  It is called the Credit Bureau Reporting Guide which does comply with the FCRA.