Do I Follow The Steps For This Paid Medical Collection?

[Boldilocks]

I was just referred to this forum from the rebuilding boards, I have no idea if I can use the hipaa process or not to get this collection removed.

It is a medical co-pay of $35 that went to collections.  BUT, because the amounts reported a little differently I didn't immediately see that a CA was reporting this debt when I pulled my reports back in February. 

I went ahead and paid the original creditor (doctor's office) - they cashed the check.  Then I realised that it was *this* debt reporting on my CR by a CA, so I disputed it and it was updated as paid.  

I have sent 2 GW letters to the CA to try and get this removed, no response.

Do I go through the steps as written for this?  And is it complicated by the fact that it is a CA reporting the debt but that the OC received payment?

Do medical co-pays even count as PHI anyway?  Can the HIPAA process be applied?

[fused]

The HIPAA letter process definitely applies to your situation. Before I can offer you some advice, I need to know something. Aside from this paid med collection, are your reports free and clear of other derogatory items? That is, do you have any other baddies?

[Boldilocks]

Yes, there are other baddies.  

- Two paid judgements (one of them was medical but the payments were to the county clerk and I don't think there is any hope of using hippa to get that removed as it's a public record, right?).  There are 3 paid judgements listed on the report as the medical one is being reported twice, even after disputing.

- Three old collections beyond SOL and due to drop off within the next year.

- Three new collections, including this paid one.  The two other ones are unpaid (just a $20 returned check fee) they are actually the same debt but it keeps reporting twice, even after disputing.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to me!

[fused]

Ok! Here are the first few steps in the HIPAA letter process.

Step #1: Opt Out of two things: Your Credit Reports and All Creditors. The first one ensures that the CRAs will not sell your personal data to anyone else (haha…no more data mining). The second one will prevent JDBs (and CAs) from buying and selling bogus collections.

Use this link to opt-out of your credit reports

OPT-OUT CREDIT REPORTS (or call 1.888.567.8688)

Use this link to opt-out from all of your CURRENT creditors that you're in GOOD standing with. Do not attempt to opt-out with any CAs or current creditors that you're in BAD standing with (i.e. charge-offs, or currently late).

OPT-OUT ALL CREDITORS

Step #2: Also, be sure to update your personal information with the CRA's before attempting to reestablish your credit.

Step #3: Send the pre-HIPAA dispute letter to the CRA ('s) CM (no RR, this is the only letter in the HIPAA process where you will not send it CMRRR) and wait up to 35 days for the results of the their investigation(s). Be sure to handwrite this letter (and the envelop too) using personalized stationary and teal blue ink. If your med collection is deleted, you're finished.

PRE-HIPAA MEDICAL DISPUTE LETTER

[Boldilocks]

OK - Steps 1 & 2 done.  Will write up the letter tonight by hand for Step 3. 

One question, and maybe this is silly.  But I have already disputed this with the CRA and they verified and updated it.  The pre-hipaa letter says I have no knowledge of the account - but I do... I paid it.  Isn't that fraudulent to say that then?  Or is it just the way you have to phrase it to play the game?  Is this essentially just a DV letter?

[fused]

So, your collection is marked as "verified" on your reports? How long ago did you dispute this?

[Boldilocks]

I disputed it back in Feb when I realised that it was the colection that I had already paid to the OC.  It was reporting as unpaid by the CA.  The dispute ended up resulting in it being changed to paid, and it says that it has been verified as accurate.

[fused]

Send the pre-HIPAA letters anyway, its the only way to begin the process.

[Boldilocks]

Thanks!  I sent the pre-HIPAA letter on Friday and am now in the waiting phase.