EQ removed med collection but EX refuses. Caught in a bind.

[Anonymous]

Back in 2006, a collection agency listed an account on both EQ and EX for a medical collection. I was stupid back then and paid the agency in full without getting an agreement to delete the entry from my credit reports. In August of 2008 (not knowing about the HIPPA process or this forum), I disputed these two entries. Both EQ and EX "verified" the debt; however, upon learning about this process, I looked at my credit reports more carefully and realized that neither EQ nor EX marked this account as "verified" on my report.

In the beginning of this month, I learned about this whole HIPPA process and got to work. I opted out of everything and sent both EQ and EX the pre-HIPPA letter, which was hand-written in purple ink and was sent certified mail (without return receipt). EQ and EX received the letter on the 10th of this month (April). On April 13, I received a letter from EQ stating that the account has been "reinvestigated" and has been deleted from my credit report. No further explenation was given.

Today (April 19), I checked my EX report and noticed that the collection entry remains, and they changed the status to verified (retroactively dated to August 2008) and "the status remains unchanged." I have not received a letter from EX yet, but I know that it's inevitable that I will soon receive a letter stating that they refuse to remove the entry, since they updated my report to reflect that.

What do I do when EX sends me the verification/refusal to remove letter? Isn't it a bit dangerous if I proceed to send the the alt-med-DV letter to the CA? In the process of validating the debt to EX, they may choose to relist the entry with EQ. Can they do this?

All advice is much appreciated!  

Message Edited by JSmitty on 04-19-2009 09:58 AM

[fused]

Welcome to the forums!

These are the next few steps you should take. Keep in mind EX is the most difficult CRA to deal with when it comes to med collections. Will it come back on EQ, not likely.

If the CRA “verifies" your paid collection but the CA does not provide an accurate and complete validation, send this letter to the CA.

ALTERNATIVE MED DV LETTER TO THE CA

After you receive the green card for the Alt Med DV letter to the CA, mail this follow-up dispute letter along with a copy of the green card from the ALT DV letter to the CRA(s) CMRRR.

FOLLOW-UP DISPUTE LETTER (2) TO THE CRA'S

[Anonymous]

Just an update.

Today (April 21), I received a letter from Experian. It wasn't a letter so much as it was merely a copy of my credit report. It appears that they didn't investigate the entry again. I guess I'll be sending the alt-med-DV letter tomorrow to the CA. 

[fused]

Is the collection marked as disputed and verified on your EX report?

[Anonymous]

It is, from August 2008.

[fused]

It looks like you're ready for the plan I outlined in my first post.

[CreditGuy03]

. Im in the same position. I dont think EX really verifies or if they do they have a poor way of doing it. They refused to do a HIPPA verification saying its already been investigated and they need more info before doing another investigation.

I am waiting on my green card from the alt dv and send it back to EX. I may file an FTC complaint against EX as well because their service is unnacceptable

[fused]

Is the med collection marked as disputed and verified on your EX report?

[Anonymous]

fused,

I have another issue. I sent the alt-med-dv to the CA certified mail with return receipt on April 22. Since I still haven't received the green card, I went down to the post office and talked with the post master to see what the issue is. Apperantly, the clerk at the post office who handled my mail did not properly scan the certified mail paperwork into the USPS system. In other words, I will not receive a green card verifying that the CA got a copy of the alt-med-dv. 

This is very frustrating since the USPS dropped the ball. All I have is a green card with a postmark saying that the USPS received the mail to be delivered, but no return receipt. What do I do at this point? I have nothing to send EX verifying that the CA received the alt-med-dv.