Medical question

[Anonymous]

I have a medical collection from 5/2005 reporting on my credit report it's in a CA. My daughter had surgery then and the insurance paid most of the bill. I'm starting to rebuild me credit and I was looking back though my statement from the insurance company and noticed that this bill was a duplicate and the first one was paid.

In your opinion what would be the next step? Should I contact the OC? or the CA or start the HIPAA process?

Thanks for your help

[fused]

Doctor or hospital debt?

How much is it?

Can you afford to pay it in full if you have to?

Is this collection on all three reports?

Have you ever disputed this collection?

[Anonymous]

it's a hospital debt

it's for 365.00

yes I can pay for it

it's on all 3 reports

no,But I sent a pfd letter on 3/12/09

[fused]

Was there any response from the CA?

[Anonymous]

no, nothing yet

[fused]

I would use the HIPAA letter process. Whatever you do, never talk to a CA. Here are the first few steps.

1.) You must 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

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

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 enand use personalized stationary. If your med collection is deleted, you're finished. If its not, please post again in this thread for more advice.

PRE-HIPAA MEDICAL DISPUTE LETTER

[Anonymous]

Thanks Fuse for helping me with this!

I don't want to make any mistakes, so I wanted you to see the letter that I sent them (CA) 2 weeks ago.Also I'm in the process of getting the information for the insurance company to prove that this was paid in full. I have done step one and step 2 in the HIPAA process should I continued the process even though I sent this letter to them?

Amount: $365.00

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is to inform you that the validity of this debt is disputed. I am not sure of the account number, as I have never heard from you regarding this account. The account number I have is the one listed on my Equifax credit report. – which omits the last few digits

In the spirit of compromise, I am willing to settle this account for 200.00 if you agree to immediate deletion of this account from any and all credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). The purpose of this settlement is merely to have this item removed from my credit files. It is not to be construed as an acknowledgment of liability for this debt in any form.

If you agree to the terms and accept this agreement, certified funds for the settlement amount of two-hundred dollars ($200.00) will be sent to Jon Berry and Associates in exchange for full deletion of ALL references regarding this account from my credit files and full satisfaction of the debt. As certified funds will be used for payment, there shall be no waiting period regarding the deletion of this account from the credit reporting agencies.

Jon Berry and Associates agrees to delete ALL information regarding this account from the credit reporting agencies WITHIN TEN CALENDAR (10) DAYS following receipt of payment as specified above and will not discuss the terms of this settlement with anyone, excluding your client on this account. If contacted by any third party, including credit-reporting agencies, Jon Berry and Associates will not acknowledge that any settlement offer was made, accepted or executed and will, in fact, deny knowledge of any such account.

If you agree to the above terms, please prepare a letter on your company letterhead explicitly agreeing to the same terms as the above settlement offer and have it signed by an authorized representative of Collection Agency. It will be implied that this letter shall constitute a legally binding contract, enforceable under the laws of my state.

Your response must be postmarked no later than 15 days from your receipt of this settlement offer or this offer will be withdrawn and I will request full validation of this alleged debt, as provided for by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Please address all correspondence regarding this account to:

Should I continue with the process?

[fused]

Did you sign this letter?

[Anonymous]

yes I beleive I did, why is that a bad thing?

[fused]

You never sign any letter sent to a CA, just print your name. CAs have been known to to scan signatures and falsify documents. A PFD agreement in writing is a contract, but since you haven't paid the CA and the CA has responded, I still think you can use the HIPAA letter process. I don't think you have lost your protection under HIPAA.

BTW, its ok to sign letters sent to the CRAs.