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I have two collections on my credit, there was little to no information on the original creditor, but the amounts owed were minimal, and so even though I had really no idea what the hell they were for, I decided it might be quicker, and with fewer headaches to just attempt to get the things paid and deleted.
I sent PFD letters to both of the CAs listed for these accounts. Now though, after further investigation, I *think* that these are medical debts... and so I probably should have done this whole HIPPA process.
Is it too late to do that now? I haven't heard back from either CA but I only sent the letters last week. Should I wait and see if they'll PFD or should I scrap that whole idea and to the pre-hippa letters to the CRAs? And, can I do the pre-hippa letters if I'm not 100% sure that they even ARE medical debts? Like would it have an adverse effect if I turn out to be wrong and that they're not medical bills?
Appreciate any help!! thanks!
Nevermind the CAs, lets us HIPAA! Here are the first few steps.
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).
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 envelop too) using personalized
stationary and teal blue or purple ink. If your med collections are deleted, you're
finished. If they're not, post again in this thread for more advice before writing anymore letters. Good luck!
PRE-HIPAA MEDICAL DISPUTE LETTER
If these are medical you can only get the info when pulling direct from the CBs. Then you start the HIPAA process. You can not get the provider info from a 3rd party pull.
Always pay the OC on medical debt.
If they are not medical then you should send a DV before a PFD. That is the only way to be sure that they belong to you.
You also need to know your SOL
I got the information from annualcreditreport.com, all it showed was original creditor(s) "SHCS" and "AMC7" no address, or phone numbers. Only info on the collection agency. When googling them online though a ton of medical stuff came up... which is what lead me to believe that maybe they were medicals. If they are...
And to your latter comment I did send severals DVs before sending the PFD they got ignored, again they were really meanial amounts - $80 and $65. At this point I'd pay it regardless to get them off my credit. I'd still LOVE to know what they were for as I have no recollection of owing money to anyone (including healthcare providers) but, they've been on the reports for years, they don't respond when I ask them for validation, and the CRAs "validated" both of them, and also ignored my request for info on the OCs. I just didn't know what else to do with them besides PFD.
I only disputed them with EX, they also appear on my TU, but not at all on my EQ.
On my EX they now show up as "verfied on ... [date that i can't remember off the top of my head]" it doesn't saying anything about disputed.
No, because I have no idea whether or not the debt IS mine. I just said that I disputed the debt, blah blah but in an effort to get the matter resolved and have these items removed I would be wiling to pay if they would delete them.