Should I start the HIPAA process?

[msann]

I have 2 collections on my report. They are both medical bills. (see below). Should I start the HIPAA process? I read on here that if it is older than 2 years, I may as well leave it and not got through the headache. I am looking to close on a home by September and I wanted to raise my score.

Central Financial

Original/Current balance: $150

Date assigned: Aug 19, 2004

Date reported: Feb 15, 2007

Holland Credit

Original/Current balance: $373

Date assigned: April 18, 2006

Date reported: July 06, 2006

So far my scores are

Transunion 02/09/2009 648

Experian    02/09/2009 625

Equifax      02/09/2009 612  03/28/2009 644

Thx

Ann

[fused]

Welcome to the forums!

Can you afford to pay these collections off in full? Are they on all three of your reports?

[msann]

Yes, I can afford to pay the total charges. The collections are showing on all of my reports.

[fused]

Are these two med collections the only baddies on your reports? Do you have high credit card utilization?

[msann]

My CC usage around Feb 2 was at 98%, i have paid them down some and are around 50-60% as of today.

[fused]

Having these collections removed will probably help your scores. I would try the HIPAA letter process, 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).

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 use personalized stationary. If your med collections are deleted, you're finished. If they're not, post again in this thread before continuing on with the HIPAA letter process. Good luck!

PRE-HIPAA MEDICAL DISPUTE LETTER

[msann]

Thanks fused. Your help is greatly appreciated I will start the HIPAA process.

[fused]

You're Welcome! Let us know how it goes.