HIPAA Method questions

[epa3865]

I FINALLY opted out and got some addresses removed and mailed out letters yesterday to have more addresses, name variations, and SSN variations removed.

 

While waiting for answers from my letters, I did have some HIPAA questions for some medical collections reporting on our CR's (me and spouse):

 

1. How do you handle CA reported medical collection still reporting unpaid on CR after paying the OC off in January?

 

2. It is mentioned that the SOL for medical collection accounts is 4 years in HIPAA method info? Is that in all states? Are medical accounts/collections considered to be an open account? Open accounts here in Illinois are 5 years SOL.

 

3. How would you handle if you paid OC on CA reported collection account and it is listed settled for less than balance on CR. (filed on CR 2/06 and settled 1/11)

 

4. How handle unpaid medical collection account reported by CA on CR that is on my wife from our child that was a dependent at the time?

 

5. If have more than 1 medical collection account with a CA reporting on one CRA (I have 3 collection accounts with one CA), do I list all 3 in the same CRA pre-HIPAA letter, or use 3 different letters in same envelope, or ?

 

6. Lastly...at what point would the automatic 7 year fall-off point be so close that it is not worth disputing? I have medical accounts falling off (per CR) 8/12, 1/13, 12/12, and 9/12.

 

Thanks!

[epa3865]

ttt

[Why Chat]

I FINALLY opted out and got some addresses removed and mailed out letters yesterday to have more addresses, name variations, and SSN variations removed.

 

While waiting for answers from my letters, I did have some HIPAA questions for some medical collections reporting on our CR's (me and spouse):

 

1. How do you handle CA reported medical collection still reporting unpaid on CR after paying the OC off in January? List ALL medical accounts, paid or unpaid AS THEY ARE REPORTING in each dispute letter to each CRA

http://www.whychat.5u.com/hipaadisp.html

 

2. It is mentioned that the SOL for medical collection accounts is 4 years in HIPAA method info? Is that in all states? Are medical accounts/collections considered to be an open account? Open accounts here in Illinois are 5 years SOL. 4 years under the UCC ( Uniform Commercial Code) in every State except those that have a shorter 3 Year SOL in their UCC

 

3. How would you handle if you paid OC on CA reported collection account and it is listed settled for less than balance on CR. (filed on CR 2/06 and settled 1/11)The same as all the rest, you will probably have to go to the next step in this one ( medical DV if the initial dispute letter doesn't do the trick. This is why any payments made to an OC on a medical account MUST be done using the HIPAA letter insert "a"

 

4. How handle unpaid medical collection account reported by CA on CR that is on my wife from our child that was a dependent at the time? Have her opt out, delete old addresses and use the same initial dispute letter for HER CRA reports

 

5. If have more than 1 medical collection account with a CA reporting on one CRA (I have 3 collection accounts with one CA), do I list all 3 in the same CRA pre-HIPAA letter Yes, list them as they appear on THAT report, or use 3 different letters in same envelope, or ?

 

6. Lastly...at what point would the automatic 7 year fall-off point be so close that it is not worth disputing? I have medical accounts falling off (per CR) 8/12, 1/13, 12/12, and 9/12. It is always better, IMO to get accounts disputed off rather than waiting for them to "fall off" as you run the risk of the account being re-aged by another CA

 

Thanks!

[epa3865]

Thank you Whychat!

 

4. How handle unpaid medical collection account reported by CA on CR that is on my wife from our child that was a dependent at the time? Have her opt out, delete old addresses and use the same initial dispute letter for HER CRA reports

 

My daughter does not have this on her CR, just my wife as guarantor of payment. Does my wife handle this as any other medical collection account with the HIPAA letter system, or because it was on my daughter, who on one of the collections was in high school, and the others in college at the time of service, it is handled differently?

[Why Chat]

Thank you Whychat!

 

4. How handle unpaid medical collection account reported by CA on CR that is on my wife from our child that was a dependent at the time? Have her opt out, delete old addresses and use the same initial dispute letter for HER CRA reports

 

My daughter does not have this on her CR, just my wife as guarantor of payment. Does my wife handle this as any other medical collection account with the HIPAA letter system, or because it was on my daughter, who on one of the collections was in high school, and the others in college at the time of service, it is handled differently?

As I said --have her ( your wife) opt out and send the same dispute letter to the CRAs, it doesn't make any difference WHO the medical service was for, the issue is that it is on your wife's reports and is therefore treated exactly the same as if it had been a medical service for herself.

[epa3865]

Sorry Whychat, misunderstood who "her" was - thought you meant my daughter.

 

I am waiting for results of address deletion letters sent off 4/17, and 2 questions come to mind:

 

1. Do I wait for ALL results from ALL CRA's (TU, EXP for wife and EXP for me) about address deletions before starting with ANY pre-HIPAA letter to ANY CRA, including ones I didn't send address deletion letters to?

 

2. Tried to backdoor TU on wife and said could not access when tried to log in, that she had to call. Of course we didn't call, but what am I doing incorrectly in trying to get backdoor access to TU? We got into Experian with no problems. We got the free annual CR's from the CRA's. We logged into TU with log in name and password for wife, and didn't even get to the point of them asking for the report #.

 

3. With watermarks, as long as colors are in same family with type and watermark, and use italics or scroll printing with text, does it matter if it is teal/purple for the watermark and text color? I thought I had it tealish, but it is looking more greyish-green.

[Why Chat]

Sorry Whychat, misunderstood who "her" was - thought you meant my daughter.

 

I am waiting for results of address deletion letters sent off 4/17, and 2 questions come to mind:

 

1. Do I wait for ALL results from ALL CRA's (TU, EXP for wife and EXP for me) about address deletions before starting with ANY pre-HIPAA letter to ANY CRA, including ones I didn't send address deletion letters to? No, send the initial dispute letter to those CRAs where you have been able to delete old addresses AND where you have medical accounts reporting

 

2. Tried to backdoor TU on wife and said could not access when tried to log in, that she had to call. Of course we didn't call, but what am I doing incorrectly in trying to get backdoor access to TU? We got into Experian with no problems. We got the free annual CR's from the CRA's. We logged into TU with log in name and password for wife, and didn't even get to the point of them asking for the report #. There is no reason, at this point to go on line to any CRA where you have received an up to date credit report

 

3. With watermarks, as long as colors are in same family with type and watermark, and use italics or scroll printing with text, does it matter if it is teal/purple for the watermark and text color? I thought I had it tealish, but it is looking more greyish-green.Doesn't matter as long as the color of the font "blends" into the background watermark color

[epa3865]

Sorry Whychat, misunderstood who "her" was - thought you meant my daughter.

 

I am waiting for results of address deletion letters sent off 4/17, and 2 questions come to mind:

 

1. Do I wait for ALL results from ALL CRA's (TU, EXP for wife and EXP for me) about address deletions before starting with ANY pre-HIPAA letter to ANY CRA, including ones I didn't send address deletion letters to? No, send the initial dispute letter to those CRAs where you have been able to delete old addresses AND where you have medical accounts reporting

 

2. Tried to backdoor TU on wife and said could not access when tried to log in, that she had to call. Of course we didn't call, but what am I doing incorrectly in trying to get backdoor access to TU? We got into Experian with no problems. We got the free annual CR's from the CRA's. We logged into TU with log in name and password for wife, and didn't even get to the point of them asking for the report #. There is no reason, at this point to go on line to any CRA where you have received an up to date credit report

 

3. With watermarks, as long as colors are in same family with type and watermark, and use italics or scroll printing with text, does it matter if it is teal/purple for the watermark and text color? I thought I had it tealish, but it is looking more greyish-green.Doesn't matter as long as the color of the font "blends" into the background watermark color

 

Whychat: On #2 above, I was attempting to see with TU if the disputed addresses were deleted yet with my wife as I mentioned in #1. This is how we would verify that they have done or not done the work - by checking through the backdoor - correct? When I go to transunion.com, file dispute, log in with my wife's user name and password (they never ask for file# from my ordered CR), I get the following message:

 

We are unable to complete your request

What happened:

Unfortunately, your request cannot be fulfilled online at this time.

What to do:

Please contact us for assistance.

 

The CR from annualcreditreport.com was originally ordered 4/13. I mailed the address deletion request letter to TU on 4/17 and they received 4/20. How do I check if it is completed if they don't send an updated CR to me or if I can't check backdoor? Do I just wait a period of time after they receive and go ahead and send the pre-HIPAA letter?

[epa3865]

One other question (other than the post right above this). This may even override the above questions:

 

If I currently live at an address that I have lived at for 9 years and I have address dispute letters in to the CRA's for addresses BEFORE that (so over 9 years ago), and ALL the medical collections are from the CURRENT address I've lived at for those 9 years - do I even bother waiting for the CRA's to finish the address letter disputes since the medical collections are not from those addresses? Should I just send out pre-HIPAA now? Or since there is a dispute going on with the CRA's currently, we should wait because it would muddy the waters sending this in now?

[epa3865]

ONE more question (other than the 2 posts above)(sorry!)

 

Whychat: was starting to type out pre-HIPAA letters to get ready for when it was time to mail. Was double checking address for Equifax to mail dispute and the website said if we include an email address in our mailed letter to them they will email a link when they are done disputing with the results so we can see them online. Would this be a faster way of doing (we could print out email and results), or because we want a better paper trail, is it better for us to have the CRA's snail mail the results to us?

[Why Chat]

ONE more question (other than the 2 posts above)(sorry!)

 

Whychat: was starting to type out pre-HIPAA letters to get ready for when it was time to mail. Was double checking address for Equifax to mail dispute and the website said if we include an email address in our mailed letter to them they will email a link when they are done disputing with the results so we can see them online. Would this be a faster way of doing (we could print out email and results), or because we want a better paper trail, is it better for us to have the CRA's snail mail the results to us?

You do NOT want to do any disputes on line or by e-mail in any way. DO NOT provide your e-mail address.

[epa3865]

Whychat:

 

If I currently live at an address that I have lived at for 9 years and I have address dispute letters in to the CRA's for addresses BEFORE that (so over 9 years ago), and ALL the medical collections are from the CURRENT address I've lived at for those 9 years - do I even bother waiting for the CRA's to finish the address letter disputes since the medical collections are not from those addresses? Should I just send out pre-HIPAA now? Or since there is a dispute going on with the CRA's currently, we should wait because it would muddy the waters sending this in now?

[Why Chat]

Whychat:

 

If I currently live at an address that I have lived at for 9 years and I have address dispute letters in to the CRA's for addresses BEFORE that (so over 9 years ago), and ALL the medical collections are from the CURRENT address I've lived at for those 9 years - do I even bother waiting for the CRA's to finish the address letter disputes since the medical collections are not from those addresses? Should I just send out pre-HIPAA now? Or since there is a dispute going on with the CRA's currently, we should wait because it would muddy the waters sending this in now?

If you have not moved within the past 7 years there is NO REASON to dispute old addresses. The purpose of deleting old addresses is to prevent a "match" to the CAs records of your address when the medical service was provided.

[epa3865]

Whychat:

 

If I currently live at an address that I have lived at for 9 years and I have address dispute letters in to the CRA's for addresses BEFORE that (so over 9 years ago), and ALL the medical collections are from the CURRENT address I've lived at for those 9 years - do I even bother waiting for the CRA's to finish the address letter disputes since the medical collections are not from those addresses? Should I just send out pre-HIPAA now? Or since there is a dispute going on with the CRA's currently, we should wait because it would muddy the waters sending this in now?

If you have not moved within the past 7 years there is NO REASON to dispute old addresses. The purpose of deleting old addresses is to prevent a "match" to the CAs records of your address when the medical service was provided.

 

Since we disputed our old addresses that are showing on our CR that are older than 7 years, do we need to wait until the address dispute is resolved with the CRA BEFORE sending out the pre-HIPAA letter?

[epa3865]

ttt

[epa3865]

Ok, went out of town for a bit...

 

Came back and saw we had letters from all 3 CRA's saying that they added 90 day fraud alerts to our CR's. All I did was send in letters asking for removal of old addresses using Whychat's letter suggestions for their removal. In our letters to the CRA's, there is mention that "I am concerned about ID theft or fraud because they (old addresses) are incorrect". I did not request fraud alerts or say I was a victim of ID theft or fraud - just that I am "concerned about", like you suggest. Did we do something wrong, and what do we do now? Do we have to have these fraud alerts removed before moving forward, or wait out the 90 days? We have already opted out and sent in these requests for address deletions. We probably wasted time here because we have lived in the same location for about 9 years and the medical collections are from the current address.

 

Thanks in advance, Whychat!

[Why Chat]

Ok, went out of town for a bit...

 

Came back and saw we had letters from all 3 CRA's saying that they added 90 day fraud alerts to our CR's. All I did was send in letters asking for removal of old addresses using Whychat's letter suggestions for their removal. In our letters to the CRA's, there is mention that "I am concerned about ID theft or fraud because they (old addresses) are incorrect". I did not request fraud alerts or say I was a victim of ID theft or fraud - just that I am "concerned about", like you suggest. Did we do something wrong, and what do we do now? Do we have to have these fraud alerts removed before moving forward, or wait out the 90 days? We have already opted out and sent in these requests for address deletions. We probably wasted time here because we have lived in the same location for about 9 years and the medical collections are from the current address.

 

Thanks in advance, Whychat!

Sorry you bothered to try to delete old addresses. I suggest that ONLY if there are old previous addresses linked to the date of medical service.

A fraud alert generally HELPS the dispute process.

Have you sent the initial dispute letters?

http://www.whychat.5u.com/hipaadisp.html

[epa3865]

Ok, went out of town for a bit...

 

Came back and saw we had letters from all 3 CRA's saying that they added 90 day fraud alerts to our CR's. All I did was send in letters asking for removal of old addresses using Whychat's letter suggestions for their removal. In our letters to the CRA's, there is mention that "I am concerned about ID theft or fraud because they (old addresses) are incorrect". I did not request fraud alerts or say I was a victim of ID theft or fraud - just that I am "concerned about", like you suggest. Did we do something wrong, and what do we do now? Do we have to have these fraud alerts removed before moving forward, or wait out the 90 days? We have already opted out and sent in these requests for address deletions. We probably wasted time here because we have lived in the same location for about 9 years and the medical collections are from the current address.

 

Thanks in advance, Whychat!

Sorry you bothered to try to delete old addresses. I suggest that ONLY if there are old previous addresses linked to the date of medical service.

A fraud alert generally HELPS the dispute process.

Have you sent the initial dispute letters?

http://www.whychat.5u.com/hipaadisp.html

 

No, was waiting for address dispute to sort out. Now wanted to make sure I can go ahead with pre-HIPAA letter, which I see I can now based on your reply, and I will do next couple days.

 

Thanks!

[epa3865]

Does it matter if I mail out my wife's and my letters to the same places (CRA - pre-HIPAA or any other letter) on the same day, or should I stagger them by a day or two?

[epa3865]

Whychat:

 

To consolidate current questions:

 

1. Does it matter if I mail out my wife's and my pre-HIPAA letters to the same CRA's (or any other credit repair letters for future reference) on the same day, or should I stagger them by a day or two?

 

2. While I am working on me and my wife's medical collections with this HIPAA method, should I, at the same time, work on other tactics for other negative tradelines that are NOT medical collections, or should I wait until this process is finished?

[Why Chat]

Whychat:

 

To consolidate current questions:

 

1. Does it matter if I mail out my wife's and my pre-HIPAA letters to the same CRA's (or any other credit repair letters for future reference) on the same day, or should I stagger them by a day or two? Doesn't matter as long as they are in separate envelopes with separate certified mail tracking #s

 

2. While I am working on me and my wife's medical collections with this HIPAA method, should I, at the same time, work on other tactics for other negative tradelines that are NOT medical collections, or should I wait until this process is finished? You MUST wait until the medical disputes are resolved before starting on the non medical ones, otherwise your disputes will be melded in their computer system and will create a confusing mess

[epa3865]

Whychat: Here is an initial update. Mailed out all pre-HIPAA letters to all 3 CRA's 5/15 from me and wife (6 letters total) as per your method. Transunion received our letters (per CM printout online) 5/18. I received 2 letters today from TU (one for me and wife) dated 5/23. ALL CA medical accounts deleted! My wife had 5 medical collection accounts (one was paid in full previously to OC and 4 still with open accounts, but past medical SOL) I had 2 medical collections (one paid to OC in 1/12 before starting HIPAA process that was originally put on CR in 12/11, and one that was settled for 1/2 on 1/11 that was showing settled for less than full balance).

 

Thank you...just wanted to show people this stuff works, and can work fast!

 

A few questions:

 

1. There is nothing left to do with Transunion or the OC with these accounts? (especially the ones with an open balance)

 

2. Can they return on the CR's? If so, what do I do then?

 

3. How could they get results that fast? (8 days)

 

4. With Transunion at least, can I go ahead with my wife and I with the other negatives on our CR with TU since all the medical collections are done with TU for both of us? Or do I need to wait until Experian and Equifax are done?

 

Thanks again.

[Why Chat]

Whychat: Here is an initial update. Mailed out all pre-HIPAA letters to all 3 CRA's 5/15 from me and wife (6 letters total) as per your method. Transunion received our letters (per CM printout online) 5/18. I received 2 letters today from TU (one for me and wife) dated 5/23. ALL CA medical accounts deleted! My wife had 5 medical collection accounts (one was paid in full previously to OC and 4 still with open accounts, but past medical SOL) I had 2 medical collections (one paid to OC in 1/12 before starting HIPAA process that was originally put on CR in 12/11, and one that was settled for 1/2 on 1/11 that was showing settled for less than full balance).

 

Thank you...just wanted to show people this stuff works, and can work fast!

 

A few questions:

 

1. There is nothing left to do with Transunion or the OC with these accounts? (especially the ones with an open balance) Correct

 

2. Can they return on the CR's? If so, what do I do then?No, they can't return, the CRA has sent you a letter of deletion and they are not allowed to re-insert

 

3. How could they get results that fast? (8 days)

The initial dispute letter works because there is NO automated processing, all they can do is delete

4. With Transunion at least, can I go ahead with my wife and I with the other negatives on our CR with TU since all the medical collections are done with TU for both of us? Or do I need to wait until Experian and Equifax are done? Yes, you can go ahead with disputes to TU, try the "SOL" letter program from my website:

http://whychat.5u.com/nottoca.html

 

Thanks again.

[epa3865]

2nd Update: Experian

 

Got 3 letters today. One letter each from Experian to me and my wife and a third (see below). Very confusing. These letters were the response from Experian to our pre-HIPAA letters.

 

Mine said:

 

Dear ____________

 

If you question the results of our dispute process, then you may want to contact the furnisher of information directly or review the original information in the public record. Please refer to your original personal credit report for the furnisher or public records office name, address, and phone number (if available).

 

Sincerely,

Experian

NCAC

P.O. Box 2002

Allen TX 75013

 

That is all that was in the letter! What the heck does this mean? The rest of the page was my address label, their logo, who it was prepared for - me, the date, report number.

 

In the pre-HIPAA letter I included one medical collection and followed your instructions to a "T": hand-addressed the envelope, stationery with tealish background, tealish printing, etc, etc.

 

I checked Experian for me and my wife online by starting a dispute using the same report number, and the medical collection I listed in my pre-HIPAA letter, is still showing.

 

Funny thing, though. I haven't heard anything from that medical collection CA, since before they reported to Experian in 12/11, and today, the third letter was from that CA demanding payment for that medical collection. Even though I paid it in full with the OC in 1/12 (before starting this HIPAA process).

 

What does this letter from Experian for me mean, and what is my next step?

 

 

My wife also got a letter from Experian today. Her letter, again a response to the pre-HIPAA I sent out for her, looked like my letter above, but also had a little more:

 

Dear ____________

 

If you question the results of our dispute process, then you may want to contact the furnisher of information directly or review the original information in the public record. Please refer to your original personal credit report for the furnisher or public records office name, address, and phone number (if available).

 

According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), a national consumer credit reporting agency's role in the dispute process is to review the accuracy and completeness of any disputed item which may include contacting the source of the disputed information and informing them of all relevant information regarding the consumer's dispute. If the issue is not resolved, then the consumer credit reporting agency must offer to include a consumer statement on the personal credit report.

 

The Federal Trade Commission (the government agency charged with enforcement of the FCRA) does not require that the consumer credit reporting company obtain documentation such as the actual signed sales slips, signature cards, contracts, etc; nor does it require that consumer reporting agencies act as mediators or negotiators in account disputes.

 

Sincerely,

Experian

NCAC

P.O. Box 2002

Allen TX 75013

 

Again with this response for my wife to Experian, we sent out a pre-HIPAA letter listing 2 medical collections. When I checked online with Experian today, one of the medical collections remain, and the other is gone. Did they by chance, forget to add the part in blue to my letter?

 

Why don't they tell you what they have done and give you the results? Or is there another letter coming? What is our next step with my wife now?

 

Thanks Whychat!

[Why Chat]

2nd Update: Experian

 

Got 3 letters today. One letter each from Experian to me and my wife and a third (see below). Very confusing. These letters were the response from Experian to our pre-HIPAA letters.

 

Mine said:

 

Dear ____________

 

If you question the results of our dispute process, then you may want to contact the furnisher of information directly or review the original information in the public record. Please refer to your original personal credit report for the furnisher or public records office name, address, and phone number (if available).

 

Sincerely,

Experian

NCAC

P.O. Box 2002

Allen TX 75013

 

That is all that was in the letter! What the heck does this mean? The rest of the page was my address label, their logo, who it was prepared for - me, the date, report number.

 

In the pre-HIPAA letter I included one medical collection and followed your instructions to a "T": hand-addressed the envelope, stationery with tealish background, tealish printing, etc, etc.

 

I checked Experian for me and my wife online by starting a dispute using the same report number, and the medical collection I listed in my pre-HIPAA letter, is still showing.

 

Funny thing, though. I haven't heard anything from that medical collection CA, since before they reported to Experian in 12/11, and today, the third letter was from that CA demanding payment for that medical collection. Even though I paid it in full with the OC in 1/12 (before starting this HIPAA process).

 

What does this letter from Experian for me mean, and what is my next step?

 

 

My wife also got a letter from Experian today. Her letter, again a response to the pre-HIPAA I sent out for her, looked like my letter above, but also had a little more:

 

Dear ____________

 

If you question the results of our dispute process, then you may want to contact the furnisher of information directly or review the original information in the public record. Please refer to your original personal credit report for the furnisher or public records office name, address, and phone number (if available).

 

According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), a national consumer credit reporting agency's role in the dispute process is to review the accuracy and completeness of any disputed item which may include contacting the source of the disputed information and informing them of all relevant information regarding the consumer's dispute. If the issue is not resolved, then the consumer credit reporting agency must offer to include a consumer statement on the personal credit report.

 

The Federal Trade Commission (the government agency charged with enforcement of the FCRA) does not require that the consumer credit reporting company obtain documentation such as the actual signed sales slips, signature cards, contracts, etc; nor does it require that consumer reporting agencies act as mediators or negotiators in account disputes.

 

Sincerely,

Experian

NCAC

P.O. Box 2002

Allen TX 75013

 

Again with this response for my wife to Experian, we sent out a pre-HIPAA letter listing 2 medical collections. When I checked online with Experian today, one of the medical collections remain, and the other is gone. Did they by chance, forget to add the part in blue to my letter?

 

Why don't they tell you what they have done and give you the results? Or is there another letter coming? What is our next step with my wife now?

 

Thanks Whychat!

Do not EVER expect anything that makes sense from Experian, their computer system does whatever seems to fit the issue even if it is non responsive and inaccurate.

 

I can assume that you are now ONLY dealing with 1 medical left on Experian only in your wife's and 2 on your reports?

 

Send the reporting CAs the medical DV

http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html

This medical DV includes a full cease and desist so make sure you include BOTH the verification AND the correspondence paragraphs for YOUR entry:

 

This letter is being sent to you in response to your attached letter and your recent fraudulent verification of an unknown medical account on my (name of CRA) report

 

and then send Ex this

 

http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#DISPUTE