About to start HIPPA disputes

[Why Chat]

Okay, so for the NACS account I sent the follow up letters to the OC and CRAs. Just got back the green card from the OC today. Nothing yet from the CRAs. Backdoored Equifax just now and the NACS collection is now being reported as paid. Anything I need to do about this or do I just wait for the normal dispute process to continue?

Is this still only on Eq?? A "paid" collection is worse for your scores than an unpaid one as it is still derogatory, but is more recent. If there is more than a year's difference in the dates you may want to get it completely deleted. Wait for your response from the CRAs and/or the OC from your recent follow up letters and then post back with what is still being reported.

[muss08]

It was never reported to Experian but is being reported as paid on both Equifax and TU. Equifax backdoor shows its being investigated but TU still does not.

[Why Chat]

It was never reported to Experian but is being reported as paid on both Equifax and TU. Equifax backdoor shows its being investigated but TU still does not.

Wait for results from Ex and TU, then come back here with the actual results.

[muss08]

TU was deleted, Equifax is still investigating. Will let you know when the Equifax investigation is complete.

 

 

New questions- I'm ready to start the HIPPA process on the rest of my medical collections but most are still in SOL by a couple months. Correct me if I'm wrong but in Maryland the SOL is 3 years? If so SOL will be up for 4/5 collections in September/October. Should I wait until then to send the initial dispute letters to the CRAs? None of the debts are over 1K. Two are about 650 (however one of these is a billing error and is really under $100 based on EOMB) one is about 800 and the other two are under 100.

 

Also, since I have an investigation in process with Equifax right now should I wait until the investigation is done before sending out the pre-HIPPA letters for my other collections? The current investigation has nothing to do with these remaining collections.

 

Do you want me to keep this thread going for my next round of disputes or start a new thread? I know it's getting kinda long.

 

FYI- I've had all old addresses removed and I've been opted out for about 6 months now.

[Why Chat]

TU was deleted, Equifax is still investigating. Will let you know when the Equifax investigation is complete.

 

 

New questions- I'm ready to start the HIPPA process on the rest of my medical collections but most are still in SOL by a couple months. Correct me if I'm wrong but in Maryland the SOL is 3 years? If so SOL will be up for 4/5 collections in September/October. Should I wait until then to send the initial dispute letters to the CRAs? None of the debts are over 1K. Two are about 650 (however one of these is a billing error and is really under $100 based on EOMB) one is about 800 and the other two are under 100.

 

Also, since I have an investigation in process with Equifax right now should I wait until the investigation is done before sending out the pre-HIPPA letters for my other collections? The current investigation has nothing to do with these remaining collections.

 

Do you want me to keep this thread going for my next round of disputes or start a new thread? I know it's getting kinda long.

 

FYI- I've had all old addresses removed and I've been opted out for about 6 months now.

Are you saying you did not list ALL your medical accounts in your original first dispute to the CRAs??

 

If so, you will have to wait 60 days from your last communication from or to each CRA before you can dispute the other medical accounts, otherwise they will get mixed up into your original dispute.

 

Keep this thread going.

[muss08]

I never sent the initial dispute letter to the CRAs because the two accounts I've been working on were for service within the past year, were legit collections and i have the EOMBs. In a previous post you told me if I was SURE they were legitimate to go ahead and pay the OC with insert "a". This is why I was wondering about starting a new thread because this one has become very long and a lot of previous information gets lost in the shuffle. I have only sent the follow up dispute letters to Equifax and TU (the letter you send to the CRAs AFTER confirmation the OC has cashed the cashiers check). Equifax is still investigating the one collection while TU has deleted.

 

So since I've only sent the follow up letter to Equifax and TU do I still need to wait 60 days? Or can I send the initial dispute letter for the rest of the collections once Equifax has completed the current investigation?

[Why Chat]

I never sent the initial dispute letter to the CRAs because the two accounts I've been working on were for service within the past year, were legit collections and i have the EOMBs. In a previous post you told me if I was SURE they were legitimate to go ahead and pay the OC with insert "a". This is why I was wondering about starting a new thread because this one has become very long and a lot of previous information gets lost in the shuffle. I have only sent the follow up dispute letters to Equifax and TU (the letter you send to the CRAs AFTER confirmation the OC has cashed the cashiers check). Equifax is still investigating the one collection while TU has deleted.

 

So since I've only sent the follow up letter to Equifax and TU do I still need to wait 60 days? Or can I send the initial dispute letter for the rest of the collections once Equifax has completed the current investigation?

You paid the OC with the HIPAA letter insert "a" and you are awaiting resolution on THAT issue with Eq, wait until your current disputes with Eq is completed before you send the NEW dispute to them.

 

You can send the dispute on the "left over " accounts to TU, now that the prior account has deleted

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

[muss08]

So I backdoored Equifax today and the collection account I was disputing is no longer showing as disputed so it looks like Equifax verified. Next step is to send the courtesy letter correct? I know I have to wait to get Equifax's letter response so I can send a copy of that with the courtesy letter. Do i send the courtesy letter to the OC, CA and Equifax or just one or two of these?

[Why Chat]

So I backdoored Equifax today and the collection account I was disputing is no longer showing as disputed so it looks like Equifax verified. Next step is to send the courtesy letter correct? I know I have to wait to get Equifax's letter response so I can send a copy of that with the courtesy letter. Do i send the courtesy letter to the OC, CA and Equifax or just one or two of these?

If this account has been deleted from all other reports and is ONLY reporting on Eq. you should try the FTC complaint FIRST:

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

Before doing the HIPAA complaint

 

If the FTC complaint doesn't work and if this is the "follow up dispute" for an account showing as paid after you paid the OC with the HIPAA letter, I assume that you sent the OC a copy of the dispute with the cover letter??

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOLLOW UP TO "HIPAA" LETTER TO ORIGINAL CREDITOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

ALL FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE SHOULD BE SENT CMRR

1-

Make sure any money order has been deposited ,or you have received a return receipt from your letter if insert "b" or "c" were used.

2-

Send the follow up letter posted below.

3-

Send a copy of the follow up letter to the OC (legal dept) with the cover letter,(follows letter to CRA)

4-

If the CRA responds with verification from the CA or the OC, file a complaint with the HIPAA administration for the OC's , the CA's and the CRA's violation of the privacy rules of HIPAA,and with any available State's Medical Privacy Act administration.

If they do NOT respond with any verification and the account is NOT deleted, file a civil suit against the OC and the CA for their liability for violations of the FCRA and FACTA.

 

5-

DO NOT under any circumstances, write or correspond with the CA regarding this matter, any correspondence or communication that YOU instigate, while not a waiver of your privacy rights under HIPAA, will impede any cause of action you might have as the non permitted "communication" would have come from YOU.

Please understand, that any CA or CRA now has FULL liability under HIPAA, even if they are NOT the health provider and/or have no business relationship with them. They are NOW covered under the provisions of the act for all medical accounts", they are now also subject to the the penalty rules of the HITECH Act as issued 11/30/2009. if THEY violate, they can also be named in ALL your filed complaints.

 

Wait for a written response from Eq. and send the OC the courtesy letter.

Do NOT at this point notify the CA, wait for a response from the OC.

 

If it comes time to actually file the complaint you can file it against the OC, send them a copy of the filed complaint ( make sure you put the complaint file # on)

[muss08]

Yes i sent the follow up disputes to eq and tu. Ex was not reporting. I sent a copy of the disputes to the oc with the cover letter. TU immediately deleted. So now I'll do the FTC complaint and let you know what happens

[muss08]

WhyChat,

Is there a specific follow up dispute letter that I send to Equifax with the copy of the FTC complaint? Do I actually file the FTC complaint before redisputing with Equifax or do I just send them a copy of the FTC complaint then file if they still don't delete?

[Why Chat]

WhyChat,

Is there a specific follow up dispute letter that I send to Equifax with the copy of the FTC complaint? Do I actually file the FTC complaint before redisputing with Equifax or do I just send them a copy of the FTC complaint then file if they still don't delete?

You file the complaint, ( make sure you have a "word" copy BEFORE you click enter) you then affix the FTC complaint file # to the copy of the dispute and send that together with a simple cover letter ie " I have filed this complaint # xxxxx( attached) against your Agency Make sure that your follow up dispute to the CRA is addressed to their compliance dept. sent CMRR and includes this phrase;

"I reserve the right to take further action including filing appropriate complaints with the OCR on HIPAA violations, the (name of your State)'s Attorney General under the penalty rules of the HITECH Act as issued 11/30/2009. ( your State) 's consumer protection agencies, the BBB and to take civil action to recover damages. ".

[muss08]

WhyChat,

Is there a specific follow up dispute letter that I send to Equifax with the copy of the FTC complaint? Do I actually file the FTC complaint before redisputing with Equifax or do I just send them a copy of the FTC complaint then file if they still don't delete?

You file the complaint, ( make sure you have a "word" copy BEFORE you click enter) you then affix the FTC complaint file # to the copy of the dispute and send that together with a simple cover letter ie " I have filed this complaint # xxxxx( attached) against your Agency Make sure that your follow up dispute to the CRA is addressed to their compliance dept. sent CMRR and includes this phrase;

"I reserve the right to take further action including filing appropriate complaints with the OCR on HIPAA violations, the (name of your State)'s Attorney General under the penalty rules of the HITECH Act as issued 11/30/2009. ( your State) 's consumer protection agencies, the BBB and to take civil action to recover damages. ".

 

Is the "copy of the dispute" you speak of a copy of the follow up dispute letter I have already sent?

[Why Chat]

WhyChat,

Is there a specific follow up dispute letter that I send to Equifax with the copy of the FTC complaint? Do I actually file the FTC complaint before redisputing with Equifax or do I just send them a copy of the FTC complaint then file if they still don't delete?

You file the complaint, ( make sure you have a "word" copy BEFORE you click enter) you then affix the FTC complaint file # to the copy of the dispute and send that together with a simple cover letter ie " I have filed this complaint # xxxxx( attached) against your Agency Make sure that your follow up dispute to the CRA is addressed to their compliance dept. sent CMRR and includes this phrase;

"I reserve the right to take further action including filing appropriate complaints with the OCR on HIPAA violations, the (name of your State)'s Attorney General under the penalty rules of the HITECH Act as issued 11/30/2009. ( your State) 's consumer protection agencies, the BBB and to take civil action to recover damages. ".

 

Is the "copy of the dispute" you speak of a copy of the follow up dispute letter I have already sent?

Sorry, I meant copy of the filed complaint.

[muss08]

Sorry WhyChat... just to clarify. I file the complaint and print it out. Send a copy of the complaint with the complaint # to Equifax with the simple cover letter. Do I ask them to reinvestigate in the cover letter or demand deletion in the cover letter? Or do I just let them know I filed the complaint and reserve the right to take further action?

[Why Chat]

Sorry WhyChat... just to clarify. I file the complaint and print it out. Send a copy of the complaint with the complaint # to Equifax with the simple cover letter. Do I ask them to reinvestigate in the cover letter or demand deletion in the cover letter? Or do I just let them know I filed the complaint and reserve the right to take further action?

You must save it in Word or Notepad FIRST BEFORE clicking enter on the complaint because your response from the FTC will ONLY have a file # and NOT a copy of your complaint. And yes do not ask them to reinvestigate ir demand deletion in the cover letter, just restate the dates of your dispute letters ( as you did in the complaint)

 

PS If your account on Eq. is NOT showing "disputed by consumer" you should add that to the filed complaint.

[muss08]

Okay WhyChat. I filed the FTC complaint and sent a cover letter and a copy of the complaint with the complaint # to Equifax. I recieved this response:

 

>>> We have reviewed your concerns and our conclusions are:

The disputed account north america credit is currently not reporting on the Equifax credit file

 

Now, the account in question is north americaN credit (with an N). It was spelled correctly in the cover letter and the FTC complaint. Did this happen because Equifax simply rushed the process and did not enter the information I sent to them correctly? Should I send them a follow up letter stating they did not look at the correct account and point out THEIR mistake? Or should i go ahead and file a HIPPA complaint?

[Why Chat]

Okay WhyChat. I filed the FTC complaint and sent a cover letter and a copy of the complaint with the complaint # to Equifax. I recieved this response:

 

>>> We have reviewed your concerns and our conclusions are:

The disputed account north america credit is currently not reporting on the Equifax credit file

 

Now, the account in question is north americaN credit (with an N). It was spelled correctly in the cover letter and the FTC complaint. Did this happen because Equifax simply rushed the process and did not enter the information I sent to them correctly? Should I send them a follow up letter stating they did not look at the correct account and point out THEIR mistake? Or should i go ahead and file a HIPPA complaint?

Is it or is it NOT still showing on your Eq report?? Have you checked your report ( back door)??

[muss08]

Oh sorry. Yeah it is still reportiing

[Why Chat]

Oh sorry. Yeah it is still reportiing

OK,

This is one of the few times where you have to get on the phone and get through to a supervisor.

 

Tell them that they sent you a letter stating that the account was deleted, when, in fact it was not.

 

PLEASE make sure you are not viewing your "old" report. Unless you go into the system through the "back door" all you are looking at is the original report which is NOT updated.

[muss08]

WhyChat

 

Time for round 2 of disputes. I've already sent out the initial dispute letters to the CRAs and most entries have been "verified." No response from the CAs, just the CRAs. One quick question. I'm getting ready to send out the follow up letters to the CAs. There is one CA with 3 entries on all 3 reports collecting on 3 different accounts. Can I include all 3 account numbers in one letter or do I need to write one letter for each account? If I need one letter for each account can I mail them all in one envelope? (that would be 9 letters in one envelope to this CA- 3 accounts X 3 for each CRA). Thanks

[Why Chat]

WhyChat

 

Time for round 2 of disputes. I've already sent out the initial dispute letters to the CRAs and most entries have been "verified." No response from the CAs, just the CRAs. One quick question. I'm getting ready to send out the follow up letters to the CAs. There is one CA with 3 entries on all 3 reports collecting on 3 different accounts. Can I include all 3 account numbers in one letter or do I need to write one letter for each account? If I need one letter for each account can I mail them all in one envelope? (that would be 9 letters in one envelope to this CA- 3 accounts X 3 for each CRA). Thanks

List them on one letter.

You will need a separate letter for each CRA they are reporting to, mailed in one envelope.

 

Make sure that each "CRA" letter contains the accounts as they are appearing on THAT report.

[muss08]

Thanks WhyChat. I'll post again if I have anymore questions

[muss08]

Okay- Sent out initial disputes. Some entries were verified a couple deleted. Received nothing from the CAs in quesiton. Sent out the follow up letters to the CAs that were verified CMRRR (none were to PO boxes). Soon as I got the green cards back sent the follow up letter to the CRAs, just got the last green card from the CRAs today. Two things happened. First, a couple days ago one of the CAs responded with bills, signatures, EOMBs, copy of my drivers license, etc. They had their ducks in a row. Second, TransUnion responded to the follow up letter by saying they are refusing to reinvestigate since they just did and they see the follow up as frivolous. Last bit of information is that the remaining account on TU is owned by the CA that responded. Where should I go from here?

[Why Chat]

How old ( date of medical service) is the account that the CA replied with documentation?? Does the documentation match your records??

If so, and it is within the past 4 years -pay the OC with the HIPAA letter insert "a".