Newbie - Need help with Unknown Hosipital Bill

[Don212]

I received a letter in the mail today from a L.A. for a lawyer. The letter is a request for payment of a $4,000 medical bill from a hospital that I never was in and I have barely heard of. In addition, the letter implies that they had communicated with me before and that I had advised them to sue me. They go on to advise that, as a final gesture of good will, they are sending me this letter so I can have a final opportunity to satisfy the obligation. And if they have to sue, all costs of the suit will become part of the amount sought in the summons, if the court grants judgment in their favor. Further, they advise that they expect to commence the suit in ten days. They end the letter with, --"This is an effort to collect a debt by a debt collector and all information obtained will be used for that purpose only".

 

I have never heard of this debt until today and have never spoken or communicated with anyone with regard to this debt. I have never even been to the hospital that is referenced in the letter. I don’t think this information is on my CR.

 

(I don't know if this has any bearing on this matter, but I was contacted several weeks ago by a very large consulting firm that did work for my old employer. They advised that a computer was stolen from their offices which contained my name and social security number. They advised that they had arranged for me to enroll in the Equifax Credit Watch Gold free for two years. I registered with the service as they suggested.)

 

I am very concerned with this letter and I am unsure how to proceed. I am concerned that any information I give this firm will be used against me. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

[Why Chat]

I received a letter in the mail today from a L.A. for a lawyer. The letter is a request for payment of a $4,000 medical bill from a hospital that I never was in and I have barely heard of. In addition, the letter implies that they had communicated with me before and that I had advised them to sue me. They go on to advise that, as a final gesture of good will, they are sending me this letter so I can have a final opportunity to satisfy the obligation. And if they have to sue, all costs of the suit will become part of the amount sought in the summons, if the court grants judgment in their favor. Further, they advise that they expect to commence the suit in ten days. They end the letter with, --"This is an effort to collect a debt by a debt collector and all information obtained will be used for that purpose only".

 

I have never heard of this debt until today and have never spoken or communicated with anyone with regard to this debt. I have never even been to the hospital that is referenced in the letter. I don’t think this information is on my CR.

 

(I don't know if this has any bearing on this matter, but I was contacted several weeks ago by a very large consulting firm that did work for my old employer. They advised that a computer was stolen from their offices which contained my name and social security number. They advised that they had arranged for me to enroll in the Equifax Credit Watch Gold free for two years. I registered with the service as they suggested.)

 

I am very concerned with this letter and I am unsure how to proceed. I am concerned that any information I give this firm will be used against me. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

You are the victim of ID theft.

Notify your "old employer" immediately.

File with the Equifax service that you have had your ID stolen.

File with the FTC

Put a fraud alert on your reports.

 

Contact your State AG office ID fraud/theft Dept. and send them copies of the correspondence.

 

Do NOT contact the "lawyer" unless instructed to by State or Federal authorities.