To pay the OC or the CA?

[EricJ73]

I have 4 negs on my report from First Federal Credit. They are originally from my doctors office. I had no idea I owed them anything, but apparently my insurance didn't cover a few things. All the collections are small, the total is under $400. I talked to the collection agency, and they said they would not remove it from my report if I paid it, they would only report as a $0 balance. I prefer to pay the doctors office directly, but would it cause me more of a headache?I would like some input on what my best course of action would be.

[bonbonXO]

Make sure you have opted out:

 

http://whychat.5u.com/OPTOUTINST.HTML

Delete any old address if you have moved within the last 8-10 years

 

 

Send this to any CRAs that is reporting the medical collection. Follow all the instructions even if they seem a little odd- Personalized Stationary, colored fonts CM no RR

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

Why Chat's HIPAA process is designed to have legitimate medical collection deleted from your CR, the process must be used in full don't skip any steps.

 

Once you recived the FULL results back from http://whychat.5u.com/hipaadisp.html, you will be in a better position to determine what your next step should be, That could be paying the OC. Don't engauge in any more coummination with the CA, that will cause you more of a headache.

[EricJ73]

Make sure you have opted out:

 

http://whychat.5u.com/OPTOUTINST.HTML

Delete any old address if you have moved within the last 8-10 years

 

 

Send this to any CRAs that is reporting the medical collection. Follow all the instructions even if they seem a little odd- Personalized Stationary, colored fonts CM no RR

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

Why Chat's HIPAA process is designed to have legitimate medical collection deleted from your CR, the process must be used in full don't skip any steps.

 

Once you recived the FULL results back from http://whychat.5u.com/hipaadisp.html, you will be in a better position to determine what your next step should be, That could be paying the OC. Don't engauge in any more coummination with the CA, that will cause you more of a headache.

 

 

I already made the mistake of agreeing to pay the debt...then they told me they wouldn't remove it, just 0 balance it. I just need to get this taken care of ASAP. I think I screwed myself.

[Why Chat]

Make sure you have opted out:

 

http://whychat.5u.com/OPTOUTINST.HTML

Delete any old address if you have moved within the last 8-10 years

 

 

Send this to any CRAs that is reporting the medical collection. Follow all the instructions even if they seem a little odd- Personalized Stationary, colored fonts CM no RR

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

Why Chat's HIPAA process is designed to have legitimate medical collection deleted from your CR, the process must be used in full don't skip any steps.

 

Once you recived the FULL results back from http://whychat.5u.com/hipaadisp.html, you will be in a better position to determine what your next step should be, That could be paying the OC. Don't engauge in any more coummination with the CA, that will cause you more of a headache.

 

 

I already made the mistake of agreeing to pay the debt...then they told me they wouldn't remove it, just 0 balance it. I just need to get this taken care of ASAP. I think I screwed myself.

Whatever you told the CA verbally doesn't count, follow the program or you WILL get screwed by the CA and a lot of other CA's who will take advantage of you by poisoning your reports.

[EricJ73]

Alright, thanks guys, I will get on this right now.

[EricJ73]

One more question. When I send in the letter to the CRa, Can I put all the account numbers on one letter (all the same collection company), or do I need to send separate letters for each item?

[bonbonXO]

List all account numbers in one letter, make sure your do a separate letter for each CRA.

All 4 in one letter-

Keep everything in this thread- Don't start a new one!

[EricJ73]

I have an email from experian saying

 

"Your most recent Equifax reinvestigation has been started. This process can take up to 30 days to complete. For faster delivery of your results, you can now receive the results of your investigation online.

 

To accept receipt of the results of your investigation online, please click on this hyperlink:

 

https://www.OptinOnlineDelivery.equifax.com/optin/........

 

Any reinvestigation that you have created within the timeframe of this request will be available for your review online upon completion.

 

We appreciate your help as we work together to protect our environment by going green and increasing your account security with electronic delivery."

 

 

Should I avoid this or is it something I should use?

[bonbonXO]

Avoid it...if you agreed to if go back and opt out again.

http://whychat.5u.com/OPTOUTINST.HTML

[EricJ73]

Avoid it...if you agreed to if go back and opt out again.

http://whychat.5u.com/OPTOUTINST.HTML

 

Just the CRA opt out?

 

On another note.

 

I just realized that I never "opted out" from all creditors. I did the CRA opt out. I do not have any OC's reporting on me right now, just CA's. I have no current accounts, everything is either closed positive, or in collections. I am under the impression that I should never send an opt out to a CA. Should I have sent out any opt out letters?

Edited August 19, 2009 by EricJ73

[Why Chat]

Avoid it...if you agreed to if go back and opt out again.

http://whychat.5u.com/OPTOUTINST.HTML

 

Just the CRA opt out?

 

On another note.

 

I just realized that I never "opted out" from all creditors. I did the CRA opt out. I do not have any OC's reporting on me right now, just CA's. I have no current accounts, everything is either closed positive, or in collections. I am under the impression that I should never send an opt out to a CA. Should I have sent out any opt out letters?

The "full" opt out from ALL your bank and current credit accounts is not essential unless you are having extensive concerns about ID theft, or are in the midst of serious other credit problems such as foreclosure, divorce or BK. As to sending back the privacy notices to a CA, I do not suggest it at all, as it would provide them with proof of your current address and would NOT prevent them from selling your account to another bottom feeder.

[EricJ73]

I received a response from Trans Union today.

 

"Thank you for contacting Trans Union. Our goal is to maintain complete and accurate information on consumer credit reports. We have provided the information below in response to your request.

 

RE: Verification documents not available.

 

We store information in our records as it is supplied to us by creditors. When information is disputed, we are required to investigate and record the current status of the information. We do not provide dispute verification responses received from your creditors. If you need to obtain documentation or written verification concerning your accounts, then please contact your creditors directly."

 

I interpret this as "if you have a problem with it, call the creditor". I can not access my report online for some reason, so I have no idea if it was taken off or not. Is this a standard reply from TU? What should me next step be?

[bonbonXO]

This TU, way of acknowledging your dispute, wait for the FULL written results from ALL the CRAs.

Then post in here for further assistance

[EricJ73]

My response from Equifax came in...

"Below are the results of your request for Equifax to reinvestigate certain elements of your Equifax credit file. Equifax

contacted each source directly and our investigation is now completed. If you have any additional questions or

concerns, please contact the source of that information directly.

You may contact Equifax regarding the specific information contain in this letter within the next 60 days by visiting us

at www.investigate.equifax.com or by calling a Customer Representative at (888) 800-7573 from 9:00am to 5:00pm

Monday-Friday in your time zone. If you want to request a free copy of the Equifax credit file you can call our toll free

number at (877) 576-5766.

Thank you for giving Equifax the opportunity to serve you.

 

The Results Of Our Reinvestigation

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

.)

>>> We have researched the collection account. Account # - xxxx The results are: Equifax verified

that this item belongs to you. If you have additional questions about this item please contact: SENEX Services Corp,

3500 Depauw Blvd Ste 3050, Indianapolis IN 46268-6135 Phone: (888) 577-7056

SENEX Services Corp; Collection Reported 08/2009; Assigned 09/2008; Creditor Class - Medical/Health Care; Client - xxxxxx Medical Center; Amount - $731 ; Status as of

08/2009 - Unpaid; Date of 1st Delinquency 05/2006; Balance as of 08/2009 - $731 ; Individual Account; Account # - xxxx; Address: 3500 Depauw Blvd Ste 3050 Indianapolis

IN 46268-6135 : (888) 577-7056

Notice to Consumers

Upon receipt of your dispute, we first review and consider the relevant information you have submitted regarding the nature of your dispute. If the review does not

resolve your dispute and further investigation is required, notification of your dispute, including the relevant information you submitted, is provided to the source that

furnished the disputed information. The source reviews the information provided, conducts an investigation with respect to the disputed information and reports the

results back to us. The credit reporting agency then makes deletions or changes to your credit file as appropriate based on the results of the reinvestigation. The

name, address and, if reasonably available, the telephone number of the furnisher(s) of the information contacted while processing your dispute(s) is shown under

the "Results of Your Investigation" section on the cover letter that accompanies the copy of your revised credit file.

If you still disagree with an item after it has been verified, you may send to us a brief statement, not to exceed one hundred words (two hundred words for Maine

residents), explaining the nature of your dispute. Your statement will become part of your credit file and will be disclosed each time that your credit file is accessed.

If the reinvestigation results in a change to or deletion of the information you are concerned about, or you submit a statement in accordance with the preceding

paragraph, you have the right to request that we send your revised credit file to any company that received your credit file in the past six months"

 

How should I proceed with them now?

Edited August 26, 2009 by EricJ73

[EricJ73]

Sorry, I jumped the gun. I missed the "wait until all 3 CRA's come back" please forgive my lack of reading comprehension.

[EricJ73]

I received my responses from the CRA's. Results were;

 

Trans Union: deleted the 2 they were reporting.

 

Experian: all four files updated but verified as belonging to me

 

Equifax: Deleted 2 of the 4, verified the other 2

 

 

 

 

What should my next step be?

[Why Chat]

I received my responses from the CRA's. Results were;

 

Trans Union: deleted the 2 they were reporting.

 

Experian: all four files updated but verified as belonging to me

 

Equifax: Deleted 2 of the 4, verified the other 2

 

 

 

 

What should my next step be?

OK, you are doing great.

 

The issue is simple, you have 4 accounts reporting to Ex., ( AKA "The Devil"), none to TU and 2 to Eq.

 

Do you have ANYTHING from the reporting CA on Eq. 2 in response to the dispute??

 

Do you have ANYTHING from the Dr.'s office that indicates that your insurance left you with a balance due??

 

Do you have your EOMB ( explanation of medical benefits) from your insurance for all 4 accounts??

 

Your next step is to obtain whatever documentation you can from your insurance Co.

 

Send each CA that is reporting this;

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

 

as soon as you have the green card back, send Eq. and Ex this;

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

 

You will need to send 2 letters to each of the 2 CA's that are reporting on BOTH Eq. & Ex, one for Ex and one for Eq. ( in the same envelope) For the 2 that are reporting only to Ex, you need send only one letter.

 

Send these now, and while you are waiting for the green cards try to get the documentation from your insurance Co.

[EricJ73]

I have received no information from the CA regarding the disputes.

I do not recall ever getting a bill from the doctors office, but I had moved, so the bill may just have never made it to me.

I no longer have insurance through the company at issue, and I have no paperwork from them anymore.

[Why Chat]

I have received no information from the CA regarding the disputes.

I do not recall ever getting a bill from the doctors office, but I had moved, so the bill may just have never made it to me.

I no longer have insurance through the company at issue, and I have no paperwork from them anymore.

Even though you are no longer with the same insurance Co. they should be able to provide you with their EOMB's ( explanation of medical benefits) for dates of service within the past 3 years, one of the accounts is apparently less than 2 years old.

 

Even without those, you can certainly send out the medical DV's to the CA's and IF, one or both of the 2 that are on both Eq. & Ex respond with correct data, you should be able to verify their account.

 

If they can and do verify recent medical bill balances, you should be prepared to pay them directly to the OC Dr.(s)

 

I doubt VERY MUCH that this will happen, as IF they were ALL deleted from TU it means they are not in their active account systems.

[EricJ73]

Just planning ahead here.

 

When I get the green cards back and send the follow up letter, I don't want to send the original card to the CRA do I?

 

Should these letters be done in teal italic font also?

[idon'twanna]

Keep the original cards for your records. Send a photocopy of front and back.

 

Only the preHipaa dispute letter is done with teal, italic font on paper with a background; everything else is done "professionally".

Edited September 16, 2009 by idon'twanna

[EricJ73]

Ok, I got the green cards back last night and had my letters ready to go out this afternoon..but before they went out I received a mailed response from one of the CA's in the mail already( I have a couple of these collections I am working at the same time.

The response was just a copy of a bill form the hospital with my name, an address, and the treatments given.

 

 

I also had a phone call from the billing department of a doctors office on a different collection. They told me that I could pay them the bill directly.

 

How should I proceed at this point?

[EricJ73]

I sent the follow up letters out last night, I figured it was better to send them and be wrong than it is to not send them and be wrong.

 

What should I do about the OC that said I could pay them instead of the CA if I wanted? They actually have 4 collections on my Experian, and 2 on my Equifax, so getting those off would be a huge help.

[Why Chat]

I sent the follow up letters out last night, I figured it was better to send them and be wrong than it is to not send them and be wrong.

 

What should I do about the OC that said I could pay them instead of the CA if I wanted? They actually have 4 collections on my Experian, and 2 on my Equifax, so getting those off would be a huge help.

If the OC responded to your dispute letter and confirmed that they have a business relationship with the reporting CA, then yes, you can pay them WITH THE HIPAA LETTER insert "a". Follow ALL the directions.

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

[EricJ73]

I just recieved a call from the CA saying they confirmed with the OC that I paid the bill in full. The CA said they would have my credit report marked as "paid in full". She went on to tell me how there was no rule that they had to take it off completely just because I paid the OC directly. Clearly they aren't going to make this easy.

 

What is my next step to get this cleared up?