Ah, I am so confused!

[punchxcore]

So I have a couple medical debts (all of which are in collection), so I was told to come to this particular board and read up on how to get stuff removed from your credit report.

 

First of all, all these dang abbreviations are confusing the HECK out of me. CRA, RR, etc. Is there a thread where it lists the particular abbreviations? I can't understand what the heck is going on if I don't even know what they stand for!

 

Second, I read about opting out. I did that. Well, I went to the page and it said opting out from credit reports and then opting out from all creditors. I did the one to opt out from credit reports. But the page about opting out from all creditors really confused me, and I'm not sure if I need to do that. It said to send letters to individual banks, dept stores, etc.. that have sent you offers, but I really can't remember who all has sent me what. My credit score is so low that I really don't get mail like that.

 

Also, a question about the dispute letters. I thought the point of disputing something is if the debt is invalid. Am I assuming right that you still send dispute letters to the companies you have valid debt with and they don't respond, then the debt is removed? I just want to be sure that I am understanding this right. That even if the debt is valid, you still send a dispute letter to said company.

 

I have 3 medical bills that are in collection. They are:

 

Parkview Health - $531 - Collection agency is Harris & Harris LTD. Charged off on 4/09

Emergency Medicine of Indiana -$194 - Collection agency is Professional Recovery. Closed on 6/07

Professional Emergency Physicians - $166 - Collection agency is Professional Recovery. Closed on 6/09

 

Quite frankly I am confused. I have only been to the emergency hospitals twice ever. Once when I had issues with my back and it turned out to be I just twisted it and once when my eyes were hurting and I ended up having pink eye. So I'm not sure why there are THREE things on there. I am pretty sure the Parkview Health is from when I went for my back, but not sure which is which for the other two. I can't imagine it would be the second one, since I didn't even go til 11/08. I haven't received any notices in a while from any medical bills.

 

I would like some advice on what to do and the steps I need to take. And please break it down Barney style for me haha. I'm extremely new to all of this, so some of this lingo highly confuses me.

[bonbonXO]

try this for the abbreviations http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=32

With medical it is easy to lose track of the bills, because you go to one hospital but get bills from 4 or 5 different places:

hospital

doctors

radiology

pathology

Specialist

ect.

There is also a lot of identity theft with medical billing/Services too.

Regarding the Opt out from all creditors:

"You do not need to take this step if you have few or no other credit problems and are not concerned about ID theft/fraud. If you wish to opt out from them and have thrown away the privacy notices there are instructions here to opt out. ( "Opt Out From All Creditors)

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

 

These are the steps you need to take:

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

Delete any old addresses (if possible) if you have moved within the last 8 to 10 years

Once you have completed the aforementioned steps (don't skip them) Send and CRA (Consumer Reporting Agency) that is reporting the accounts this:

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

Follow all the instructions, even if they seem a little odd-personalized stationary Lilac or teal Fonts-

CM (Certified Mail) no RRR Return Receipt Requested same as RR, I am Special, I use three, because everyone else uses two

Please keep all your information in one thread. Don’t start and new thread/topic!

[bonbonXO]

So I have a couple medical debts (all of which are in collection), so I was told to come to this particular board and read up on how to get stuff removed from your credit report.

 

First of all, all these dang abbreviations are confusing the HECK out of me. CRA, RR, etc. Is there a thread where it lists the particular abbreviations? I can't understand what the heck is going on if I don't even know what they stand for!

 

Second, I read about opting out. I did that. Well, I went to the page and it said opting out from credit reports and then opting out from all creditors. I did the one to opt out from credit reports. But the page about opting out from all creditors really confused me, and I'm not sure if I need to do that. It said to send letters to individual banks, dept stores, etc.. that have sent you offers, but I really can't remember who all has sent me what. My credit score is so low that I really don't get mail like that.

 

Also, a question about the dispute letters. I thought the point of disputing something is if the debt is invalid. Am I assuming right that you still send dispute letters to the companies you have valid debt with and they don't respond, then the debt is removed? I just want to be sure that I am understanding this right. That even if the debt is valid, you still send a dispute letter to said company. Every thing you have said you have a great understanding of what we call the 1-2 punch and that usual works well on most collections, except medical, medical collects can get a lot little more complicated...I am trying to keep this in "Barney Style" as requested, Medical Collection have "another level" and that is, does the CA (collection agentcy) have a right to have access to your private medical data or a right to collect the debt. Medical collections can be confusing, it may be easier if you just start Why Chat's HIPAA process and then learn it (with help) as you go along

 

I have 3 medical bills that are in collection. They are:

 

Parkview Health - $531 - Collection agency is Harris & Harris LTD. Charged off on 4/09

Emergency Medicine of Indiana -$194 - Collection agency is Professional Recovery. Closed on 6/07

Professional Emergency Physicians - $166 - Collection agency is Professional Recovery. Closed on 6/09

 

Quite frankly I am confused. I have only been to the emergency hospitals twice ever. Once when I had issues with my back and it turned out to be I just twisted it and once when my eyes were hurting and I ended up having pink eye. So I'm not sure why there are THREE things on there. I am pretty sure the Parkview Health is from when I went for my back, but not sure which is which for the other two. I can't imagine it would be the second one, since I didn't even go til 11/08. I haven't received any notices in a while from any medical bills.

 

I would like some advice on what to do and the steps I need to take. And please break it down Barney style for me haha. I'm extremely new to all of this, so some of this lingo highly confuses me.

[punchxcore]

Opted out. Done.

 

I will be sending my letters to the CRA's hopefully tomorrow to have my old addresses removed. I have to make copies of my DL and 2 bills with my current address. There are two old addresses showing on my CR for each bureau, so I will definitely be doing that.

 

Question, can you send dispute letters for only medical bills or can you try to dispute any debt? Also, what exactly do you mean by personalized stationary? I definitely don't have any stationary at all. So looks like I will have to buy some. Does the debt have to be invalid for you to try to dispute? Cause certified mail/RR is pretty pricy and if I don't have a chance of the CRA deleting something off my CR because the claim *is* valid, then I don't want to waste my money. I just wasn't sure how the whole dispute process works. If you can dispute a valid claim, and then the original creditor doesn't respond, so the CRA takes it off your CR? Am I following right? Also, say you have more than a few disputes you want to send to the same CRA, can you include each dispute in the same letter, or do you have to send individual letters?

 

Thanks. I really appreciate all the help!

[bonbonXO]

Opted out. Done.

 

I will be sending my letters to the CRA's hopefully tomorrow to have my old addresses removed. I have to make copies of my DL and 2 bills with my current address. There are two old addresses showing on my CR for each bureau, so I will definitely be doing that.

 

Question, can you send dispute letters for only medical bills or can you try to dispute any debt? Also, what exactly do you mean by personalized stationary? I definitely don't have any stationary at all. So looks like I will have to buy some. The most cost effective way to go, is yellow lined paper. Does the debt have to be invalid for you to try to dispute? No, you can dispute anything you want-Valid or invalid you really don't know until you dispute it, that is what the Pre-HIPAA dispute will tell you. Cause certified mail/RR is pretty pricy and if I don't have a chance of the CRA deleting something off my CR because the claim *is* valid, then I don't want to waste my money. You have a great chance for a deletion, the first letter goes certified mail no RRR but yes, credit repair can be expensive. I just wasn't sure how the whole dispute process works. There is no guarantee in credit repair, but I think Why Chat recently said the process has been used since 2001.

 

 

If you can dispute a valid claim, You are disputing any knowledge of the account, you may have known about the account with the OC but you have no knowledge of the account with the CA, the CA is reporting not the OC. and then the original creditor doesn't respond, so the CRA takes it off your CR? Am I following right? Also, say you have more than a few disputes you want to send to the same CRA, can you include each dispute in the same letter, or do you have to send individual letters? You may list multiple items in one letter, but only list medical in this letter http://whychat.5u.com/hipaadisp.html nothing else. Complete all steps in the HIPAA process before you move to something else. List all of your medical accounts in one dispute.

 

Thanks. I really appreciate all the help!

Edited September 1, 2009 by bonbonXO

[punchxcore]

Okay, thanks. I am really starting to understand this now.

 

Do you know if there is a format letter I can use to dispute non-medical related debts? There's only one I would like to try and dispute, which is Sprint PCS.

 

I got some stamps and made copies of my DL/bills with my address on it. So they will be going in the mail today and I will be on my way to removing old addresses. Not to sound dumb, but why is removing old addresses from your record so important? Just trying to get a better understanding of why things are done.

[punchxcore]

Also, can you only dispute a debt that is in collection? Or is it in collection automatically if it appears on your credit report negatively?

[bonbonXO]

YES

[bonbonXO]

Okay, thanks. I am really starting to understand this now.

 

Do you know if there is a format letter I can use to dispute non-medical related debts? There's only one I would like to try and dispute, which is Sprint PCS.

Before you start dispute anything, please do yourself a favor, take care of your address, when those done send the Pre-HIPAA dispute, while you are waiting go to the newbie section and read. http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?showforum=15

If Sprint PCS is for cellular service, they have a 2 SOL under federal statute 47§ 415, it really helps if you know this stuff before you start disputing

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/usc...15----000-.html

There is no guarantee in credit repair, but a good working knowledge of what you are doing is your best friend!

 

I got some stamps and made copies of my DL/bills with my address on it. So they will be going in the mail today and I will be on my way to removing old addresses. Not to sound dumb, but why is removing old addresses from your record so important? Just trying to get a better understanding of why things are done.

[punchxcore]

Okay, thanks. I am really starting to understand this now.

 

Do you know if there is a format letter I can use to dispute non-medical related debts? There's only one I would like to try and dispute, which is Sprint PCS.

Before you start dispute anything, please do yourself a favor, take care of your address, when those done send the Pre-HIPAA dispute, while you are waiting go to the newbie section and read. http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?showforum=15

If Sprint PCS is for cellular service, they have a 2 SOL under federal statute 47§ 415, it really helps if you know this stuff before you start disputing

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/usc...15----000-.html

There is no guarantee in credit repair, but a good working knowledge of what you are doing is your best friend!

 

I got some stamps and made copies of my DL/bills with my address on it. So they will be going in the mail today and I will be on my way to removing old addresses. Not to sound dumb, but why is removing old addresses from your record so important? Just trying to get a better understanding of why things are done.

 

I won't be able to start disputing til around the 3rd week of September. I'm starting a new job on Monday and will probably get my first check towards the end of September, so I planned on doing the disputes then, since I would need money to send everything certified.

 

By 2 SOL, you mean 2 years SOL, right? When does the SOL start? I get confused when it starts. I opened my account with Sprint in July 2004, lost my phone in July 2005, and couldn't afford a new one, though they continued to charge me $40 a month for a plan I couldn't use, though I was hoping to get a new phone. I believe it was around September or October of 2005 when they finally slapped me with the $175 cancellation fee and started sending me notices saying I owed them $285. According to my credit record it says the account was closed 6/08, but I think that's when the CA picked it up. Does the SOL start when the account was closed, or when I started receiving notices that I needed to pay them? If it's outside of the SOL now, then I would definitely love to dispute that and get it taken care of.

[punchxcore]

And I am off to the newbies section now to read everything.

[punchxcore]

Will I get a letter from each CRA saying if my old addresses were removed or if they couldn't remove them?

[bonbonXO]

You sure will

[punchxcore]

So this doesn't really pertain to medical collections, but you said to keep all posts in one post, so I am.

 

I have two judgements. One for my car repo and one for Chase for a credit card. I've made payment arrangements with them to start paying $50 a month, so they won't garnish my wages. I was wanting to send both companies a letter to agree in writing that if I pay off the debt, that they will remove the debt from my CR. I looked in the sample letters section, and I could only find one letter that was similar, which is if you're settling an agreement with them, but I don't plan on paying it in full. It's gonna be payments every month. I was wondering if there was a sample letter for my particular case, or if I should just say I'm settling with them and paying $50 a month until the debt is paid off. I owe my car repo around 6k, and Chase around $1300, so obviously won't be paid neither in full. Also, would I address the letter to the CA or the OC?

 

Thanks!

Edited September 8, 2009 by punchxcore

[Why Chat]

So this doesn't really pertain to medical collections, but you said to keep all posts in one post, so I am.

 

I have two judgements. One for my car repo and one for Chase for a credit card. I've made payment arrangements with them to start paying $50 a month, so they won't garnish my wages. I was wanting to send both companies a letter to agree in writing that if I pay off the debt, that they will remove the debt from my CR. I looked in the sample letters section, and I could only find one letter that was similar, which is if you're settling an agreement with them, but I don't plan on paying it in full. It's gonna be payments every month. I was wondering if there was a sample letter for my particular case, or if I should just say I'm settling with them and paying $50 a month until the debt is paid off. I owe my car repo around 6k, and Chase around $1300, so obviously won't be paid neither in full. Also, would I address the letter to the CA or the OC?

 

Thanks!

You say you "have" 2 judgments, are you saying you were sued and they obtained default judgments?? Or are you saying you signed "stipulated" agreements, also known as "consent judgments".

 

When was your car repo'd?? What State are you in??

 

When did Chase file suit??

When was the last time you were able to USE the Chase card

 

Here are some links for you to read and possibly get the additional information you need for a complete answer.

 

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

 

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

 

[Please start a new thread ON THESE 2 "judgments" by cutting and pasting this last post with my answer and starting a new post in the "Help I've Been Served" forum, which is a protected forum. DO NOT respond to my questions in THIS forum.

[punchxcore]

I received a response from Experian today in regards to my address change letters, and they won't take 2 of the addresses off. I don't understand why cause it's not like I owned those homes or anything. But they're telling me that they can't delete it if a creditor notified them of a debt at that address. But what I don't get is in the summary it says name and social security number were deleted and address was updated, which doesn't make any sense. I'm still waiting to hear from Equifax and TransUnion, though.

[bonbonXO]

Try to call them, sometimes they are easier to deal with over the phone, this can ONLY be done for addresses and Experian.

The worst, thing they can do is tell you no again.

[punchxcore]

I just called and tried to delete them over the phone. First it said the two incorrect addresses would be removed from my report, but then it said it had to go through the verification process. So which is it? Are they deleted automatically, or no?

[bonbonXO]

You have to get to a real person.

try tomorrow or Monday

[punchxcore]

I just checked and Experian removed my two old addresses. I don't know if it was because I disputed it online or called the number, but either way.. YAY! Now I just have to wait to hear from Equifax and TransUnion to see what they say.

[punchxcore]

So, Experian and TransUnion have both removed old addresses, but I have yet to get a response from Equifax. Can I just go ahead with the HIPPA process or is it crucial that I get that address removed from Equifax too? It's been almost one month since I've sent my letter to Equifax. I sent them on the 2nd of September.

Edited September 28, 2009 by punchxcore

[Why Chat]

So, Experian and TransUnion have both removed old addresses, but I have yet to get a response from Equifax. Can I just go ahead with the HIPPA process or is it crucial that I get that address removed from Equifax too? It's been almost one month since I've sent my letter to Equifax. I sent them on the 2nd of September.

Go ahead with your initial disputes, it is unusual for Eq. to not respond at all!! Do you have the delivery info from your certified letter??

[punchxcore]

I didn't know I was supposed to send it certified so I just sent it regular mail.

[punchxcore]

Okay, here is where I am at.

 

I opted out. Then I sent the CRA's a letter to delete old addresses. I never heard from EQ, but TU and EX deleted my old addresses. I'm not all that concerned with EQ cause the one account that was linked to an old address doesn't even show on EQ; it shows on TU and EX. I sent out my initial dispute letters today to all 3 CRA's. I sent http://whychat.5u.com/hipaadisp.html Though I just realized I wasn't supposed to send it RR. I was reading about people sending letters CMRR, so I assumed I was supposed to, but those must had been the letters they were sending to the CA's. Will that ruin my chances of getting stuff deleted since I sent it CMRR? Or does that just mean I wasted money? So what's the next step? I wait to hear from the CRA's for them to tell me if my disputes are verifed or not. If they verify them, then do I send http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html and once I get the green cards back, then I send the CRA's a follow up letter?

[punchxcore]

Bump