United Consumers, Inc.

[Dani_girl57]

Hello All,

 

I have went through various threads seeing if I can find information already posted to help me with my dilemma before I created a new thread. I saw bits and pieces but didn't fully understand or some info didn't pertain to my questions (or maybe I'm just confused). All help will be appreciated because I'm lost now.

 

Here's my issue: I have several collection accounts with one company--United Consumers, Inc.--that I have been disputing for a few months now. I had contacted the credit bureaus before and managed to have them deleted from my TransUnion Account with the exception of one that they just placed on there. Equifax & Experian keep telling me that they have verified the info with the Collection company and they refuse to re-investigate. I contact the original creditor and was told that they are no longer handling this account as it has been turned over the collection agency. I then contacted United Consumers and requested verification and they sent me a packet of bills with the prices & account numbers & service dates, which is what was already listed on the bill they sent me. Bottom line, I'm just looking for a way to have this account removed from account/credit period. I'm trying but seems like I'm getting no where.

[Why Chat]

Hello All,

 

I have went through various threads seeing if I can find information already posted to help me with my dilemma before I created a new thread. I saw bits and pieces but didn't fully understand or some info didn't pertain to my questions (or maybe I'm just confused). All help will be appreciated because I'm lost now.

 

Here's my issue: I have several collection accounts with one company--United Consumers, Inc.--that I have been disputing for a few months now. How did you dispute?? On line?? I had contacted the credit bureaus before and managed to have them deleted from my TransUnion Account with the exception of one that they just placed on there. Equifax & Experian keep telling me that they have verified the info with the Collection company and they refuse to re-investigate. I contact the original creditor and was told that they are no longer handling this account as it has been turned over the collection agency. I then contacted United Consumers and requested verification and they sent me a packet of bills with the prices & account numbers & service dates, which is what was already listed on the bill they sent me. Bottom line, I'm just looking for a way to have this account removed from account/credit period. I'm trying but seems like I'm getting no where.

Are these legitimate bills??

 

Are they all from the SAME health care provider, or different health care providers.

 

Were you insured?? If not, did you apply for assistance with the bills??

 

What were the dates of service??

 

You need to opt out

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

and try to get old addresses deleted if you have moved since you received the medical services.

 

You need to send the medical dispute letter to the CRA's, list all accounts in each letter as shown on that report, FOLLOW ALL THE DIRECTIONS.

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

 

If you get NO response FROM THE CA in response to your dispute to the CRA's, you can then send the CA this;

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

 

If you DO get a response and IF these bills are all from the SAME health care provider, and they are all fairly recent ( within 2 years) and they seem accurate, then you can pay the amount owed directly to the health care provider with the HIPAA letter, insert "a". If you look at insert "a" you will find the health care billing charts, which can provide you with the usual and ordinary fees paid for your services, you can use those amounts to pay the original health care provider.

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

[Dani_girl57]

Are these legitimate bills?? Yes they are legitimate bills.

 

Are they all from the SAME health care provider, or different health care providers. They are all from the same health care provider.

 

Were you insured?? If not, did you apply for assistance with the bills?? I was not insured at the time and was not told about assistance until 2008 in which applied, was approved and they paid only for the bills that were dated back to a certain date. I was also told that the financial assistance only paid the facilities fees and I'm being billed for the physicians fees.

 

What were the dates of service?? Dates of service go back to 2005 I believe....I will check my credit report to make sure.

 

I will follow the steps you listed below. Going to read over the links you provided. Thanks for taking the time out to respond to my questions.

 

Will be back with an update.

[Dani_girl57]

You need to send the medical dispute letter to the CRA's, list all accounts in each letter as shown on that report, FOLLOW ALL THE DIRECTIONS.

http://whychat.5u.com/hipaadisp.html--So I send this letter to the Collection Agency or the Credit Bureau?

[r2-d2]

You need to send the medical dispute letter to the CRA's, list all accounts in each letter as shown on that report, FOLLOW ALL THE DIRECTIONS.

http://whychat.5u.com/hipaadisp.html--So I send this letter to the Collection Agency or the Credit Bureau?

 

This letter needs to go to each of the credit reporting agencies (CRA's).

[Dani_girl57]

Thanks R2-D2 .

[Dani_girl57]

Before I send off my documents I want to make sure I send the right HIPAA letter. I have disputed the medical bills on several occasions. With all credit report agencies as well as the company and original creditor. My question is should I send this letter first http://whychat.5u.com/hipaadisp.html or this letter http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html ?

I want to follow the correct steps. I'm only asking because I saw in a recent thread where someone posted their credit report and it listed that that particular collection/bill/item was disputed. But again, my bills are legitimate and are from the same creditor/collection agency.

[Why Chat]

Before I send off my documents I want to make sure I send the right HIPAA letter. I have disputed the medical bills on several occasions. With all credit report agencies as well as the company and original creditor. My question is should I send this letter first http://whychat.5u.com/hipaadisp.html or this letter http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html ?

I want to follow the correct steps. I'm only asking because I saw in a recent thread where someone posted their credit report and it listed that that particular collection/bill/item was disputed. But again, my bills are legitimate and are from the same creditor/collection agency.

You may be correct that you have documentation as to the validity of the medical bills being "legitimate" in so far as your responsibility to the original creditor health care provider, however you have NO PROOF that the reporting CA was assigned the account by the OC, no documentation that they are in a CURRENT business relationship and NO WAY of getting the entry offyour reports without that proof.

 

You are disputing the REPORTING, not the original bill. Send each CRA ( Credit reporting Agency) where the account(s) are reporting the initial medical dispute letter( if you have already opted out)

You need to send the medical dispute letter to the CRA's, list all accounts in each letter as shown on that report, FOLLOW ALL THE DIRECTIONS.

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

[Dani_girl57]

I sent the first HIPAA letter on stationary and using color & italics. I received a response back saying The results are: Equifax verified that this item belongs to you. I will send that follow up letter because I received this response via email and I didn't include my email in the letter. Maybe this is a response to an online dispute I put in. But so far I haven't received any paper response from Experian or Equifax. Transunion sent me a copy of my recent report and their are no collection items on it. I have opted out and removing old addresses. I will continue to try to resolve this issue. I know it takes time.....

[bonbonXO]

Hold on, what follow up letter are you referring to?

Did you also dispute with EXP too?

When you have ALL the results back from the CRAs this is your next step:

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

"Do a separate letter for EACH CRA that the CA is reporting to, make sure the account #'s match the report. You can MAIL them all to each CA in ONE"

As soon as you have the green card back, them you send the follow-up dispute, but only to the CRA, that are reporting the accounts:

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

[Dani_girl57]

http://whychat.5u.com/hipaadisp.html <----sent that one first. Received another letter from Experian yesterday saying the bills have been verified also.

[Dani_girl57]

Hold on, what follow up letter are you referring to?

Did you also dispute with EXP too?

When you have ALL the results back from the CRAs this is your next step:

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

"Do a separate letter for EACH CRA that the CA is reporting to, make sure the account #'s match the report. You can MAIL them all to each CA in ONE"

As soon as you have the green card back, them you send the follow-up dispute, but only to the CRA, that are reporting the accounts:

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

 

 

I sent this http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#DISPUTE (FOLLOW UP LETTER TO CRA SEND CMRR) first. Was that correct?

[bonbonXO]

Can you please list all the steps you have taken, post the links to all the letters you have sent and indicate who you have sent those letter to?I think you have have missed a step, we just need to figure out which one. Don't worry we will figure it out.

Edited December 12, 2009 by bonbonXO

[Dani_girl57]

Can you please list all the steps you have taken, post the links to all the letters you have sent and indicate who you have sent those letter to?I think you have have missed a step, we just need to figure out which one. Don't worry we will figure it out.

 

 

You need to opt out I've completed this step 1st. Online and mailed in the sheet.

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

and try to get old addresses deleted if you have moved since you received the medical services. Started the dispute process 2nd.

 

You need to send the medical dispute letter to the CRA's, list all accounts in each letter as shown on that report, FOLLOW ALL THE DIRECTIONS.

http://whychat.5u.com/hipaadisp.html And lastly, I sent this letter to Experian and Equifax listing the account numbers accordingly. Transunion has nothing listed. They were deleted when I first started the process sometime back, in the beginning.

 

After I sent that letter, a couple of weeks later, I received both updated credit reports stating that the accounts were verified (Medical Collection accounts are all being handled by one Collection Company for one medical provider).

[bonbonXO]

These are your next steps:

http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html (medical DV)

Make sure you, "Do a separate letter for EACH CRA that the CA is reporting to, make sure the account #'s match the report. You can MAIL them all to each CA in ONE envelope with one CMRR"

As soon as you have the green card back from the medical DV, then you send the the CRA(s) this:

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

[Dani_girl57]

These are your next steps:

http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html (medical DV)

Make sure you, "Do a separate letter for EACH CRA that the CA is reporting to, make sure the account #'s match the report. You can MAIL them all to each CA in ONE envelope with one CMRR"

As soon as you have the green card back from the medical DV, then you send the the CRA(s) this:

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

 

 

Ok. Thanks BonbonXO .

[Dani_girl57]

Hello everyone,

 

I sent the letters to Equifax, Experian & Transunion. Haven't heard from Transunion but got responses from the other two.

 

Equifax is requesting that I see "proof of my identity" which includes sending one form of id (could be my ss card, pay stub, or w2) and one proof of address such as (driver license, lease agreement, utility bill) in order for them to proceed with the investigation. Should I submit this information? But although they are requesting this info, they sent me summary of all the listed bills from United Consumer Inc stated that they have verified.

 

Experian sent me a copy of my report and that's all.

 

I'm really getting tired now because I'm getting nowhere. What do I do next or should I just start all over?

[bonbonXO]

I am not able to copy quotes today...

Back in post #14 you indicted that the accounts were deleted with the Pre-Hipaa for TU, once they are deleted you are done with that CRA, if I am misunderstanding please let me know.

 

Did you send the reporting CA the medical DV http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html with a separate letter for each EACH CRA that the CA is reporting to?

 

Who sent you the summary of all the listed bills from United Consumer Inc stating they have verified and exactly what does this look like?

[Dani_girl57]

I am not able to copy quotes today...

Back in post #14 you indicted that the accounts were deleted with the Pre-Hipaa for TU, once they are deleted you are done with that CRA, if I am misunderstanding please let me know.

 

Did you send the reporting CA the medical DV http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html with a separate letter for each EACH CRA that the CA is reporting to?

 

Who sent you the summary of all the listed bills from United Consumer Inc stating they have verified and exactly what does this look like?

 

 

No...they were deleted before I started the HIPAA process. Sorry if I worded my past post wrong.

 

I sent each credit agency, separate letters, listing the accounts, using http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html for each.

 

Equifax sent me a listing of all the United Consumer accounts saying that they re-investigated and the accounts were verified. It look like this sample here: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt...%26tbs%3Disch:1 .

 

Experian just sent me a copy of my credit report .

[bonbonXO]

 

Ok I think understand where the “mix-up†has come in.

 

CA=Collection Agency

 

CRA=Consumer Reporting Agency

 

Once you have a medical collection that is verified by the CRA (s) TU, EXP and/or EQU, but not fully validated, the next steps require two separate actions.

 

First you DV the Collection Agency (CA) with this: http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html

 

This is the medical DV, it is sent to the Collection Agency, who is reporting the account (s) to the CRA(s) (TU, EXP and/or EQU)

 

,As soon as you receive the green card back from the medical DV you send the CRA (s)

 

The copy of the medical DV, with their name on it, this is why you must “Do a separate letter for EACH CRA that the CA is reporting to. †You also enclose a copy of the green cards used for the medical DV and you re-dispute the medical collection with this: http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#DISPUTE

[Dani_girl57]

 

Ok I think understand where the “mix-up†has come in.

 

CA=Collection Agency

 

CRA=Consumer Reporting Agency

 

Once you have a medical collection that is verified by the CRA (s) TU, EXP and/or EQU, but not fully validated, the next steps require two separate actions.

 

First you DV the Collection Agency (CA) with this: http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html

 

This is the medical DV, it is sent to the Collection Agency, who is reporting the account (s) to the CRA(s) (TU, EXP and/or EQU)

 

,As soon as you receive the green card back from the medical DV you send the CRA (s)

 

The copy of the medical DV, with their name on it, this is why you must “Do a separate letter for EACH CRA that the CA is reporting to. †You also enclose a copy of the green cards used for the medical DV and you re-dispute the medical collection with this: http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#DISPUTE

 

 

Ok. That's where I messed up. I sent the letter to the CRA instead of the CA. I will start over. Thank you so much for responding.

[carolina score]

This was a great thread for me as I start on the wifes CR.

[Dani_girl57]

Ok...quick question. I notice in reading over the first letter, this sentence is listed: "Please attach copies of: Agreement with your client that grants you the authority to collect on this alleged debt,or proof of acquisition by purchase or assignment. and authorization". Previously I submitted them a letter asking for this information and United Consumers (collection agency) sent me copies of bills from the original creditor (the hospital) listing dates & amounts. And this was for each account I had listed. They didn't send anything "bearing my signature". So I'm wondering should I still proceed with this letter or just leave it?

[Why Chat]

Ok...quick question. I notice in reading over the first letter, this sentence is listed: "Please attach copies of: Agreement with your client that grants you the authority to collect on this alleged debt,or proof of acquisition by purchase or assignment. and authorization". Previously I submitted them a letter asking for this information and United Consumers (collection agency) sent me copies of bills from the original creditor (the hospital) listing dates & amounts. And this was for each account I had listed. They didn't send anything "bearing my signature". So I'm wondering should I still proceed with this letter or just leave it?

Please just follow the instructions and do NOT change anything.

 

The reporting CA may have obtained copies of your account from another CA who may have obtained them from the OC years ago.

Unless there is a response from the reporting CA that PROVES that they are in CURRENT communication with the OC and have your UPDATED account data, then there is NO VALID RESPONSE.

[Dani_girl57]

Ok. Got my green card back so this is the next step: As soon as you receive the green card back from the medical DV you send the CRA (s) The copy of the medical DV, with their name on it, this is why you must “Do a separate letter for EACH CRA that the CA is reporting to. †You also enclose a copy of the green cards used for the medical DV and you re-dispute the medical collection with this: http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#DISPUTE. So I send each Consumer Reporting Agency a copy of the green card and a copy of the letter I sent to the Collection Agency right? Along with this letter: http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#DISPUTE which will be address to each Consumer Reporting Agency?

 

Also this part is confusing me: send the CRA's the copy of the medical DV, with their name on it, this is why you must--do I do what I stated above or should the CRA names only be on this letter http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#DISPUTE? What I did the first time was send the CRA's the medical DV instead of sending it to the Collection Agency. But this time I sent the DV to the Collection Agency, received my green card and now I'm ready for the next step. So now, I must send the Consumer Reporting Agency's a copy of the DV letter I sent to the Collection Agency along with a copy of the green card and this letter http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#DISPUTE which will be addressed to each Consumer Reporting Agency?

 

 

Sorry for asking so many questions but I want to make sure I'm doing it right.

 

Thanks for being patience.