GLA Collection

[reeflandman]

I received an initial dunning letter from GLA the last week of April, 2011. I DV'ed them on 5-2-2011 and today I received a response. All it contains is who the OC is, and an itemized summary of my account with GLA. That's it. What is my next step? When can the CA report to the CRA's? How do I stop them from reporting?

 

Thanks!

[Why Chat]

I received an initial dunning letter from GLA the last week of April, 2011. I DV'ed them on 5-2-2011 and today I received a response. All it contains is who the OC is, and an itemized summary of my account with GLA. That's it. What is my next step? When can the CA report to the CRA's? How do I stop them from reporting?

 

Thanks!

If this is a medical account you should NOT have sent a normal DV to the CA, however--

Opt out

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

Delete old addresses if possible

 

Send each CRA where the account is reporting this: ( IF it is a medical account)

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

 

Come back to THIS post if this doesn't get you a deletion and include the date of service and your State.

[reeflandman]

Hey WhyChat, thanks for chiming in, I was hoping to get your assistance.

 

The account is not on my report yet as I received the initial dunning letter and then sent to them a request for validation. This is what I sent:

 

ToWhom It May Concern:Thisletter is being sent to you in response to your recent communication.

 

 

Thisis not a refusal to pay, but a notice that your claim is disputed.

 

 

Underthe Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), I have the right to requestvalidation of the debt you say I owe you. I am requesting proof that I amindeed the party you are asking to pay this debt, and there is some contractualobligation which is binding on me to pay this debt.

 

 

Please attach copies of:

 

Agreementwith your client that grants you the authority to collect on this alleged debt,or proof of acquisition by purchase or assignment, and authorization undersubtitle D of the ARRA ,SEC. 13401. APPLICATION OF SECURITY PROVISIONS ANDPENALTIES TO BUSINESS ASSOCIATES OF COVERED ENTITIES; and SEC. 13407(1) BREACHOF SECURITY.—The term ‘‘breach of security’’ means, with respect to unsecuredPHR identifiable health information of an individual in a personal healthrecord, acquisition of such information without the authorization of theindividual. Please note that enforcement of penalties against you is coveredunder the penalty rules of the HITECH Act as issued 11/30/2009 and the penaltyrules of the FCRA and FACTA including FACT Act changes final rules effectiveJuly 1, 2010.

 

 

Agreementthat bears the signature of the alleged debtor wherein he or she agreed to paythe creditor and as this is a medical account a copy of any HIPAAauthorization.

 

 

Pleasealso be advised that this letter is not only a formal dispute, but a requestthat you cease and desist any and all collection activities other than by USMAIL, including reporting of, or verifying of this account on my creditreports.

 

 

Yourreceipt of this letter will be considered as having granted consent to thetaping of any and all telephone calls to me at my home or business by you oryour agents or assigns.

 

 

Irequire compliance with the terms and conditions of this letter within 30 days.or a complete withdrawal, in writing, of any claim.

 

 

Inthe event of noncompliance, I reserve the right to file charges and/orcomplaints with the OCR on your HIPAA violations and appropriate County, State& Federal authorities, the BBB and State Bar associations for violations ofthe FDCPA, FCRA, and Federal and State statutes on fraudulent extortion andillegal collection activities on any account that may be time-barred as well asKentucky medical privacy rules.

 

 

[Why Chat]

Hey WhyChat, thanks for chiming in, I was hoping to get your assistance.

 

The account is not on my report yet as I received the initial dunning letter and then sent to them a request for validation. This is what I sent:

 

ToWhom It May Concern:Thisletter is being sent to you in response to your recent communication.

 

 

Thisis not a refusal to pay, but a notice that your claim is disputed.

 

 

Underthe Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), I have the right to requestvalidation of the debt you say I owe you. I am requesting proof that I amindeed the party you are asking to pay this debt, and there is some contractualobligation which is binding on me to pay this debt.

 

 

Please attach copies of:

 

Agreementwith your client that grants you the authority to collect on this alleged debt,or proof of acquisition by purchase or assignment, and authorization undersubtitle D of the ARRA ,SEC. 13401. APPLICATION OF SECURITY PROVISIONS ANDPENALTIES TO BUSINESS ASSOCIATES OF COVERED ENTITIES; and SEC. 13407(1) BREACHOF SECURITY.—The term ‘‘breach of security’’ means, with respect to unsecuredPHR identifiable health information of an individual in a personal healthrecord, acquisition of such information without the authorization of theindividual. Please note that enforcement of penalties against you is coveredunder the penalty rules of the HITECH Act as issued 11/30/2009 and the penaltyrules of the FCRA and FACTA including FACT Act changes final rules effectiveJuly 1, 2010.

 

 

Agreementthat bears the signature of the alleged debtor wherein he or she agreed to paythe creditor and as this is a medical account a copy of any HIPAAauthorization.

 

 

Pleasealso be advised that this letter is not only a formal dispute, but a requestthat you cease and desist any and all collection activities other than by USMAIL, including reporting of, or verifying of this account on my creditreports.

 

 

Yourreceipt of this letter will be considered as having granted consent to thetaping of any and all telephone calls to me at my home or business by you oryour agents or assigns.

 

 

Irequire compliance with the terms and conditions of this letter within 30 days.or a complete withdrawal, in writing, of any claim.

 

 

Inthe event of noncompliance, I reserve the right to file charges and/orcomplaints with the OCR on your HIPAA violations and appropriate County, State& Federal authorities, the BBB and State Bar associations for violations ofthe FDCPA, FCRA, and Federal and State statutes on fraudulent extortion andillegal collection activities on any account that may be time-barred as well asKentucky medical privacy rules.

OK, I am assuming this is for a medical account, what was the date of service and what State are you in??

 

Does their response match your records for this medical service??

[reeflandman]

Hey WhyChat,

 

Yes, this is a medical collection. The date of service was 8-9-2010 and the state is Kentucky.

 

The itemized statement they sent isn't of my account with the healthcare provider, but an itemized statement of my account with the collection agency. It states:

 

Our Client Name - Jewish Hospital - IPA (NA2)

Date of Referral - 3-14-2011

Amount Referred - $257.10

Principle Balance - $257.10

Accumulated Interest - 0

Other Charges - 0

Court Costs - 0

Attorney Fees - 0

Other - 0

Interest - 0

Acc't Balance - 257.10

 

My main interest is to keep this off of my credit report. I believe that I had paid all of my bills associated with this medical incident. I am certain that I have not received any communications from the OC. But I guess that doesn't matter, I just want to keep this from my report. If I paid it, would I prevent it from hitting my report?

[Why Chat]

Hey WhyChat,

 

Yes, this is a medical collection. The date of service was 8-9-2010 and the state is Kentucky.

 

The itemized statement they sent isn't of my account with the healthcare provider, but an itemized statement of my account with the collection agency. It states:

 

Our Client Name - Jewish Hospital - IPA (NA2)

Date of Referral - 3-14-2011

Amount Referred - $257.10

Principle Balance - $257.10

Accumulated Interest - 0

Other Charges - 0

Court Costs - 0

Attorney Fees - 0

Other - 0

Interest - 0

Acc't Balance - 257.10

 

My main interest is to keep this off of my credit report. I believe that I had paid all of my bills associated with this medical incident. I am certain that I have not received any communications from the OC. But I guess that doesn't matter, I just want to keep this from my report. If I paid it, would I prevent it from hitting my report?

OK,

This is a fairly recent bill. Do you have your records from your date of service?? Did you have insurance?? If so, check your EOMBs ( explanation of medical benefits) from your insurance Co. and see if you have a "left over" amount that is shown as "patient obligation" ie a co-pay or deductible. It is also possible that the EOMB will show that the insurance paid a discounted amount and the "left over" balance was improperly sent to a collection agency in violation of billing standards which require that the HC facility accept the discounted amount if they accept that insurance.

 

I don't normally suggest calling the OC, but if you can find no record of the amount they are claiming, call the hospital and make sure they have your correct address and ask if there was some left over bill that they were supposed to send to you.

 

The OTHER possibility is that your account became confused with someone else, and/or you are a victim of ID theft/fraud. Check all your reports VERY CAREFULLY for unknown addresses, different SS#s or unknown inquiries.

[reeflandman]

Well, I just looked up my EOB's and see a claim where the patient responsibility is $257.10 for Jewish Hospital. I really thought that I had all of this paid but I have scrubbed my bank account statements and do not see a matching debit.

 

So now my issue is I need to get this resolved without hitting my CR. Any advice? Deal with the OC or the CA? I am certain I was not billed or dunned for this by the OC because I would have paid it. I am certain of that...

[Why Chat]

Well, I just looked up my EOB's and see a claim where the patient responsibility is $257.10 for Jewish Hospital. I really thought that I had all of this paid but I have scrubbed my bank account statements and do not see a matching debit.

 

So now my issue is I need to get this resolved without hitting my CR. Any advice? Deal with the OC or the CA? I am certain I was not billed or dunned for this by the OC because I would have paid it. I am certain of that...

OK,

You need to pay the hospital directly.

 

Here is what you can do,

 

Simple way, call the hospital's billing department DO NOT mention the CA, ask if there is any balance due on your account and if you can pay by phone with a DIRECT DEBIT from your checking account, OR if you are NEAR the hospital if you can pay IN CASH. In the first instance you would have a direct debit from your account to the hospital, in the 2nd instance you would get a CASH RECEIPT.

 

If the billing department says you need to contact the CA, say thank you and hang up and pay the hospital with the HIPAA letter insert "a".

 

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

 

Be SURE to follow the directions, get a BANK MONEY ORDER, not a certified check on your own account. Make sure the endorsement is printed on the back of the money order ( for deposit only etc. etc.)

 

The MOST important part of all this is to make sure that you are paying CASH ( or the equivalent ) to the hospital and that there is NO WAY the payment can be signed over or transferred to the CA.

 

I assume that you have opted out?? If not you MUST do this, otherwise your data will wind up with some garbage CA.

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

[reeflandman]

Thanks WhyChat. I just tried to call and billing is already closed so I'll give it a shot tomorrow.

 

If they state that my account doesn't have a balance, should I request an itemized statement for my records which would then be used to send to the CA?

[Why Chat]

Thanks WhyChat. I just tried to call and billing is already closed so I'll give it a shot tomorrow.

 

If they state that my account doesn't have a balance, should I request an itemized statement for my records which would then be used to send to the CA?

Absolutely NOT!!!

 

You do NOT want to communicate with the CA unless and until you have PROOF IN WRITING that any balance shown as due on your EOMB was paid or written off because of a discount. If you get THAT proof then come back to this post and we will figure out the next step.

 

If you confirm to the CA that the account was paid, you will be giving them the right to report it as a paid collection.

 

If the account with the OC has no balance because it was written off as noncollectable and turned over to the CA, then you MUST use the HIPAA letter insert "a".

[reeflandman]

What if when I talk to the OC they say that the account shows $0 balance; should I ask them for a statement?

 

My wife seems to think this was paid, even though we can't find record. There wasn't a single medical bill that came to us that we didn't pay. Therefore, I was wondering if when I do talk to the OC and if they say my account is $0, should I ask them...

 

The EOB showed that the original balance was $45,000. The negotiated balance was $23,000. Benefits paid $20,000, my HRA account paid $2,750 leaving the patient owing $250.

[Why Chat]

What if when I talk to the OC they say that the account shows $0 balance; should I ask them for a statement?

 

My wife seems to think this was paid, even though we can't find record. There wasn't a single medical bill that came to us that we didn't pay. Therefore, I was wondering if when I do talk to the OC and if they say my account is $0, should I ask them...

 

The EOB showed that the original balance was $45,000. The negotiated balance was $23,000. Benefits paid $20,000, my HRA account paid $2,750 leaving the patient owing $250.

The $250. may or may not have been written off and picked up by a "garbage" CA from a data miner. It might have never made it to billing, you won't know until you talk to the hospital. If they say you never had a billed balance due then request a statement from them.

 

In that case the OC has NO relationship with the CA and you can come back here for further directions.

[reeflandman]

Roger that and thanks for your time. I'll contact them tomorrow and follow your recommendations and report back.

[reeflandman]

Called the hospital, they stated a balance of $257.10 with no mention of a CA. Paid it over the phone, received confirmation and receipt is being mailed.

 

Now what?

[Why Chat]

Called the hospital, they stated a balance of $257.10 with no mention of a CA. Paid it over the phone, received confirmation and receipt is being mailed.

 

Now what?

If it is not on your credit reports you need not do anything ( except opt out) If it IS on your credit reports, or shows up on your credit reports, then you send the CRAs the initial dispute letter.

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

[reeflandman]

Got it, thanks! It is not on my credit report, but expect GLA to put it there. If so, I will send in the dispute.

[mtwallflower11]

Hi!

 

I'm new and hoping someone can help me further.

 

I got a dunning letter from GLA Collections and I replied with the letter by WhyChat. I got a reply from TransUnion saying the listing was deleted, still waiting on response from Equifax, but for some reason, Experian says the listing is validated.

 

What should my next step be to get removal from Experian? I'm still waiting on Equifax, but I'm very confused as to why Experian is saying it's correct when it's been deleted as wrong information from another report?

 

Any insight would be great!

 

Thanks!

[Why Chat]

Hi!

 

I'm new and hoping someone can help me further.

 

I got a dunning letter from GLA Collections and I replied with the letter by WhyChat. I got a reply from TransUnion saying the listing was deleted, still waiting on response from Equifax, but for some reason, Experian says the listing is validated.

 

What should my next step be to get removal from Experian? I'm still waiting on Equifax, but I'm very confused as to why Experian is saying it's correct when it's been deleted as wrong information from another report?

 

Any insight would be great!

 

Thanks!

Please start your own thread. It is too confusing when you ask questions in someone else's thread.

Make sure you have followed all the initial steps

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