My first collection - no CA contact, not sure valid

[SomeGuy]

This morning, credit sesame alerted me to a big drop on my credit score. FAKO there and at creditkarma dropped from about 790 to 720 - for a new account in collection for well under $100. I have no idea what this bill is - though the credit report references an Original Creditor I recognize. I had a minor ER issue while out of town last July. They billed my insurance and me in several parts, all paid in full long ago as far as I know.

 

I moved in October, it's possible any correspondence since then didn't reach me. Though lots of it does, usps has forwarding info.

 

If this was a legit bill, I'd be happy to pay it off if this collection info is deleted. I'm going to look back at the bills I paid and see if any match this amount, it possibly was valid and paid already.

 

I've been reading through Why Chat's posts and site, but don't understand the purpose of the first steps advised - opting out and removing old addresses. Does doing those limit the CA in some way that makes a deletion more likely? I'd actually miss unsolicited credit offers, but I suppose they won't be nearly so appealing if I have this negative entry. Or are these just general 'best practices' for avoiding future fraud & identity theft? I don't think that's happened here - it looks like a billing department made a mistake.

 

Thanks

[SomeGuy]

Can anyone explain what I should expect from the recommended 'opt out' and 'address dispute' steps? Would I need to wait for something to happen with those, or are the additional steps independent of these actions and their outcome?

[Why Chat]

Can anyone explain what I should expect from the recommended 'opt out' and 'address dispute' steps? Would I need to wait for something to happen with those, or are the additional steps independent of these actions and their outcome?

If you opt out,

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

your data won't be sold to data miners. You may get fewer offers of credit, but you won't risk this "entry" that dinged your reports from multiplying into a barrage of other problems. Deleting old addresses may not be required in your situation if the account you have posted about is the ONLY one you have to deal with.

 

You need to get your REAL credit reports from each CRA to see what errors or problems are occuring. A credit monitoring service can only warn you of a problem, it is useless for fixing a problem as you need the individual report ID#s.

 

Check your reports for unknown INQUIRIES, unknown addresses, misspellings of your name, duplicate SS #s etc.

 

The initial dispute letter will provide you with a basis for further action if needed.

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

 

Be sure to follow the special instructions that apply ONLY to this initial dispute regarding preventing an automated response.

[SomeGuy]

Thanks, Why Chat. I do already have my real TU report, and I'll get the others. As far as I know, this is the only item reported that I've never heard of before.

 

I think I understand the point of the special instructions - those should help ensure a human handles the letter. I thought I'd also use a sheet from a steno pad - colored, lined paper, not 8.5"x11", and torn from a spiral binder on one side. Maybe that will keep it out of a scanning machine too.

 

Thanks, it was very alarming and frustrating to find this negative info from out of nowhere. I checked my files and couldn't find anything that looked like it is related to this. It's still frustrating that cleaning it up will take some time, but your advice gives me optimism that it should be resolved fairly sooner or later.

[SomeGuy]

Just a progress update from me - I've found the threads from others that track status extremely informative so I'll try to contribute my status and outcome too.

 

This item is reported by all 3 agencies. It is the only item I don't recognize on any of them. So I did not 'opt out' or dispute any addresses. It looks like I'll be a guinea pig for seeing if that seems to have any influence.

 

I hand wrote letters to the agencies - on odd size steno pad. Even better (so I thought), I had to continue the letter on back. I had a green ink pen, the sheets are light green with darker lines. Folded those lengthwise into an envelope, still fits well including the leftovers from the spiral binding on top. I think the letter content matches Why Chat's example here: http://whychat.5u.com/hipaadisp.html

 

I sent them certified mail this afternoon. I'll wait until the post office shows they are delivered and start to check on status or updates with the agencies.

 

Thanks again Why Chat, as well as other posters here who describe working out similar problems.

[SomeGuy]

I have a couple of updates on my dispute process, all good news so far.

 

I mailed certified disputes to each on Friday March 9.

TU delivery confirmed March 13

EQ delivery confirmed March 13 (very late in the day)

EX delivery confirmed March 14

 

EQ sent an (extremely sneaky looking) email on March 22 - see Credit Mama's thread here: http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=487530

The email has no real update information about my dispute, but confirms they have my dispute. It also confirms "This process can take up to 30 days to complete", though it doesn't note that over a week had already passed.

 

TU sent a physical letter dated March 19, delivered on March 23. It looked discouraging! Multiple pages, half of it "Summary of Rights", some printed both sides, and the top letter begins "Our investigation of the dispute you recently submitted is now complete... If our investigation has not resolved your dispute, you may add a 100-word statement to your report... "

 

But below the fold are Investigation Results: DELETED

 

There's a little more info about getting a free updated report or having corrected copies sent to anyone who had gotten the report with the bogus info on it.

 

Thanks especially to WhyChat! I'm surprised there was such a quick resolution. The dollar amount is pretty small, maybe someone decided not to bother. Or maybe they tried and found out quickly why I had never seen a bill for this - it's someone else's or some other billing mistake.

[SomeGuy]

Two down!

 

Monday, March 26: A big envelope from Experian arrived in the mail, dated March 21. It appears they have deleted this mystery collection also.

 

I mentioned the TU letter looked discouraging. This one was much worse. A full 8.5 x 11 envelope, and thick. 16 double sided pages inside. The first page is a wacky mix of the usps delivery address info and a few paragraphs in a different orientation. The top just says page 1 of 2. I don't see any "outcome" or specific reference to my dispute. Side 2 is brief, also nothing. The rest is all one stack, 30 pages. Another cover with odd formatting and no obvious specific info. Side 2 is similar, with a VantageScore sales pitch. Then it's a full credit report.

 

So I start actually reading all of it. Sure enough, it really is all boilerplate text, finally revealing "This summary shows the revision(s) made to your credit file as a result of our processing your dispute..." The collection account is nowhere on the report.

 

Interesting that my lovingly handwritten note received this response that took me almost ten minutes to understand what the response was. Well played, EX! I suppose this reply was designed by a twin or clone of Why Chat who sports both an eye patch and a goatee.

 

There's actually one blurb in the 'cover' info that looks like it may be somewhat specific to my case, and it's not entirely clear to me. "Other items disputed are not currently displaying on your personal credit report:-" [though in all caps, again, well played on the 'inadvertent' readability problems]. There aren't any other disputes, this was my first ever. I just hope, obviously, that it doesn't indicate any sort of provisional or temporary status.

[SomeGuy]

I know two out of three ain't bad, but it's still disappointing news. Yesterday I received a letter from EQ - in a very small envelope this time, just a single page inside - reporting they 'verified that this item belongs to you'. It says to contact the CA and gives an address.

 

The letter is dated March 26. There's a state specific notice that I can request a description of the procedure used to determine the accuracy and completeness of the information, including the business name and address of the furnisher, and telephone number.

 

The letter does NOT seem to address any of the real content of the dispute letter I sent (http://whychat.5u.com/hipaadisp.html).

No name and address of the medical provider - there's what looks like an abbreviated name and city name, but no address or other contact info.

Nothing about the date and type of service, or to whom the service was provided.

No name of the person providing the data, or info about how it was provided.

 

I'm not sure what the next step is, I'll reread Why Chat's plan now.

[SomeGuy]

OK, it looks like the next step is to send the CA this: http://www.whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html with the opening adjusted as described to reflect that I've never received any communication regarding this from the CA.

 

But the top of that page also says "THIS IS ONLY TO BE USED WHEN THE HIPAA LETTER TO THE OC CAN NOT BE IMMEDIATELY USED". I am not sure who the OC is or how to contact them - the 'client' name listed for the CA is brief and seems to be a partial match for a few large organizations in the listed city. Or maybe one very big one with a couple dozen locations. They've never contacted me regarding this account. I think the 'hipaa letter to the oc' is this one: http://whychat.5u.com/hipltr.html. But that page advises "This letter should ONLY be used AFTER the initial dispute letter has provided you with a documented current relationship between the Health Care Provider and the reporting CA.

It will ONLY work if the claim is either INACCURATE, or you remit the valid correct amount due with the letter, and ONLY if you have confirmed a CURRENT relationship between the OC and the CA."

 

I don't think I got any documentation about a relationship between the health care provider and the ca. And I'm really not sure if the claim is accurate or not, though it's small enough that I think I'd pay the ransom to be rid of the negative credit report. I'm not sure of the exact balance - EQ lists one original balance and then $1 dollar higher has of 03/12. Both rounded to dollars only it seems.

 

So does that mean I should proceed with the "LETTER TO COLLECTION AGENCY ON MEDICAL ACCOUNT REPORTING WITH A BALANCE DUE" at the top of that page? It looks like I have a street address for the CA, so I would send that CMRR.

 

 

Any advice, Why Chat? Thanks.

[Why Chat]

OK, it looks like the next step is to send the CA this: http://www.whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html with the opening adjusted as described to reflect that I've never received any communication regarding this from the CA.

 

But the top of that page also says "THIS IS ONLY TO BE USED WHEN THE HIPAA LETTER TO THE OC CAN NOT BE IMMEDIATELY USED". I am not sure who the OC is or how to contact them - the 'client' name listed for the CA is brief and seems to be a partial match for a few large organizations in the listed city. Or maybe one very big one with a couple dozen locations. They've never contacted me regarding this account. I think the 'hipaa letter to the oc' is this one: http://whychat.5u.com/hipltr.html. But that page advises "This letter should ONLY be used AFTER the initial dispute letter has provided you with a documented current relationship between the Health Care Provider and the reporting CA.

It will ONLY work if the claim is either INACCURATE, or you remit the valid correct amount due with the letter, and ONLY if you have confirmed a CURRENT relationship between the OC and the CA."

 

I don't think I got any documentation about a relationship between the health care provider and the ca. And I'm really not sure if the claim is accurate or not, though it's small enough that I think I'd pay the ransom to be rid of the negative credit report. I'm not sure of the exact balance - EQ lists one original balance and then $1 dollar higher has of 03/12. Both rounded to dollars only it seems.

 

So does that mean I should proceed with the "LETTER TO COLLECTION AGENCY ON MEDICAL ACCOUNT REPORTING WITH A BALANCE DUE" at the top of that page? It looks like I have a street address for the CA, so I would send that CMRR. Yes

 

 

Any advice, Why Chat? Thanks.

[SomeGuy]

I sent this collection agency the top letter here (http://www.whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html) CMRR on April 5.

 

Today I received the green receipt back that it was delivered on April 9.

 

I understand that I should now immediately send the cra the letter at the bottom of that page (http://www.whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#DISPUTE), including a copy of the letter sent to the collection agency and also a copy of the green return receipt.

 

It'll take me a day or two to do that, please let me know if I've misunderstood and need to wait for any reply from the collection agency, or should be sending the original green return receipt card. Thanks again.

[Russ4h]

I sent this collection agency the top letter here (http://www.whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html) CMRR on April 5.

 

Today I received the green receipt back that it was delivered on April 9.

 

I understand that I should now immediately send the cra the letter at the bottom of that page (http://www.whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#DISPUTE), including a copy of the letter sent to the collection agency and also a copy of the green return receipt.

 

It'll take me a day or two to do that, please let me know if I've misunderstood and need to wait for any reply from the collection agency, or should be sending the original green return receipt card. Thanks again.

 

I am in this exact situation with EQ only. I have some mysterious dental bill for 101 dollars that is only reporting on EQ. I have yet to send out a pre hippa dispute letter as you have already but I'll be following along to see how this all works out for you.

 

Thanks for being detailed in your process and for posting updates! Threads with follow thrus and updates really are the most helpful!

[Why Chat]

I sent this collection agency the top letter here (http://www.whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html) CMRR on April 5.

 

Today I received the green receipt back that it was delivered on April 9.

 

I understand that I should now immediately send the cra the letter at the bottom of that page (http://www.whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#DISPUTE), including a copy of the letter sent to the collection agency and also a copy of the green return receipt.

 

It'll take me a day or two to do that, please let me know if I've misunderstood and need to wait for any reply from the collection agency, or should be sending the original green return receipt card. Thanks again.

Yes, you send it NOW, send a COPY of the green card, NEVER send originals.

[SomeGuy]

Belated thanks again, Why Chat. I am trying to wait until I have real news or questions about my process so I don't bump down other threads with those.

 

I don't really have that, but got an unexpected email confirmation from EQ today. I sent that CRA letter certified mail on April 16, delivered April 20. The email confirms that the re-dispute is in process and invites me to click a link to authorize further handling of it to be online. I don't think I will do that, the paper trail seems valuable. I posted full details about the email here: http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=487530&pid=4668736&st=0entry4668736

 

No reply or any other contact from the collection agency (or oc). Though I guess that is exactly the way it normally goes, especially in cases like mine where I never had any contact before the collection on my credit reports either.

 

With the EQ email from my initial dispute, they sent the 'resolution' letter dated just four days later. So hopefully I am close to getting this settled.

[SomeGuy]

Good news today and "probably" my last update for this thread.

 

First things first, late last week, I was surprised to get a letter from the CA involved. My letter to them was delivered April 9, and this apparent reply is dated and postmarked April 26. There's an extremely brief cover letter that says the documents I requested are enclosed and inviting me to call. The documents aren't quite what I asked for, but list a health care provider, my name, and a typically confusing set of medical service items plus insurance adjustments and payments. The service date and understandable parts do correspond to some medical treatment I had. So the whole thing may have been a valid bill - but this CA reply is the first time anyone has contacted me about it.

 

Today I got another small envelope from EQ. A single page inside, so I assumed bad news. The letter is dated April 30. But "The results are: This item has been deleted from the credit file." That's about all the EQ letter says, just one page with a boilerplate intro and state specific notice at the bottom.

 

I have been stumped trying to get a fresh credit report, however, my back door attempts say I recently received all free reports. I did get one new check just over a week ago, probably just overeager to find these results. I'd really like to get a clean snapshot, so I will keep digging a little. It's been nice to use a couple of the free credit monitors to indirectly confirm that EX and TU have stayed clean (creditkarma and creditsesame). Does EQ partner with any service like those?

 

Thanks again, WhyChat, your information and attention were a huge help to get me through this snafu a lot quicker than I would have expected.

[Why Chat]

Good news today and "probably" my last update for this thread.

 

First things first, late last week, I was surprised to get a letter from the CA involved. My letter to them was delivered April 9, and this apparent reply is dated and postmarked April 26. There's an extremely brief cover letter that says the documents I requested are enclosed and inviting me to call. The documents aren't quite what I asked for, but list a health care provider, my name, and a typically confusing set of medical service items plus insurance adjustments and payments. The service date and understandable parts do correspond to some medical treatment I had. So the whole thing may have been a valid bill - but this CA reply is the first time anyone has contacted me about it.

 

Today I got another small envelope from EQ. A single page inside, so I assumed bad news. The letter is dated April 30. But "The results are: This item has been deleted from the credit file." That's about all the EQ letter says, just one page with a boilerplate intro and state specific notice at the bottom.

 

I have been stumped trying to get a fresh credit report, however, my back door attempts say I recently received all free reports. I did get one new check just over a week ago, probably just overeager to find these results. I'd really like to get a clean snapshot, so I will keep digging a little. It's been nice to use a couple of the free credit monitors to indirectly confirm that EX and TU have stayed clean (creditkarma and creditsesame). Does EQ partner with any service like those?

 

Thanks again, WhyChat, your information and attention were a huge help to get me through this snafu a lot quicker than I would have expected.

You are welcome.

Eq should be sending you an updated credit report, however, you can use the "back door" on each CRA website to get an updated credit report.

 

You go to the website, click on "new dispute" provide your existing report # and verifying data, that will bring up your current report which you can print out. ( Of course you do NOT actually make any new dispute, and you need to be careful that you don't accidently opt back in or give them your e-mail address)

[SomeGuy]

Interestingly, it looks like EQ has taken efforts to block this back door.

 

First, initiating a dispute this way requires providing an email address (they already have one associated with my file) AND agreeing to electronic notification of results. It's not clear if that is agreeing for any and all disputes, or only the ones to be initiated.

 

Then, the credit information displayed is certainly from a full credit report, but the presentation is very different than usual. There's no 'everything' view, and they've got scripts or something to both remove all of the browser's normal menu commands and right click menus. So there's no access to the normal Print commands.

 

On the bright side, the Negative Information section does confirm no negative accounts or collections on my file. I will probably try getting a full report the hard way - looks like we can still get in on good rates for mortgage refinance now that this is cleaned up!

 

They do have a bunch of stupid errors in remaining info that doesn't affect any credit score I've seen - a wrong birthday(!), wrong employer history, some hard credit inquiries with typos in the inquiring company name. And that's without checking any details carefully like balances, dates, credit limits.