Medical Bills Advice

[GCM415]

So I have been reading and following Whychat's procedure, and have opted out, but when I asked to delete addresses, TU and EQ did it right away with no issues and only left my current address which is reporting on my credit cards/installment loans. However, Experian would not do so. They said the medical CO's are reporting that address, so they will not remove them. Should I not proceed to the next step until I can get them to remove these addresses? They seem like they don't wanna budge with it, but I assume they're always this way. Any advice on what to do next? Thanks a bunch everyone, this board has been A LOT of help so far!

[Why Chat]

Go ahead with the next step -- Experian has always been the WORST of the CRAs in following the rules of FACTA and the FCRA, ( they are also the most unreliable in their reporting and scoring and are relying more and more on selling services unrelated to credit reporting.

[GCM415]

Thanks for the reply Whychat, I really appreciate it. In regards to the bills specifically, 3 of them are from the same collection agency (who is actually also the OC), but are from 3 separate dates of service. Do they need to be done individually?

[Why Chat]

If you have done all the preliminary steps

 

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

 

and are using the HIPAA letter program

 

http://www.whychat.5u.com/GUIDE%20HIPAA%20PROGRAM.html

 

and are ready to send the initial dispute letter

 

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

 

Then you LIST all medical accounts as they appear on the report you are disputing.

 

The reporting CA can NOT be the actual OC as health care providers are NOT allowed to report directly, they must go through an associated collection agency

[GCM415]

I opted out last week, and today I deleted addresses by calling each credit agency. One thing is that I have dispute remarks on my credit reports from trying to get these off before. I called EQ and they said they are removing the disputes, as did TU. They both said it will take up to 30 days for them to come off. I haven't called EXP yet to see if they will remove them, as I spent an hour on the phone with them arguing about previous addresses just a few hours ago. Should I call them to see if they'll remove those dispute remarks before I go any further? And in general, should I wait a bit to make sure everything I've requested has been done? Thanks again!

Edited February 26, 2013 by GCM415

[Why Chat]

WHOA!!! If you have been calling in your disputes, or doing them on the internet, you are NOT using the "HIPAA Letter Program".

 

I can not give you any advice as to what to do next as apparently you have been doing your own thing.

 

Once you have final results from your prior efforts, and 60 days have passed since your last communication with any CRA and IF you haven't received the results you want, you can then start over from scratch and follow the HIPAA letter program.

[GCM415]

So Whychat, 60 days is coming up. I've been waiting, and pulled copies of my reports through a free service offered by my bank, and the dispute remarks are all gone. I've already opted out, and the addresses are also deleted. The last things that were disputed, were done in very early February, and they were for other items that have since been deleted. The items that are remaining are all unpaid, medical collections. I have requested the EOMB's for the ones where I had health insurance, and have gotten most of them. Still waiting on one to get mailed to me from BCBS though. I have a few questions I wanted to be clear on, if my next step is your " SPECIAL MEDICAL DISPUTE LETTER" process.

 

1. I don't have the bills for many of these collections, so how should I request the original bill if it's with a collection agency? I just wasn't sure the best way to approach/contact them.

 

2. I used the watermark function on the template you provided, just to see how it would come out when printed. Although it put the zoomed in watermark image there, my laser jet is also putting a white border around the paper. Is this normal or ok to send in with it being like this?

 

3. Should I simply type in italics using purple, or blue color, or is there a better way? I just wanna make sure it's done exactly as you've outlined, down to the last detail.

4. Do I address it "Dear CRA" or "Dear Equifax", "Dear Transunion" etc? I wasn't sure if that mattered or not.

 

5. Just to clarify, I put the credit report number, account number for each account listed, and the date for each account?

 

Thanks again for all the help and suggestions!

[Why Chat]

Please re-read the entire program:

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

http://www.whychat.5u.com/GUIDE%20HIPAA%20PROGRAM.html

 

The "template" I provided does not include the whole dispute letter:

 

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

 

It was provided as an example of using a watermark background with a "matching" color font so the automated computer scanning/reading/responding programs wouldn't work.

 

The BEST way is very old fashioned, hand-write, preferably in longhand in regular ball point on legal pad paper, ( the yellow paper with the blue lines) the computer systems can not read handwriting, ( unless you are VERY GOOD at hand writing or printing)

 

1. I don't have the bills for many of these collections, so how

should I request the original bill if it's with a collection agency? I
just wasn't sure the best way to approach/contact them. You DO NOT contact the CA asking them for the bill unless it is with the medical DV which you send to them IF the initial dispute does not get you a deletion:

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

 

2. I used the watermark function on the template you provided, just
to see how it would come out when printed. Although it put the zoomed in
watermark image there, my laser jet is also putting a white border
around the paper. Is this normal or ok to send in with it being like
this?

 

3. Should I simply type in italics using purple, or blue color, or is
there a better way? I just wanna make sure it's done exactly as you've
outlined, down to the last detail.

4. Do I address it "Dear CRA" or "Dear Equifax", "Dear Transunion" etc? I wasn't sure if that mattered or not. Dear Sirs

 

5. Just to clarify, I put the credit report number, account number for each account listed, and the date for each account? NO, the report # goes on the first line, like this:

Dear CRA,

My name is xxxxx xxxxxx , my SS # is xxx xx xxxx.

I am sending this dispute certified mail # xxxx to make sure you receive it.

I have no knowledge or records of the following account(s) on my report # xxxxx.

# xxxxx( account #) from xxxxxx ( CA name)

( account #) from xxxxxx ( CA name)

( account #) from xxxxxx ( CA name)

Edited April 18, 2013 by Why Chat

[GCM415]

Thanks Whychat! I think I'm going to wait another week or so until I send them the initial letter, just to make sure I've allowed the proper time as you've suggested. I will also hand write the letter, as if it's best, then that's what I will do. Just to clarify another thing, since I've read threads where people have done this wrong, but I'm sending it USPS certified mail, correct?

Thanks again for clarifying all these details!

[GCM415]

So I'm about to send the first dispute letter, and when I got my reports from annualcreditreport.com, it only shows part of the account number on the collection accounts. The rest of it has ***** through it for security. How should this be written on the dispute letter?

Thanks again,

[Why Chat]

You dispute each account exactly as it is being reported to each CRA. You may find that the full account # is on some reports and a partial on others. Be sure to use the #s exactly as they are on the report you are disputing.

[GCM415]

So the disputes were sent to the CRA's exactly as you outlined, and they got them a few days ago. I got this email from Equifax this morning, and just wanted to make sure I'm supposed to ignore it. Let me know what you think. See below:

 

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: (I deleted the link).

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.

[Why Chat]

Do not respond. I am all for saving the environment by cutting down on paper mailing, but once you are in an electronic response system you are blocked from using snail mail for further disputes.

[GCM415]

So I got 2 of the 3 back today, which were TU and EXP. Just so you have a running tally of how many medical collections are on each report, TU has 2 accounts, EXP has 6, and EQ has 4.

 

TU verified one, and just put "new information below" for the other and the account is still listed.

 

EXP sent me something that says "we have already verified the accounts and their accuracy", and they don't wanna investigate further etc. What's strange is that they only listed one of the accounts at the end of the investigation results, and none of the others that I disputed with them. Why do you suppose that is?

 

I haven't gotten anything from EQ yet either, but it's only been like 2 weeks, so I'll give it some more time.

Lemme know what you think. Thanks again for everything!

[Why Chat]

Once you have responses from all 3 CRAs you go to the next step which is the medical DV to the reporting CA

 

http://www.whychat.5u.com/GUIDE%20HIPAA%20PROGRAM.html

[GCM415]

Ok, I'll wait for the response from EQ and move on from there with the next step, but I had a few questions about the "letter to healthcare provider", etc.

-Should I type this up in MS Word? This one isn't a hand written letter again, is it? I figured it had to be more official in case as it might be used in court or something.

-And do I print AND sign my name at the bottom of the letter?

-I send a letter to each reporting CA, but I have multiple accounts reporting from the same collections agency, so do I list all the accounts on one letter, or do I send multiple letters to them?

-Also, I don't have any of the original bills with the account numbers, or the exact date of service for my visits, so I'm not sure what to do as far as that part is concerned.

-And as far as the bank cashiers checks are concerned, since I have several collections from the same agency, should I send a different cashiers check for each account listed on my report by them?

-Lastly, I'm sending this return receipt this time, not just certified mail like the dispute letter I sent to the CRA's, right?

 

Sorry for all the questions, but I just wanna make sure I follow your exact instructions down to the last detail. Thanks again!

[GCM415]

Whychat,

 

I finally got EQ back (I checked their backdoor today) and they verified each of them. So all 3 CRA's verified all the accounts I disputed. I know you said to move to the next step, but I just wanted to clarify the questions I had in my previous post before I sent anything off.

 

Should I type this up in MS Word? This one isn't a hand written letter again, is it? I figured it had to be more official in case as it might be used in court or something.

-And do I print AND sign my name at the bottom of the letter?

-I send a letter to each reporting CA, but I have multiple accounts reporting from the same collections agency, so do I list all the accounts on one letter, or do I send multiple letters to them?

-Also, I don't have any of the original bills with the account numbers, or the exact date of service for my visits, so I'm not sure what to do as far as that part is concerned.

-And as far as the bank cashiers checks are concerned, since I have several collections from the same agency, should I send a different cashiers check for each account listed on my report by them?

-Lastly, I'm sending this return receipt this time, not just certified mail like the dispute letter I sent to the CRA's, right?

Thanks again for everything!

[Why Chat]

WHOA!!

You have NO reason to have to know your dates of medical service.

Your next step is to send the medical DV to the reporting CA and then send the follow up dispute to the CRAs-

 

PLEASE READ ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS!!

 

http://whychat.5u.com/GUIDE%20HIPAA%20PROGRAM.html

 

I am assuming you opted out, deleted old addresses, and are using REAL credit reports

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

[GCM415]

Yes, I've done all that. The entire process I've done from start to present is in this thread. The CRA's replied to the initial dispute and verified the accounts, but I haven't gotten anything from the collections agencies. How long should I wait for them? Or should I send http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html right away?

[Why Chat]

Yes, I've done all that. The entire process I've done from start to present is in this thread. The CRA's replied to the initial dispute and verified the accounts, but I haven't gotten anything from the collections agencies. How long should I wait for them? Or should I send http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html right away?

Yes, as soon as you received verification from the CRAs you should send the CAs the medical DVs. As soon as you have proof of their receipt of the medical DV you should send the follow up disputes to the CRAs.

[GCM415]

My reports have a CA that uses two different names, so the reports look different. The amounts and numbers are the same, just the CA name. I'm not exactly sure what to do as far as that's concerned. I guess should just send letters to both reporting CA's. As for the CA's address, can I just use what the CRA's listed in their response to my dispute?

 

Also, if I have several collections with the same collection agency, do I send separate letters? Or do you include all the account numbers for that CA on the same letter? And should I include the "XXX's" in the account number exactly as it reads on the credit report?

Thanks again,

Edited June 3, 2013 by GCM415

[Why Chat]

If the different names have the same address use both names on one letter and both names on the envelope. You send the medical DV to each CA with one letter for each CRA they are reporting to. You list the accounts as they appear on that report.

 

Here are all the instructions again:

 

http://www.whychat.5u.com/GUIDE%20HIPAA%20PROGRAM.html

[GCM415]

So I'm about to send these out, and I noticed that TU has one address for a CA, while my EQ has a totally different address. How should I decide which address to send it to? Neither is a PO Box, so I'll do CMRR on this one. The one that is reporting under two names are both showing the same address as you described above, so I'll send it regular certified and list both names, since it's gong to a PO Box.

[GCM415]

One other thing Whychat...

 

When I google the address for another CA listed on my EXP report, it goes to a UPS Store. I then Googled the CA, trying to find the correct place and found a totally different address listed. I'm not sure where to send this to, or if I should send it CMRR or regular certified mail.

[Why Chat]

Congratulations on catching the "drop box" address. I am going to change
the instructions on mailing to CAs and have them ALL go certified only.

 

 

Use the address given on the CRA report for the ones that have a street address, but do not send them RR, they are probably going to a drop box address so they should be treated the same as a PO box.

You will have to do separate letters for each CRA as the follow up dispute should show the address as listed on THAT report.