MSCB, Inc. - Verified a Bill that was never disputed

[HaveNoClue]

DH received in the mail a standard letter from them dated 4-3-13. Gave an MSCB Account number and Current Balance. Strange thing is - what was in the letter. It stated "We have reveived a notice of dispute on your account(s) and are responding by enclosing an itemized statement for the account(s) in question. Please feel free to contact us if the need arises at 1-800-748-3074. Otherwise, we feel that we have satisfied our obligation to provide you with the information you need to understand your account(s)." It goes on about 30 days, where they have a license with finally "Federal law requires that we inform you that this is an attempt to collect a debt...."

 

Enclosed was a bill details report from the hospital printed out 3/7/2013. It lists everything. I mean hospital name, doctor's name, DH's name, DOB, Admission Date, Discharge date, even as far as what was done such as codes, description, units, rate, and amount. This HAD to come from the hospital. I recognize the "User Login Name". She DOES work at the hospital. It even lists all the payments we've made on this bill.

 

Now here is the crazy part. We have NEVER disputed anything with MSCB. We have just started working on his credit. Have only gone so far as to Opt Out, request correct name and current address change. Any ideas, suggestions, comments?

[Why Chat]

It is obvious that the reporting CA is in a current business relationship with the hospital. They were likely notified when you requested name and address changes .

 

Pay the hospital with the HIPAA letter insert "a" if the balance due matches your records.

 

 

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

[HaveNoClue]

Why Chat,

 

Is there any other options? We've been paying on the bill monthly. DH had to go to the ER before his health insurance went into effect so the bill is rather large - like $2200. He's never denied the bill and has always paid the OC every month but we just don't have that kind of money to put on one bill and still have lights, water, gas, food, etc. for the month.

[Why Chat]

Why Chat,

 

Is there any other options? We've been paying on the bill monthly. DH had to go to the ER before his health insurance went into effect so the bill is rather large - like $2200. He's never denied the bill and has always paid the OC every month but we just don't have that kind of money to put on one bill and still have lights, water, gas, food, etc. for the month.

If the hospital is accepting your payments and if you are getting receipts showing the correct balance, continue your payments ,and send the initial dispute letter to the CRAs on this account and see what happens. It is possible that you have already paid more than the amount you would have been charged if you had insurance at the time. Insurance plans get a large discount. Try to find out what the normal and usual charges would have been if you had been covered at that time. If you can get a statement that shows what your DISCOUNTED charges should have been, then you can send whatever small balance ( if any) is due to the hospital with an edited HIPAA letter combining insert "a" and insert "b".

[HaveNoClue]

Wow - that never even crossed my mind. I just took those charges as what I owed. I doubt I have paid enough but we are alot closer than we were before. As I stated earlier, we only received this "dispute" letter after we pull CR's from CRA's and their name wasn't on there. Might have to look again. But I sure will check into the usual and customary! Thanks Why Chat!