Dunning letter - advice?

[onceuponadime]

Hey everyone, I have been on CB in the credit section for a few months trying to fix my credit and help my bofriend with his too. He just recieved a dunning letter from a local CA for an outsanding medical bill for $500. This is not yet reporting on his CR.

 

I am trying to gather information but want to make sure that I am on the right track...

 

From what I am reading it seems that I need to respond with WhyChat's DV right away: http://www.whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html

 

I copied it word for word (based on advice on here) and inserted the neccessary minimal changes. Do I need to use the special font/paper to avoid the electronic scanning or is that only for CRAs?

 

Also, they got his work number (We already opted out and disputed old addresses months ago, with some not being removed). They have been calling him at work and I told him to not talk to them but he would like to have them stop - should I include cease and desist language specific to contacting at work in addition to the language that is already included?

 

Thanks for all your help!

 

 

 

[Why Chat]

How old is this account ?? ( date of medical service) are you SURE it is not on his reports??

 

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

 

If it is not on his reports, then yes he can send the medical DV ( regular type normal paper) to the CA

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

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

 

If this is a fairly recent valid bill and they have his work # and current address, there is a chance he may be sued.

 

The medical DV contains a total cease and desist which would prevent them from calling etc. but would not prevent them from suing.

[onceuponadime]

How old is this account ?? ( date of medical service) are you SURE it is not on his reports??

 

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

 

If it is not on his reports, then yes he can send the medical DV ( regular type normal paper) to the CA

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

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

 

If this is a fairly recent valid bill and they have his work # and current address, there is a chance he may be sued.

 

The medical DV contains a total cease and desist which would prevent them from calling etc. but would not prevent them from suing.

 

 

Thanks for replying WhyChat! As of 4/26 it was not on his reports and I haven’t received any new alerts from USAA CM. I will backdoor all his reports later to double-check but I'm fairly certain that I would have gotten an alert if a new account popped up.

 

 

He is unsure of the date of medical service and there is no indication on the letter. He doesn't know whether it was racked up over time or if it was from one time. I have been with him for 3 years and he has not had any serious medical issues /stays in the hospotal since then so it could have been from before we met but he doesn't know for sure. In the event that he does get sued, I am prepared to PIF for him if need be.

 

 

 

Another question for you - the address I have is a P.O. Box, you stated to send certified without RR and print out online proof of delivery for the follow up letter, does this apply to original DV as well? (Sorry if its a stupid question, just want to make sure I don't screw up).

 

Thanks for all your help!

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 14, 2013 by Lucia

[Why Chat]

 

How old is this account ?? ( date of medical service) are you SURE it is not on his reports??

 

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

 

If it is not on his reports, then yes he can send the medical DV ( regular type normal paper) to the CA

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

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

 

If this is a fairly recent valid bill and they have his work # and current address, there is a chance he may be sued.

 

The medical DV contains a total cease and desist which would prevent them from calling etc. but would not prevent them from suing.

 

 

Thanks for replying WhyChat! As of 4/26 it was not on his reports and I haven’t received any new alerts from USAA CM. I will backdoor all his reports later to double-check but I'm fairly certain that I would have gotten an alert if a new account popped up.

 

 

He is unsure of the date of medical service and there is no indication on the letter. He doesn't know whether it was racked up over time or if it was from one time. I have been with him for 3 years and he has not had any serious medical issues /stays in the hospotal since then so it could have been from before we met but he doesn't know for sure. In the event that he does get sued, I am prepared to PIF for him if need be.

 

 

 

Another question for you - the address I have is a P.O. Box, you stated to send certified without RR and print out online proof of delivery for the follow up letter, does this apply to original DV as well? (Sorry if its a stupid question, just want to make sure I don't screw up).

 

Thanks for all your help!

 

 

 

 

 

It is more than likely that this is a JDB ( junk debt buyer) OR a case of ID theft. Make sure he gets his MIB report also to see if there isn't any unknown medical entry.

 

Yes send it certified only without the return receipt as these scum scam CAs refuse to sign for anything that looks "legal".

[onceuponadime]

Thanks, whychat! I sent the DV out yesterday...so we will wait and see..

[onceuponadime]

I received a response from the collections agency on this debt

 

"Dear Mr. Doe,

 

We are in receipt of your letter dated May 16th, 2013. Enclosed is an itemized statement.

 

We have stopped all activity here, however the debt remains open with your client."

 

Attached was a confusing list of charges but then a few days later I receieved a hospital bill (not in collections) for the same charges. I am assuming that they just pushed it back to the hospital and can no longer report to the CRA?. Should I just leave this alone for now?

 

Thanks!

[Why Chat]

What are the dates of the charges??

 

Does your boyfriend recognize any of them??

 

Leave it alone unless and until you get some further correspondence, OR, if he doesn't recognize the charges.

 

If he is reasonably sure the charges are not his, then he should send an affidavit of identity theft to the hospital.

[onceuponadime]

The charges are from June 2012 and he does recognize them, unfortunately his insurance didn't pay as much as he thought they would.

 

Thanks for the advice, I will leave alone until something else comes up.

[Why Chat]

Have your boyfriend get an EOMB ( explanation of medical benefits) from his insurance Co. so you can see what was billed, what was allowed, and what the "patient responsibility" actually was.

[onceuponadime]

He just called AETNA and was told by the rep that they do not have that information since it is different for everyone, he was told he would have to go through his job. He found the Benefits Policy Handbook, is this the same thing?

[Why Chat]

He just called AETNA and was told by the rep that they do not have that information since it is different for everyone, he was told he would have to go through his job. He found the Benefits Policy Handbook, is this the same thing?

??? When his insurance paid for his services, they sent him ( or should have sent him) an EOMB Explanation of Of Medical Benefits, it is a statement from the insurance Co. What he apparently asked for was NOT his own EOMB but a list of medical service payments.

OF COURSE it is different for everyone, have him go to his HS representative at his job and ask for a copy of HIS own EOMB for THAT medical service.