Medical debt collection issue, need help.

[bpt556]

Hey guys, new user here.

 

I really need some help with a new problem I am having now. For the past two weeks, I have been getting phone calls religiously about 2-3 times a day from various area codes and there is never a voice message left. I looked up the numbers and they all seem to be from "CBE Group," a collection agency from Iowa.

 

I haven't picked up yet because I am trying to get my game plan together. I would like to start off by saying that I see myself as a very responsible person. I only have one real active credit card that I've had for over 5 years and have always paid if off monthly in full (I know some peeps say it's better to carry a manageable balance but still).

 

I suspect they are trying to collect an alleged debt from 2010. Let me briefly explain. Around 2010 I injured my back and was referred by a chiropractor to get an MRI scan. At the time I was under a family member's insurance policy. I was initially turned down face to face because they said there was an issue with getting the procedure pre-approved. They were able to square everything away with the insurance company but demanded that I had to pay my portion up front. They said that the insurance would cover 70% and I would be responsible for the 30%. They told me I had to pay around $250 up front and I even distinctly remember asking how much the whole procedure would cost and was told like $850 which made total sense.

 

What happened was they started billing me a month later for a hair over $2000 because of a problem with my insurance and the procedure itself was ~$2400. To be fair, I probably did sign something that said I was liable incase my insurance was no good. Over a period of months, I was getting bills and I called them several times but could only reach an incompetent billing rep who could never explain to me what happened with the price of the procedure and what my original $250 was for, nor what the 30% was all about.

 

Essentially there was some kind of 3-way communications issue between the ins co and the chiropractor about re-verifying whether my injury was pre-existing. Looking back I guess I could have been a bit more proactive and I have definitely learned some lessons but now there is no turning back. The MRI center has never once called me to try and work things out. I was tired of calling them and getting no where.

 

Anyway, so I have a feeling they sold my account and now I have to answer to a debt collector. Now a couple years back I had a local CA spam call me over an alleged debt of $11.80 for a bogus newspaper subscription that I never received. I read and learned about sending them a validation letter within 30 days of receiving their letter and I never heard from them again.

 

If anyone has read up to this point, I know it was long and I really appreciate it. I guess i'll start off by asking my initial questions:

 

1. Is it common for a debt collector to call from various area codes? I have literally been called from almost five different states.

 

2. I am in California, this CA is based in Iowa. what state's laws apply in this case when it comes to hours they can call, statute of limitations, and call recording?

 

3. I will be picking up soon when I have more time (I am very busy now) and I fully expect that they will first verify my identity. I'm assuming I should start by sending a letter of validation and I found this template (http://www.creditinfocenter.com/forms/sampleletter9.shtml) that I can use and believe I have even used before after cutting out most of the legal lingo because I heard it is mostly pointless. I also know that you have 30 days to mail a validation letter for it to be any good to me. My question is would this be 30 days from initial phone contact or mail contact? So far I have not received anything in the mail.

 

I guess this is still pretty early on but the main thing is I heard I can negotiate with CA's and hopefully pay maybe up to 25% which I am fully willing to do since it would be around the difference of what the MRI clinic verbally quoted me and what I paid up front. My worries are about getting sued and having this on my credit report. I just checked my report from one of the companies (forgot which one) and so far nothing is on it.

 

I'm looking forward to hearing from anyone who can help me and I can get into more detail as this unfolds.

 

 

Thank you.

 

 

 

[Why Chat]

You need to start with some pro-active steps.

 

It is impossible to tell if your "calls" are from a CA who has a legitimate right to collect on a legitimate medical debt or just a scum scam JDB ( junk debt buyer) who got your name from a data miner and is trying to collect on an account that is either not yours or invalid.

 

Follow all these steps:

 

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

 

The MOST important thing is for you to opt out FIRST before doing anything else. This will help prevent your data from being sold by the CRAs ( credit reporting agencies) to data miners.

 

Next, get your credit reports, including your MIB report. Examine them all carefully for errors, wrong addresses, different spelling of your name, addresses that are not, and never were your address.

 

I don't think at this point that you need to worry about the phone calls from Iowa. California has some very strict consumer protection laws and they prohibit the kind of calls this CA is making.

A validation letter is completely inappropriate at this point, it would be like responding to a spam message on your e-mail.

 

I doubt VERY MUCH that the calls you are getting are from a CA who had your California chiropractor account.

 

If they call again, and you happen to answer, tell them that the call is being recorded and ask for their name and address.

[bpt556]

Thanks Why Chat for the quick response.

 

I'll get on with the opt-out thing right away. I checked my Trans Union one recently and everything seemed fine. I am currently signing up for free daily Equifax monitoring through my AAA membership and i'll be sure to look for errors too.

 

I have gotten phone calls from like 4-5 different states so far. The two most common calls are from Florida and Iowa. When I looked up both numbers on Google, people report that they are "CBE Group." When I look up the other numbers, they are reportedly spam calls from random sales companies. I'm really not sure what's going on.

 

This while debt issue is actually from the MRI clinic and not the chiropractor. I guess since I have yet to pick up these phone calls I do not know who is on the other line.

 

I'm thinking I could pick up and do tell them that I am recording the call and ask for their name, address, and info but what if they identify themselves as CBE Group and start discussing my alleged debt right off the bat? I also heard that they require you to verify your own identify by confirming your address and last 4 digits of your SSN. Should I demand that they tell me the info first and let me tell them whether it is correct or not?

 

I suppose what i'm asking is if I pick up and they immediately say they are CBE Group and are collecting this alleged debt I suspect it to be, should I immediately ask for details (name, company, address) and mail out a validation letter? But please don't get me wrong, I want to be sure everything is legit and I explored all my options first. This MRI clinic simply did not honor what they told me the day I had the scan done.

 

Ultimately if everything checks out then I am very interested in paying a fraction of that $2000 (I have no idea if they are also gonna ask for interest and penalties) if I can avoid getting anything on my credit report or getting sued. I would like to put this while MRI mess behind me and just walk away learning to be 100% sure on fees and charges before submitting to any medical procedures.

 

 

Thanks

[Why Chat]

You are over thinking the situation.

If you happen to answer and ask for ID you do it AFTER you tell them the call is being recorded.

If they refuse to identify themselves and ask YOU for ID simply tell them the recording will be turned over to the California attorney general's office.

 

You do not seem to understand that these CAs are scum scam garbage operations who do NOT follow the laws and have NO RIGHT to call you at all.

 

IF the account is reporting on one or more of your credit reports, and IF you send a dispute letter to the CRA disputing the entry, and IF the CRA does not delete, and IF the reporting CA provides you with written proof of their right to collect on any medical account, and IF that written proof matches your records, you can THEN discuss here your options on paying. ( The chances of any of that occurring are about the same as the validity of your notification that you have won the Nigerian lottery)

[bpt556]

Alrighty. I guess I am over thinking a bit. Is it expected that legit CA's will mail a collection letter? I suppose it could be a bit telling that I haven't received anything in the mail yet. I guess I won't pick up for now and see how it plays out this week. Eventually i'll have to pick up because these calls are getting extremely irritating. If I do, i'll report back with what happens.

 

Thank you