I'm trying to remove a paid medical collection account. In my pre-CreditBoards.com life I paid the collection agency - not the original creditor.

I sent Why Chat's HIPAA medical dispute letter (the one at the very bottom of the HIPAA page) to one of the CRAs recently. I just received their response. They state that the collection agency previously verified the account. (This probably occurred earlier this summer when I sent a "not mine" letter referencing a few accounts including this one.) As a result of this the CRA considers my dispute:

"frivolous and we will not reinvestigate the item(s) unless you can provide court papers or a recent, authentic letter from the creditor(s) that explains what information should be updated."

What's my next step?

Based on what I've read here I suspect I've got to file a dispute with the FTC and send a "courtesy" copy of that dispute to the CRA.

Is the another course of action or better approach?

Moxy

There are many approaches you can use to repair your credit, however, NONE will work perfectly (including my ideas) especially if you have done OTHER things that are counter to whatever approach you are using.

I don't consider the copy of the FTC filed complaint and a re-dispute as a "courtesy letter". The ONLY time I have used the expression "courtesy letter" is when you are about to file a HIPAA complaint and wish to advise the OC of that fact without using an "or else" threat.

In the case of sending a re-dispute to the CRA with a copy of your filed complaint, I see nothing wrong with adding that you may consider legal action against them for their non compliance, that is certainly not "courteous".

Why Chat, thank you for highlighting the mistakes I've made in dealing with this particular account. I only hope that others, facing a similar situation, will learn from my mistakes and pursue your HIPAA strategy *from the start*.

I can and do heartily testify that your approaches produce positive results when properly applied.

And I readily admit that *I* am completely responsible for fouling up this particular situation. [What was the phrase, memorialized by Tom Wolfe in his book "The Right Stuff", that test pilots used when another test pilot fouled up a mission so badly that it cost them their life: "screwed the pooch"? For some perverse reason that comes to mind here. :-) ]

Thank you for the follow-up advice. One question: should I forward my complaint to the FTC alone or should I include copies to the Attorneys General in my home state (Florida) and the state where the CRA resides (Pennsylvania)?

Moxy

The AG office in Fl. is a toothless wonder.
I don't know about Pa.

The PURPOSE of the FTC complaint is not to have any real action taken against the CRA by the FTC, but to increase the "negative score" amassed by complaints to the FTC that the CRA's can only mitigate with proof of mitigation of the complaint.