Maybe I am confused ... but it seems that the prevailing thought is to have NO contact of any kind with the CA on an account that you are (or may in the future be) using the HIPAA process on.

I have a larger med collection currently being reported by NCO ... at this time, I do not see that it is feasible to pay this and use the HIPAA letter due to the amount. However, one never knows what tomorrow may bring...

Do I dare send a DV letter? If not, why not?

Thoughts ... opinions ... comments ...

TIA

What is the question? And many more with a search. To answer your question maybe you need to address this in the regular credit forum.
http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?s...c=138548&hl

http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?s...c=229108&hl

http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?s...c=226491&hl

I wouldn't have any contact with a CA for any reason unless it could not be avoided
You don't mention how old the debt is or if the SOL has passed. That may make a difference on how you want to handle this. But either way you may want to read this before you wake that sleeping giant, NCO.

http://www.budhibbs.com/debtcollectorpages...ial_systems.htm

IMHO... let sleeping dogs sleep for the time being, deal with the OC if at all possible. And read whychats board...good stuff there that may give you more complete answers. Personally I think you can ask the OC for validation, if done carefully, without resetting the SOL clock. Then maybe they can help you with a payment plan. If you are not in a position to make any payments then let it alone for the time being. If you win the lottery tomorrow....pay everyone off after you negotiate to have the TLs removed. Oh and send me some (he he...teasing).

I was able to get an NCO entry deleted from my CR by disputing it with the CRA...still don't have any clue how it ended up there...I used that hospital but I don't have any records of using that time...and I am a real pack rat so I'd have something somewhere. But I never had any communication with the CA.

Hope this helps. D

If you wish to send a DV to a CA on a "larger" medical account that is presumably from a Hospital, go ahead. You will likely then risk the chance of being sued if the CA has the correct documentation.

The HIPAA proccess is NOT only for "payment" of bills, it is to obtain deletion from credit reports of accounts that are NOT actually legally collectible by the reporting CA.

For instance, let's suppose that your "large" bill was written off and paid by your State or County indigent health care funding and that the reporting CA "dug up" this written off account from the garbage heaps of a data miner.

Your DV would allow the CA to notify the Hospital that you are interested in protecting your credit and have "DV'd" them. The Hospital is mandated under the law to take EVERY opportunity to recoup taxpayers $$, so they file suit.

If your account is over 5-6 years old and you send the medical dispute letter to the CRA's, you risk little, as the CA will likely be unable to provide the required response and you get a deletion. If the account is UNDER 4 years old, you risk getting sued.

In addition, if you have SOME resources to PAY the bill, you could look up what the bill SHOULD have been ( linked inside insert "a"), and if it was verified AFTER you send the medical dispute letter, you could pay that lesser amount.

Once you send a DV, you are in effect giving the CA permission to access your private medical records under the HIPAA rules.

Copied and pasted for future questions. Thanks Whychat for your knowledge.