I originally posted this on the main boards, realizing my error I'm now posting it here.
http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=268517

I'm gonna try and keep it as brief as possible while listing all the facts.

05-01: In hospital
09-01: Only payment made
11-01: CA notice with hospital listed as client and my patient # as acct #
02-02: Second notice from the same CA with the same client and acct #
11-02: Open date on all three CRAs with hospital listed as collector and the same acct #
12-02: Notice from a new CA with hospital listed as client and the same acct #
05-03: Second notice from the new CA with hospital listed as client and the same acct #
01-07: All 3 CRAs still reporting
06-30-07: NONE of the CRAs are reporting
06-07: Notice from new CA for an acct owned by Collect America with a new acct #
07-06-07: NONE of the CRAs are reporting

The only clue that I have that this is the same debt is the dollar amount that they are requesting.

I have not contacted the OC or the CA. The hospital was sold a few years ago and has since changed names and location. I don't know if it would do any good to contact them. Should I try anyway?

The collection letter says that they will verify and provide name and address of OC. It has not been 30 days since I received the letter. In most of the posts I have read it seems you
are not supposed to DV a CA for a medical debt. However, I don't yet have validation that this is indeed the debt that I think it is.

In my first post on the main boards I had suggestions of FOAD and VD. Should I VD to prevent them from reporting to the CRAs since they have not done so. Would this be the correct DV? http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcaval.html

I want to prevent this going back on my reports. I would love to pay the OC and be done with it.

I apologize for the double post, i just want to make sure do not make a mistake... other than not paying the bill on 2001.

You are being dunned by a "garbage" CA who acquired the bare data of your long expired accounts from a data miner. ( The reason they are called "garbage" CA's is that they dig up old discarded legally noncollectable
accounts).

Make sure you have opted out and deleted old addresses on your reports. It is true that NORMALLY I do not suggest a DV to a CA on a medical account, but in THIS case it is appropriate, make SURE you send a STRONG one and do NOT sign your name.Here is a good one that I have "edited" for your purposes.

Your Name
123 Your Street Address

Your City, ST 01234


ABC Collections

123 NotOnYourLife Ave

Chicago, IL

Date: _________ CRRR#____________

Re: Acct # XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is being sent to you in response to your attached letter.
(If you have nothing in writing use the phrase "recent communication)

This is not a refusal to pay, but a notice that your claim is disputed.

Under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), I have the right to request validation of the debt you say I owe you. I am requesting proof that I am indeed the party you are asking to pay this debt, and there is some contractual obligation which is binding on me to pay this debt.

Your legal staff will agree that compliance with this request is required under the laws of (State name) and Federal Statutes.

In addition, please attach copies of:

Agreement with your client that grants you the authority to collect on this alleged debt,or proof of acquisition by purchase or assignment.

Agreement that bears the signature of the alleged debtor wherein he or she agreed to pay the creditor and if this is a medical account a copy of any assigned HIPAA authorization.

Please also be advised that this letter is not only a formal dispute, but a request that you cease and desist any and all collection activities.

Your receipt of this letter will be considered as having granted consent to the taping of any and all telephone calls to me at my home or business by you or your agents or assigns

I require compliance with the terms and conditions of this letter within 30 days. or a complete withdrawal, in writing, of any claim.

In the event of noncompliance, I reserve the right to file charges and/or complaints with appropriate County, State & Federal authorities ,the BBB and State Bar associations for violations of the FDCPA, FCRA, and Federal and State statutes on fraudulent extortion .

I also hereby reserve my right to take private civil action against you to recover damages.
Sincerely,

Your Name(PRINT OR TYPE DO NOT SIGN)

Thank you very much. I will mail this off today.

Update:

Before I mailed off your edited DV to the CA I did another scan of my reports with truecredit and now TU and EX are showing the debt. I then got fresh reports directly from TU and EX (mailed hard copies are on the way) and truecredit was correct, the TL is back on the reports. The account # reported from the CRA's is the same as the ref# on the letter from the CA. However, the name of the creditor is different. I did a little research with the help of google and discovered that even though the names are different they are indeed the same company. Also, the OC is listed in the TL as the OC.

I also called the hospital just to see if they could still pull info on me and the nice lady I spoke with was able to find my account and told me that it had been sold to the creditor listed in the CA letter and that I would need to contact them.

So, now I'm not sure if I should DV the CA still or go the PRE HIPAA route and DV the CRA's. The only thing that links the debt on my reports to the CA letter is the account/ref #. The letter says nothing about it being a medical bill. Do I now forget that I got the CA letter and just deal with the CRA's?

I also read the post about the new letter to CA's, that letter assumes you already know it's a medical debt. If I am to still DV the CA, the edit to the letter in the last post would still apply to my situation. I know I'm being verbose please excuse me. Some of my chatter is more to help me work it all out in my head than anything. Should I take the advice of that special DV post and DV both the CRA's and the CA at the same time but use the "IF this is a medical ..." instead of "Since this is a medical ..." line with the CA?

The post for the special DV also says not to DV for a hospital bill. I have read that you're not supposed to DV on a debt from a government funded hospital, but since the hospital in my case is private does that still apply?

And this is total cart/horse but say I do get to the point of sending the money and HIPAA letter, the hospital has been sold and changed names will that effect my ability to use the HIPAA letters since I'm not able to make the check/MO out to the OC?