Back in October of 2007 I had to take a trip to the local hospital. I paid my copays at the time and thought that was it, the insurance would take care of the rest. When I received bills from the hospital I stupidly ignored them thinking I owed them nothing (what can I say I was an idiot).

Fast forward to April of 2008. I get a couple of bills from a CA and I go 'oh crap, you mean I really do owe money?'. Being a good little boy I said here's your money Mr. Nice CA (I said I was an idiot, stop looking at me like that).

Now we come to today. I'm thinking about replacing my formerly trusty but increasingly decrepit old pickup with a shiny new car so, what do I do? I, of course, pull my credit reports and make sure everything looks hunky dory before I go try to get financing. I knew things weren't going to be super, thanks to my somewhat high debt utilization, but I figured they'd still be decent since I pay everything on time. Oh, but wait, what are these two collections accounts on my report? Why they are the medical collections from last year! And they say they're still unpaid (not that it would be any better if it said paid, as I've come to understand).

I've been hanging around this truly wonderful forum and reading about my options for a couple of days when I see this:"If you have PAID the CA, you can NOT use the HIPAA letter program." I paid the lovely people at the CA so the HIPAA letter program apparently isn't in the picture.

I don't want to keep repeating the pattern (that pattern being 'I'm an idiot') anymore so I thought I'd open a dialogue with all the helpful people that hang around here. I am hoping to get that car soon (because of all the really great deals out right now) and think I I'll be able to with my current middle of the road scores (TrueCredit reports them as being TransUnion:675 Experian:659 Equifax:704 and they should get better after I pay off one debt completely tomorrow) but, even if I can get what I want right now, I don't want these collections to spring up and bite me in the butt down the road should I decide to buy a house or similar. If I can get rid of them I want to try. I know there are many topics filled with people who have somewhat similar situations but, after spending all day browsing around I haven't spotted one exactly like mine.

I have already opted out online (which, I believe, takes effect instantly). I have contacted EquiFax via phone, TransUnion via their online form, and am currently writing the Experian to dispute incorrect/old addresses. I probably should have written all of them but, well, as the established pattern goes I'm an idiot sometimes

Opt out
http://whychat.5u.com/OPTOUTINST.HTML
Delete old addresses if possible if you have moved within the past 6-7 years

Send each CRA this ( follow all the directions)
http://whychat.5u.com/hipaadisp.html

If they are verified, send the reporting CA this;
http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html

And follow up with this
http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#DISPUTE

You will not be able to use the part of the HIPAA letter program that deals with the OC, but you should be able to get a deletion with this method. Post back ON THIS THREAD for any further questions.

Thanks for the quick reply Why Chat

Once my old addresses are deleted I'll continue on with the Pre-HIPAA Medical Dispute Letter. I'll also continue to post any new information or news I get in this thread so that, hopefully, the rest of you can keep me from continuing my pattern