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Hi there. I plan on buying a car within the next 6-9 months and need to get my credit cleaned up. I have plans to send a few goodwill letters, as well as 1-2 pay for delete letters. I'm having trouble debating on how to handle the 3 medical bills I have on my report (from one ER visit). They aren't due to fall off until 2016 & 2017. The amounts owed are $133, $233, and $489. I was applying for their uninsured discount plans (or covered 100% due to being unemployed) and trying to get the visit covered. I faxed all of my tax info, etc, didn't hear any "denial" back & figured it was okay. Then I had like a 20 point drop in my credit report several months later. GREAT. The CA is "ARS". I have heard people getting them to agree with the PFD method. However, I wonder if I should try the HIPAA method first? I *kind of* understand the process, but it's a little difficult for me to follow (I've been reading about credit all day, my brain is fried lol) The hospital where I had the treatment done is the "sister" hospital of the hospital I currently work at. Would it be worth trying to go over there and talk to them? Should I ask for a verification with the CA first? Also, has anyone had success with PFD and having a settlement amount? I would be able to pay the $133 and $233 in full...but I'd try to offer 50% of the $489. I'm pretty certain for the HIPAA I'd have to pay the full amounts, so I'm not sure if I'd be able to follow through with that ;\. Thank you for any help! EDIT: Whoa. Now I am SUPER confused. I was skimming over my Transunion report and noticed some wrong info regarding these accounts. Well, the 3 medical bills (from same ER visit) say: $133 Placed for collection 2/04/2010 - item will be removed 04/16 $213 Placed for collection 02/03/2010 - item will be removed 04/16 $489 Placed for collection 02/23/2011 - item will be removed 05/17 That's more than the 4-5 years... Any idea what's going on? Also...to make this even worse..... how on earth would those dates be the reported dates when I went to the ER in Feb 2011? Actually, part of me thinks I didn't go to March 2011. I had no medical bills prior to that. So saying it went INTO COLLECTIONS in 2010 makes no sense to me... What do I do now? I don't want to try PFD when nothing makes sense anymore!