Goodwill attempt first, or last?

[shanagain]

I'm dealing with a couple of paid medical collections and a couple of unpaid on my DH's report. They are all joint (some are for our daughter, one might be mine, none are actually "his").

 

And I'm learning I'm pretty stooooopid when it comes to this stuff! My head is swimming.

 

Due to our daughter's involvement, and the fact that she had a very "dramatic" incident (well, I don't know

why I put it in quotes, it IS dramatic - she was bitten by a rattlesnake, and despite what you've seen on Venom ER, it's NOT just a matter of getting a shot of antivenin and going on your way) I've been able to negotiate quite a few goodwill deletions/ deletions-for-pay with one med. CA.

 

I called to double-check another (figured it was worth a shot after the success went to my head) that had been paid but they said "no deletion because it took you so long to pay after we had it" - even though it was being disputed for insurance to pay). So anyway - here's how they report, at least from EQ:

 

DATA SEARCH

Agency Address: 85 NE Loop 410 # S-407

San Antonio, TX 782165829

 

Date Reported: 09/2007

Date Assigned: 03/2006

Creditor Classification: Medical/Health Care

Creditor Name: UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

Accounts Number: 2xxXXXX

Account Owner: Individual Account.

Original Amount Owned: $1,441

Date of 1 st Delinquency: 08/2005

Balance Date: 09/2007

Balance Owned: $0

Last Payment Date : 29/09/2006

Status Date: 09/2007

Status: P - Paid

Comments: Medical

 

If he's paying for his minor daughter, is that Indiv. or Joint?

 

And is it even worth it to try to get rid of it, knowing that the CA is going to verify/validate, or should I try a written goodwill to the president of the company?

 

OH, and this might be a biggie - I find it impossible to believe the date of 1st delinq. is 08/05, because that's when she was bitten - awfully short turnaround to call us delinquent within the same month.

 

I guess what I really need is some direction and/or encouragement because I'm feeling clueless.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Stryker]

ttt.

[Why Chat]

I'm dealing with a couple of paid medical collections and a couple of unpaid on my DH's report. They are all joint (some are for our daughter, one might be mine, none are actually "his").Follow the directions given in my response for ALL the medical accounts, paid or unpaid, valid or invalid, his yours or daughter

 

And I'm learning I'm pretty stooooopid when it comes to this stuff! My head is swimming.

 

Due to our daughter's involvement, and the fact that she had a very "dramatic" incident (well, I don't know

why I put it in quotes, it IS dramatic - she was bitten by a rattlesnake, and despite what you've seen on Venom ER, it's NOT just a matter of getting a shot of antivenin and going on your way) I've been able to negotiate quite a few goodwill deletions/ deletions-for-pay with one med. CA.

 

I called to double-check another (figured it was worth a shot after the success went to my head) that had been paid but they said "no deletion because it took you so long to pay after we had it" - even though it was being disputed for insurance to pay). So anyway - here's how they report, at least from EQ:

 

DATA SEARCH

Agency Address: 85 NE Loop 410 # S-407

San Antonio, TX 782165829

 

Date Reported: 09/2007

Date Assigned: 03/2006

Creditor Classification: Medical/Health Care

Creditor Name: UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

Accounts Number: 2xxXXXX

Account Owner: Individual Account.

Original Amount Owned: $1,441

Date of 1 st Delinquency: 08/2005

Balance Date: 09/2007

Balance Owned: $0

Last Payment Date : 29/09/2006

Status Date: 09/2007

Status: P - Paid

Comments: Medical

 

If he's paying for his minor daughter, is that Indiv. or Joint?

 

And is it even worth it to try to get rid of it, knowing that the CA is going to verify/validate, or should I try a written goodwill to the president of the company?

 

OH, and this might be a biggie - I find it impossible to believe the date of 1st delinq. is 08/05, because that's when she was bitten - awfully short turnaround to call us delinquent within the same month.Delinquency date on medical account IS the date of service

 

I guess what I really need is some direction and/or encouragement because I'm feeling clueless.

 

Thanks in advance.

Opt out on BOTH your reports

Delete old addresses, ( if you have moved)

Send any CRA where any of these medical accounts are appearing on either of your reports (you can list accounts for EACH CRA in one dispute letter, but you must use separate letters and envelopes for each CRA for your husband and yourself), this:

http://whychat.5u.com/hipaadisp.html

 

Wait for a FULL response from the CRA and/or the reporting CA

 

Post back HERE ON THIS THREAD with your results.

[shanagain]

WhyChat, you are so incredibly helpful, thank you.

 

Will do, to all of the above. (We've already opted out, and are in the process of deleting old addresses, though that might take an act of congress with Experian - I've never seen so many variations of our old addy before!)

 

Shan

[Why Chat]

WhyChat, you are so incredibly helpful, thank you.

 

Will do, to all of the above. (We've already opted out, and are in the process of deleting old addresses, though that might take an act of congress with Experian - I've never seen so many variations of our old addy before!)

 

Shan

In the credit forum "pinned" posts there is one that has my "favorite posts", here is one that may help you.

http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?s...=105304&hl=

Edited May 7, 2008 by Why Chat

[shanagain]

And yet again, thank you.

 

I think this is why I felt I was chasing my tail before - in a lot of ways, you have to, in order to get all of your ducks in a row.

 

I will definitely report back here, on this thread, when applicable.

[shanagain]

Quick (sort of) update:

 

Sent out my pre-Hipaa's on 5/14, they've been delivered. Haven't rec'd anything back from CSC/Equifax or Experian, though I've noticed that both are listing the items as under dispute on my reports. Actually, Experian has at least temporarily deleted one of the paid collections, but I'm not holding my breath that it's for real.

 

TU sent a letter stating since I've added additional info. to a dispute (am disputing other things on my report) the time frame for completion has been extended. Bummer.

 

Then today I noticed a *new* old collection reporting on EQ/csc, so I've written another pre-Hipaa to go out. That's probably going to extend the time frame there too, but I don't know what else to do.

[MIDCITY]

Inmmy experience with medical bills, the provider will generally send it for collection

BEFORE you can even open the original envelope !

 

I'm being facetious, just slightly though.

 

I've said this in different posts, and I know it happens, but there are ALWAYS errors in medical

bills; from insurance differences, to payments going to the wrong account.

[shanagain]

Inmmy experience with medical bills, the provider will generally send it for collection

BEFORE you can even open the original envelope !

 

I'm being facetious, just slightly though.

 

I've said this in different posts, and I know it happens, but there are ALWAYS errors in medical

bills; from insurance differences, to payments going to the wrong account.

 

It's so annoying, because this is from a company that never even attempted to submit to insurance, they just billed us. Even after requesting that they bill our insurance, they didn't. So, they harassed us for a bit over the amount owed, $200, and "went away." Now this CA shows up and oddly states the amount as $103 instead of the 200 we supposedly owed in the first place.

 

I'm guessing this one was charged off and sold, but we shall see, I guess.

[shanagain]

Actually, Experian has at least temporarily deleted one of the paid collections, but I'm not holding my breath that it's for real.

 

Interesting. Today it's gone from Experian and Equifax. Forgive my (unending) ignorance, but is this par for the course? Do they sometimes really just go away that easily?

[shanagain]

Actually, Experian has at least temporarily deleted one of the paid collections, but I'm not holding my breath that it's for real.

 

Interesting. Today it's gone from Experian and Equifax. Forgive my (unending) ignorance, but is this par for the course? Do they sometimes really just go away that easily?

 

Apparently, :: lightbulb over head :: they DO just go away that easily. The big one referenced above is now gone from all three. (!!!!!) This is after the CA told me flat out they wouldn't remove it on goodwill! WhyChat, you absolutely ROCK!!

 

Another is oddly gone from Transunion, but was verified on Experian. (I haven't received any info. from Exp. But for the longest time it was showing as "disputed" on my ex file, now it's showing as "This item was verified on May 2008 and remained unchanged.") A third on Exp. is still pending.

 

I'm in a CSC Credit Services area of Equifax, so I'm basically fubar'ed for a while because I had a "new" collection (referenced in a prev. post) hit on EQ only, and I sent another preHipaa letter out, thereby adding to the time it'll take to finish their reinvestigation.

 

 

But so far, the results are AWESOME. This has left me with only ONE non-medical baddie on TU, which will go away tomorrow (another saga for another forum). Since TU finished wiping out the baddies, the FAKO went from 608 to 721!

 

Now... time for a question for WhyChat: Should I wait to receive a more concrete validation from Ex. before I do anything else? (I'm so annoyed that TU deleted it, but it verified on EX.)

 

Thanks again, this is absolutely unbelievable so far!

[Why Chat]

Actually, Experian has at least temporarily deleted one of the paid collections, but I'm not holding my breath that it's for real.

 

Interesting. Today it's gone from Experian and Equifax. Forgive my (unending) ignorance, but is this par for the course? Do they sometimes really just go away that easily?

 

Apparently, :: lightbulb over head :: they DO just go away that easily. The big one referenced above is now gone from all three. (!!!!!) This is after the CA told me flat out they wouldn't remove it on goodwill! WhyChat, you absolutely ROCK!!

 

Another is oddly gone from Transunion, but was verified on Experian. (I haven't received any info. from Exp. But for the longest time it was showing as "disputed" on my ex file, now it's showing as "This item was verified on May 2008 and remained unchanged.") A third on Exp. is still pending.

 

I'm in a CSC Credit Services area of Equifax, so I'm basically fubar'ed for a while because I had a "new" collection (referenced in a prev. post) hit on EQ only, and I sent another preHipaa letter out, thereby adding to the time it'll take to finish their reinvestigation.

 

 

But so far, the results are AWESOME. This has left me with only ONE non-medical baddie on TU, which will go away tomorrow (another saga for another forum). Since TU finished wiping out the baddies, the FAKO went from 608 to 721!

 

Now... time for a question for WhyChat: Should I wait to receive a more concrete validation from Ex. before I do anything else? (I'm so annoyed that TU deleted it, but it verified on EX.)

 

Thanks again, this is absolutely unbelievable so far!

Ex is "THE DEVIL" of CRA's .

Check your report and see if it is showing as disputed.

 

If not, or if you have obtained a deletion for that account from TU and Eq. and it remains on Ex.then file a complaint on line with the FTC against Ex. stating that you properly disputed an unknown medical account on your TU, Eq. and Ex. reports and that TU and Eq. promptly deleted it, while Ex refused to inveatigate, ( did not mark the account as in dispute) and verified it without the required proper investigation in violation of the FCRA and FACTA.

 

You then redispute to Ex. address to Compliance Dept. CMRR and state that your next steps will be to file additional complaints against them with ( your State)'s AG office and the BBB and to pursue other available actions for damages to your credit.( Print out your FTC dispute BEFORE clicking "enter")

Edited June 4, 2008 by Why Chat

[shanagain]

Ex is "THE DEVIL" of CRA's .

 

I'm starting to understand this statement - they also "verified" a mortgage account that the mortgage company itself stated they had no records on, so it's been deleted or updated on TU and EQ. EX inexplicably updated it with fewer lates - but lates nonetheless.

 

Check your report and see if it is showing as disputed.

 

No, it states:

 

Status Details:

This account is scheduled to continue on record until Jan 2014.

This item was verified on May 2008 and remained unchanged.

 

If not, or if you have obtained a deletion for that account from TU yes, deleted and Eq. no, wasn't ever on Eqand it remains on Ex.then file a complaint on line with the FTC against Ex. stating that you properly disputed an unknown medical account on your TU, Eq. and Ex. reports and that TU and Eq. promptly deleted it, while Ex refused to inveatigate, ( did not mark the account as in dispute) and verified it without the required proper investigation in violation of the FCRA and FACTA.

 

As an aside, can I do this with the mortgage I just mentioned above, as well?

 

You then redispute to Ex. address to Compliance Dept. CMRR and state that your next steps will be to file additional complaints against them with ( your State)'s AG office and the BBB and to pursue other available actions for damages to your credit.( Print out your FTC dispute BEFORE clicking "enter")

 

Thanks, WhyChat, will do.

 

For some reason the FTC complaint is a little scary, but I'm going to soldier on as you suggest.

[Stryker]

Ex is "THE DEVIL" of CRA's .

 

I'm starting to understand this statement - they also "verified" a mortgage account that the mortgage company itself stated they had no records on, so it's been deleted or updated on TU and EQ. EX inexplicably updated it with fewer lates - but lates nonetheless.

 

Check your report and see if it is showing as disputed.

 

No, it states:

 

Status Details:

This account is scheduled to continue on record until Jan 2014.

This item was verified on May 2008 and remained unchanged.

 

If not, or if you have obtained a deletion for that account from TU yes, deleted and Eq. no, wasn't ever on Eqand it remains on Ex.then file a complaint on line with the FTC against Ex. stating that you properly disputed an unknown medical account on your TU, Eq. and Ex. reports and that TU and Eq. promptly deleted it, while Ex refused to inveatigate, ( did not mark the account as in dispute) and verified it without the required proper investigation in violation of the FCRA and FACTA.

 

As an aside, can I do this with the mortgage I just mentioned above, as well?

 

You then redispute to Ex. address to Compliance Dept. CMRR and state that your next steps will be to file additional complaints against them with ( your State)'s AG office and the BBB and to pursue other available actions for damages to your credit.( Print out your FTC dispute BEFORE clicking "enter")

 

Thanks, WhyChat, will do.

 

For some reason the FTC complaint is a little scary, but I'm going to soldier on as you suggest.

 

Don't let it scare you. You are not the first, and won't be the last.

 

It is just a shot across the bow.

[Why Chat]

Ex is "THE DEVIL" of CRA's .

 

I'm starting to understand this statement - they also "verified" a mortgage account that the mortgage company itself stated they had no records on, so it's been deleted or updated on TU and EQ. EX inexplicably updated it with fewer lates - but lates nonetheless.

 

As an aside, can I do this with the mortgage I just mentioned above, as well?

 

 

For some reason the FTC complaint is a little scary, but I'm going to soldier on as you suggest.

Yes you can do it with your mortgage account also, you will have to change the wording of the complaint to reflect that you disputed an incorrect entry from xxxx Co. and obtained written documentation from xxxxCo. that proves the validity of your dispute, but that Ex refused to delete or properly investigate or accept your documentation and updated it with the same incorrect data.

 

You will also need to wait until your current medical account dispute is done.

[shanagain]

Okey-dokey - my letter is written (I'm growing rather fond of purple italicized font with my curly teal "confidential" watermark), and I'm just waiting for EX to do whatever they're going to do with the one medical that they are still investigating, then fire it off and write my FTC complaint.

 

So odd to me that they'd verify the mortgage - its like out of nothing but spite or laziness - other items were investigated and changed or deleted, and this is the one I *knew* would go away and yet, here it is.

 

I'm not sure if it's overkill or not, but in my letter to EX I've also mentioned that as my next steps, along with contacting the BBB and TX AG, I will actively purse arbitration as allowed by Texas state law, trying to head off the "frivolous" or "previously disputed" by stating that I'm certain any third party involved in arbitration will not view my dispute as frivolous given the proof at hand, blah blah blah.

 

Stryker, thanks - having been audited by the IRS a couple of years ago, I tend to steer clear of government agencies. LOL

[shanagain]

OK, experian has finished their investigation so I've written and sent my online FTC complaint on the EX. issues with the CA and mortgage company and my half-nutcase letter is set to go out tomorrow via CMRR to Compliance at Ex.

 

Will keep update as necessary, but I'm going to start a new thread about a different collection so it doesn't get any more convoluted on this thread than it already is. (My fault, I know.)

[MIDCITY]

I may be in the minority, but I have always been against medical debts being on credit reports.

 

With so many entities involved, it is a wonder any amount is correct.

(Insurance, patient, Dr, hospital, outsource, consulting physician, blah blah blah)

[shanagain]

Experian is not only the Devil, they're just kind of... ridiculous. After receiving my CMRR on the 17th, my baddies were still sitting there, with no "currently being investigated" flag on the report.

 

Additionally, the mortgage company (Chase) said that they updated the information on the 16th to report one 30 day late instead of the 1 30 and 1 60 currently showing. But, no update on the CR.

 

So I made some "finagling information" calls today (I have a very sweet phone voice and come across as very non-threatening, so people tend to talk to me - not bragging, just a professional CSR for a few years).

 

One medical baddie is being deleted from the CA's files and from the CRA. Woot! Did the right thing, got that sucker paid off, and getting rid of the CA feels SOOOOOOO good!

 

Other med. baddie is in the air right now - the hospital isn't showing the payment as being applied. I guess I'll have to go to the bank to file a trace on that payment since the cmrr shows it being received the 17th, but the girl I talked to suspects that it might be taking longer to apply because the CA is "involved." I suspect it's because I'm making someone work, and figure out if all this hipaa stuff holds water.

 

And finally, the weirdness from Experian. I called because I was concerned there was some kind of "previously investigated/frivolous-serial-disputer" flag on the account. The CSR I talked to was baffled as to why my letter didn't generate another round of disputes, and said "well, why don't we just try to dispute one and see what happens?" Sure enough, the system accepted the dispute immediately. Very odd.

 

Also, in retrospect, I got a REALLY good rep (no, really!) who was clearly trying to understand the situation and help (yeah, I just said that), not just click a code and be done with me, which was unexpected and very cool, needless to say.