Question - I paid a CA directly for medical services that went to collection: What do I do?

[peterwimm]

Hello,

 

I am new to CreditBoards, but have been pouring over the material and am very excited to begin my credit repair. I have triaged my reports and am looking now to tackle a number of old accounts that went to a collection agency for medical services. All of these accounts went to the same collection agency (for services at two local hospitals) and range between 6 and 2 years old. I paid the CA in full, directly, for all of these accounts. The CA is Skagit Bonded Collections, a local collection agency in northwest Washington State. I have 7 similar accounts on my credit reports from CA Skagit Bonded Collections.

 

I read PsychDoc's very helpful sessions, and have begun reading up on Why Chat’s HIPAA program, but have been unable to locate a clear path for what to do to have these removed from my credit reports, if possible at all. I am sure I can find it in Why Chat’s excellent material, but so far I have been unable to locate information for when the CA was paid instead of the OC.

 

If memory serves, I simply went to the CA and paid out of pocket for all of these services once I knew I owed them. I may have set up a payment play or two. I am not sure if I signed or turned in anything to the hospitals at the time of services, but I doubt it. The pay status on all accounts is, "Account Paid in Full; was a Collection." The responsibility on all accounts is, "Joint Account." I was married at the time I paid all the accounts and incurred services, but I am now divorced. Some of the account remarks state, "ACCT INFO DISPUTED BY CONSUMR; >PAID COLLECTION." While others just say, "PAID COLLECTION." I do not remember disputing any accounts, though I may have said I never received any notice that I was to pay. I moved around quite a bit during this time, so that may be why I did not receive bills. I just moved again, and am awaiting my new driver's license and once I receive that, will begin work on deleting old addresses. But, I wanted to get going on this so I am ready once my old addresses are (hopefully) removed.

• Do I begin by writing to the hospital directly? Or should I write to the CA, who I paid in full for all services after they went to collections?
• Does anyone have a sample letter, or can you point me to one, that deals with paid CA accounts (paid to the CA) for medical services?
• Should I begin with a Goodwill Letter? Or should I jump right to a different kind of letter?
• And one non-medical related question - Can I get old addresses removed if I do not yet have my new driver's license with my new address? If yes, how so? Or should I wait until my new license arrives?

Any and all information is very welcome. Again, I am relatively new, so if I am completely missing something, or there is a post somewhere that answers all this that I have yet to find, please let me know. Essentially, I just need to know where to begin/what to do. Sorry for the long post and let me know if any additional information is needed.

 

Thank you!

[Why Chat]

Start here:

 

http://www.whychat.5u.com/GUIDEBOOK.html

http://www.whychat.5u.com/GUIDE%20HIPAA%20PROGRAM.html

 

Wait until your new license arrives before disputing old addresses.

 

You will be sending the initial dispute letter to the CRAs AFTER you have deleted as many old addresses as possible. Make sure you opt out BEFORE deleting old addresses.

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

 

Do NOT dispute any non medical accounts in any way while you are following the HIPAA letter program

 

As soon as you have received your responses back from the CRAs ( credit reporting agencies) come back to this post for further directions.

[peterwimm]

Thank you very much for your response! I have a follow-up question or two. My new license may take upwards of 45 days to arrive, and then I will begin the address deletion process. I have already opted out. Therefore, I may not be ready to begin the HIPAA Program for a few months now that I think about it.

• In the meantime, should I still abstain from disputing other, non-medical accounts?

I was thinking I could send some goodwill letters and validation requests to OCs for non-medical accounts while I'm waiting to be able to move forward with the HIPAA Program as I have not taken any action on these medical accounts yet. Is that a bad idea? I would then make sure all of that action is concluded (in the eyes of the OCs and CRAs) before I move forward with the HIPAA Program.

 

Also, when you say, "Do NOT dispute any non medical accounts in any way while you are following the HIPAA letter program," does that mean do not dispute with the CRAs? Or in any forum, including with CRAs, OCs, etc?

 

Thank again, Why Chat,

 

You're amazing.

[Why Chat]

Do not dispute with the CRAs-- everything else is OK. ( for NON MEDICAL accounts)

 

Why is it taking so long to get a new drivers license??

 

When did you move??

[peterwimm]

I moved a few months ago. However, I have always just kept my driver's license at my parents' address. I am a renter and end up moving every year or two. Well, I moved that often because my ex-wife just liked to move once she got bored with a place; now that I am single, I plan to stay put until I can buy a house. Therefore, it was easier (though apparently not smarter) to just keep my parents' address, who live in the same town, on my license rather than updating it all the time.

 

A few days ago I updated my address online and I received a message stating that if I do not get my license within 45 days to contact the DOL. Maybe I'll get my license much sooner than 45 days, but I think I should be prepared to wait. I did get a "temporary" license that was essentially a receipt for my online request that I printed out that contained my license information, but it seems flimsy to use in updating addresses with the CRAs. I feel like an official license with my picture on it would be better. Do you disagree?

[Why Chat]

If you applied for a new license on line with your new address, you will get it within the next week. The 45 days is the time limit that YOU had to apply for a new license before you would be subject to penalties.

 

The only problem might be if you changed your appearance a lot since your last picture, as they use the same picture.

Edited November 5, 2014 by Why Chat

[peterwimm]

Okay!

 

So, I received my updated driver's license with my current address and got almost all of my old addresses removed from my credit reports (all of them removed from Transunion and Experian). I was already opted out. I submitted Credit Report Dispute Forms on blue paper and in blue ink to Transunion and Equifax (none of my medical collections were on file with Experian for some reason). Yesterday, I received notice from Transunion that all 7 of the medical collection disputed tradelines have been deleted from my account! I have yet to hear from Equifax, but this is a huge victory for sure! Follow WhyChat's guidelines, y'all. I will keep you all posted as to my progress with Equifax.

 

Thank you very much, WhyChat, for all of your help.

[cinammonkisses]

Awesome news Peterwimm. I'm currently waiting on getting hard copies of my reports then removing the old addresses. It will be a long process but your story gives me hope.

[peterwimm]

I just received verification on all my medical collection accounts from Equifax. They all say the following:

 

>>>We have researched the collection account. Account # xxxxx The results are: We have verified that this item belongs to you. Additional information has been provided by the original source regarding this item. If you have additional questions about this item please contact: (COLLECTION AGENCY WITH THEIR ADDRESS, ETC.)

 

CA name; collection reported 01/2015; assigned 05/2012 etc.; creditor class - medical/health care; client - hospital name; amount $x.xx; status as of 01/2015 - paid; date of 1st deliquency 02/2012 etc.; balance as of 01/2015 $0.00; last payment date 08/2012 etc.; joint account; account number - xxxxxx; ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - Consumer disputes this account information; collection account; address: lists address.

 

I am just a little confused on the order of my next steps. Do I send the LETTER TO COLLECTION AGENCY ON MEDICAL ACCOUNT REPORTING AS PAID and once I receive confirmation of delivery from the certified mail receipt I send FOLLOW UP LETTER TO CRA SEND CM DO NOT USE THE RETURN RECEIPT before I get a response from the CA?

 

Or do I send something to the OC first?

 

Thank you in advance for your response.

[Why Chat]

Send the medical DV to the reporting CAs.

 

You send the regular one if the account is REPORTING with a balance due

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

 

You send the "paid" one if it is REPORTING as a paid account:

http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#PAID

 

In either case, you send the follow up dispute as soon as you have proof of receipt.

http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#DISPUTE

[peterwimm]

Hi again,

 

I sent the "OC already paid" letter to the CA CM and have just received confirmation of delivery. I am going to print out the online conformation "proof" of delivery to the CA for the follow-up letter to the CRA. Equifax is the only CRA reporting these medical collections, so I will be sending just one envelope.

• Do I need to hand write the the text for the "FOLLOW UP LETTER TO CRA SEND CM DO NOT USE THE RETURN RECEIPT" letter?
• Do I need to write it on any color of paper other than white?
• Can I just write the "FOLLOW UP LETTER TO CRA SEND CM DO NOT USE THE RETURN RECEIPT" in a Word document from my computer in regular blank font on regular white paper?
• Can I write just ONE single letter to Equifax referencing all seven of my medical collection accounts to the same CA?

 

It looks like it will be easy to slightly modify the FOLLOW UP LETTER TO CRA SEND CM DO NOT USE THE RETURN RECEIPT letter to include multiple medical collections accounts for the same CA (a couple different OC's, but same CA).

 

Finally, assuming the CA and CRA respond and supply all requested information accurately and within HIPAA laws, do I have any other recourse? If the CA and CRA do everything they are supposed to and have the whole time, what is my recourse/next steps after sending the FOLLOW UP LETTER TO CRA SEND CM DO NOT USE THE RETURN RECEIPT and getting a response?

 

Thank you so much!

[peterwimm]

One additional question to my last post (so I need answers to my last two posts for whoever is willing and able to do so):

 

Do I also send the printed out online proof of delivery that the CA has received the "Alternate Medical DV for accounts that have been PAIDTO THE REPORTING CA AND ARE BEING REPORTED AS "PAID COLLECTIONS" when I send the "FOLLOW UP LETTER TO CRA SEND CM DO NOT USE THE RETURN RECEIPT" to the CRA (just Equifax in this case).

 

I am thinking I will send the FOLLOW UP LETTER TO CRA SEND CM DO NOT USE THE RETURN RECEIPT to Equifax and enclose an online printout of proof of receipt with the CA. I will send just one letter to Equifax that lists all seven of my medical collections in one letter that I have printed out using a Word program with blank font on white paper. Correct?

[Why Chat]

I don't know what instructions you are following-- it is certainly NOT from the guides:

 

http://www.whychat.5u.com/GUIDEBOOK.html

 

Have you opted out and deleted old addresses??

http://www.whychat.5u.com/GUIDE%20HIPAA%20PROGRAM.html

 

Have you sent the CRAs the initial dispute letter??

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

 

If the CRAs did not delete, did you send the reporting CA the appropriate medical DV?

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

for accounts REPORTING with a balance due

 

or

http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#PAID

for accounts REPORTING as paid

 

Did you then, upon getting proof of receipt send the CRAs the follow up dispute??

http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#DISPUTE

 

Just read and follow ALL the directions and you should be OK

[peterwimm]

Yes, I have followed your guidelines to a T. And, I apologize for my unclear rambling questions.

 

I sent the CRA Dispute letter and Equifax did not delete. My medical collections are all reporting as paid with Equifax, so yesterday I sent the letter for accounts reporting as paid CM to the CA. My question is: When I send the follow up dispute to the CRA (only Equifax in my case) after getting proof of receipt, do I send a print out of proof of receipt from usps.com to the CRA with my follow up dispute? So, I have completed this step most recently:

 

• If the CRAs did not delete, did you send the reporting CA the appropriate medical DV? http://whychat.5u.co...cavalhipaa.html for accounts REPORTING with a balance due

or

• http://whychat.5u.co...hipaa.html#PAID ----> this is what I sent for accounts REPORTING as paid

During the next step I am about to complete (sending the follow up dispute to the CRA):

• Did you then, upon getting proof of receipt send the CRAs the follow up dispute?? http://whychat.5u.co...aa.html#DISPUTE

Do I send the proof of receipt verifying that the letter got to the CA with the letter I send to the CRA? Or do I just send the letter and only keep proof of receipt for my records?

Also, for this last step, sending the CRAs the follow up dispute, does that need to be on colored paper or written in ink by hand or anything special? I apologize if that is stated on your website, but I was not able to locate information stating one way or the other.

I really appreciate your help and have been making great progress. I just don't want to make a mistake after getting so far.

Thanks

[Why Chat]

The ONLY letters that go on "colored paper" with handwritten font are the ones that go initially to the CRAs

 

http://www.whychat.5u.com/GUIDEBOOK.html

 

http://www.whychat.5u.com/GUIDE%20HIPAA%20PROGRAM.html

INITIAL HIPAA DISPUTE LETTER

 

THESE INITIAL DISPUTE LETTERS ARE THE ONLY ONES YOU EVER SEND USING SPECIAL FONT OR HANDWRITTEN TO PREVENT AUTOMATED PROCESSING. EVERYTHING ELSE MUST BE PROPERLY TYPED AND BE BUSINESS LIKE AS THEY MAY BE USED IN COURT.MAKE SURE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS ARE ON TOP OF EACH PIECE OF CORRESPONDENCE AND THAT EACH ONE IS DATED. IF YOU RECEIVE AN E-MAIL REQUEST FROM A CRA TO HAVE YOUR RESULTS TRANSMITTED VIA THE INTERNET REFUSE AS THIS WILL OPT YOU BACK IN AND PREVENT YOUR USE OF SNAIL MAIL FURTHER DISPUTES List ALL medical accounts as they appear on the report you are disputing, paid or unpaid

[peterwimm]

Hello!

A few weeks ago I sent the Medical Dispute Validation Letter for Paid Accounts to the CA and I sent the Follow Up Dispute Letter to CRAs to Equifax. Last week, I received a response from the CA.

They listed each account number I submitted on the Medical Dispute Validation Letter, listed the client for the accounts (local hospitals), and showed a balance of $0.00 as I paid these off some time ago. They also wrote:

Unfortunately, your request for validation is untimely. Request for validation must be received within thirty (30) days from the day the validation statement (1st notice) was sent to you and your request exceeds that time.

They then listed each account in the following format:

Our records reflect that account XXXXXXX was listed for services provided by XXXX Hospital to you (or to your spouse) on XX/XX/XX. The account was sent to collection on XX/XX/XX and paid in full on XX/XX/XX.

Then they said:

Our records show these accounts should be reporting as paid and disputed on your credit report and will continue to report for the appropriate statute of limitations.

ABC Collection Agency does not consent to authorizing you to record our telephone communications.

If you should have any additional questions, you may reach our offices at the address or telephone number provided.

Sincerely,

ABC Collection Agency

I am still waiting to get a response from Equifax, but I thought I should post what I received as they are stating that I basically do not have any right to receive the information I requested. Should I just sit tight for the time being until I hear from Equifax? Or should I take some action with the CA?

Thank you!

[Why Chat]

Unfortunately, because you paid the CA, they are correct in their letter to you.

Are the accounts reporting as disputed??

Check the back doors

[peterwimm]

All of them except for 1 are being reported as disputed. Here is an example:

 

Agency Address: xxxx Date Reported: 01/2015 Date Assigned: 05/2012 Creditor Classification: Medical/Health Care Creditor Name: xxxx Accounts Number: xxxx Account Owner: Joint Account Original Amount Owned: $202 Date of 1 st Delinquency: 02/2012 Balance Date: 01/2015 Balance Owned: $0 Last Payment Date : 24/08/2012 Status Date: 01/2015 Status: P - Paid Comments: Consumer disputes this account information, Collection account

 

The status dates have all (even the one not being reported as disputed) been updated to 01/2015. Hoping that won't make these stay on my report for too long. I am also hoping that these will not be added back on to TransUnion nor added to Experian. Do I run that risk now? I will check those backdoors as well, but have not done so yet.

 

Thanks

[Why Chat]

No, the reporting dates have nothing to do with the obsolescence period for deletion from your reports. What were the dates of medical service?? When you get within 2 years of the 7 year obsolescence date, you can dispute again as "obsolete".

[peterwimm]

Oh! That's right! The dates of service are:

 

11/14/08

12/12/08

3/4/09

12/21/11

1/1/12

12/16/13

Therefore, I am within 2 years of the obsolescence date for the first three already. I will certainly dispute those as obsolete. And, I checked the backdoors for my TransUnion and Experian reports and these collections are still not on them.

As far as the HIPAA program, have I hit a bit of a wall on having these removed from my Equfax report? It sounds like the CRA and CA have acted within the law, no? I still have not received a response from Equifax to my Follow Up Letter to CRA, but based on the backdoor report, it appears the CA is still reporting to Equifax and that they will send a letter verifying the medical collections. Are there any additional steps to take for the HIPAA program? Let me know if you need more information.

Thank you so much!

[Why Chat]

Please wait a week or so until you have responses to ALL your disputes and THEN post a summary of what you have done, what the results are and we will try to help you go on from there.

[peterwimm]

As requested, here is a summary of what I have done:

 

11-3-14: Opted out

12-15-14: Got all old addresses deleted from TU and EQ (all but three deleted from EX)

12-20-14: Sent verification letters to TU and EQ for medical collections (not on file with EX)

1-3-15: TU deleted all 6 medical collections from my report.

1-5-15: EQ verified all 6 medical collections and they stayed on my report.

1-14-15: Sent letter CM to CA based on Why Chat’s HIPAA program.

1-20-15: Received confirmation of receipt of letter to CA and sent follow up letter to EQ

1-25-15: Received letter from CA stating my request for validation was untimely and they verified all 6 medical collection accounts as mine.

2-16-15: Received response from EQ stating that all six medical collections were verified as mine in the same manner as before:

 

>>>We have researched the collection account. Account # xxxxx The results are: We have verified that this item belongs to you. Additional information has been provided by the original source regarding this item. If you have additional questions about this item please contact: (COLLECTION AGENCY WITH THEIR ADDRESS, ETC.)

 

CA name; collection reported 02/2015; assigned 05/2012 etc.; creditor class - medical/health care; client - hospital name; amount $x.xx; status as of 02/2015 - paid; date of 1st deliquency 02/2012 etc.; balance as of 02/2015 $0.00; last payment date 08/2012 etc.; joint account; account number - xxxxxx; ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - Consumer disputes this account information; collection account; address: lists address.

 

Do I have any recourse from here? Any and all help is very welcome. Thank you so much!

 

Edit: One more piece of information that may be pertinent - these are all joint accounts and I am now divorced from my spouse. I believe 4 out of the 6 medical collection accounts were actually hers, and the other two were mine. I do not have those specific details, but I can likely get them if that would be helpful.

Edited March 2, 2015 by peterwimm

[peterwimm]

*bump

[kimbachelle]

Was your ex-wife on your insurance when the services were provided?

[peterwimm]

Yes she was. During some of the dates of service she did have her own primary insurance. During those dates of service, my insurance was secondary. But, on the more recent dates of service, I believe my insurance was her only insurance.