Medical Collections? Help??

[serenity06]

I just messed up and called the collection agency. They are called Receivable Management Comp. They have bills (service) dated for 2/26/02, 8/4/03, 5/8/03, 1/9/05, 2/26/05 and 5/31/00. They lady was very rude to me and everything. I told her to prove that the person was me with a signature. She told me that she did not have to do that at all. I told her that they are not my bills and she needs to prove them to me. She told that they do not get signatures or anything when I come and get services. Now everyone knows that is a lie. Anyway she told me the dates of service and the amounts. I told her that I was going to call my health insurance provider to see it they have it in their records. They she says that if you pay today we will make a settlement with you for $736.00. The total bill was $921.00. Now listen to this if it is that amount why would settle for less. Anyway, can someone help me and tell me what I should do? I really f***ed up. They have not verified the accounts or anything. Also, when can you tell when these will come off of my CR. I need HELP!!!

[wzelewsky]

I just messed up and called the collection agency. They are called Receivable Management Comp. They have bills (service) dated for 2/26/02, 8/4/03, 5/8/03, 1/9/05, 2/26/05 and 5/31/00. They lady was very rude to me and everything. I told her to prove that the person was me with a signature. She told me that she did not have to do that at all. I told her that they are not my bills and she needs to prove them to me. She told that they do not get signatures or anything when I come and get services. Now everyone knows that is a lie. Anyway she told me the dates of service and the amounts. I told her that I was going to call my health insurance provider to see it they have it in their records. They she says that if you pay today we will make a settlement with you for $736.00. The total bill was $921.00. Now listen to this if it is that amount why would settle for less. Anyway, can someone help me and tell me what I should do? I really f***ed up. They have not verified the accounts or anything. Also, when can you tell when these will come off of my CR. I need HELP!!!

I ahd the same problem, with a collection for Medical. They sent a letter saying this is what I asked for but Im not sure its even DVd. Plus I heard once I was paying on it, Im stuck paying on it. HMMMM kinda sucks. Havent heard anything from the other 2 CAs I sent. But then again they are past the 30 days and I have received numorous bills from them...

[someonesomewhere]

Did you DV and are they on your CR?

[serenity06]

I disputed these medical bill with CRA. I called and tried to get validated but they say that they can do no such thing. They told me that my insurance company paid their part and that is what I was liable for. When she told me a person can just come in and say that they are me without showing identification. I was truly upset but anyway I need help with this situation.

[wzelewsky]

I DVd them and they are on my CR. Got one, not sure what to do with. Waiting to hear from the other two

[someonesomewhere]

I disputed these medical bill with CRA. I called and tried to get validated but they say that they can do no such thing.

Technically, that's true. Validation must be in writing.

http://www.creditinfocenter.com/legal/FDCPA.shtml#809

If the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period described in subsection (a) that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, or that the consumer requests the name and address of the original creditor, the debt collector shall cease collection of the debt, or any disputed portion thereof, until the debt collector obtains verification of the debt or any copy of a judgment, or the name and address of the original creditor, and a copy of such verification or judgment, or name and address of the original creditor, is mailed to the consumer by the debt collector.

First, don't call the CA. Second, don't talk to the CA. Third, DV the CA. Follow Kristi's DV flowchart. It's a sticky in the DV forum.

[someonesomewhere]

Even if you're past the 30 days, use the old, "This is the first I've seen of this debt, either on my CR or in the mail."

DV, and follow the flowchart.

[wzelewsky]

Even if you're past the 30 days, use the old, "This is the first I've seen of this debt, either on my CR or in the mail."

DV, and follow the flowchart.

Is there a way to send them a letter after you have Dvd them? And can you send them "This is the first Ive seen this debt" And you had already been paying them last year?

[someonesomewhere]

Is there a way to send them a letter after you have Dvd them?

If you DV and they do nothing and go away, what then would you need to do? I'm confused.

And can you send them "This is the first Ive seen this debt" And you had already been paying them last year?

If you've been paying on the debt, your options are more limited. A claim that this is the first you've seen of the debt aren't going to be credible.

Is this debt not yours, but you just started paying on it to make 'em go away? If so, you might be in need of a lawyer.

[dpgirl]

ARe the balances really yours or not? Do you have the EOB's from the insurance company?

[ms6073]

Serenity,

Are these medical collections the results of your visits to a health care provider and if so, have you researched the claims history with your health care insurance provider? It is important to understand that many states have instituted legislation with regard to the responsibilities and requirements of both the health care provider and the health care insurance providers. For example, in Texas, state law entitles health care providers such as physicians and hospitals to prompt payment for medical and health care services provided that the health care provider files medical claims with the health care insurance provider in a timely manner. The laws also also detail specific provisions that require health care insurance providers (HMO's, PPOs', etc.) to pay submitted claims in a timely manner. Each of the applicable statutes has specific payment deadlines to ensure prompt payment of claims - typically 90-days to 6-months.

Often times health care providers outsource medical claim billing and when the billing entity submits an improper or incomplete claim, the party that handles the billing/claim submission fails to properly followup to correct the problem. The result is that the health care provider recieves partial, incomplete, or possibly no payment usually because the insurer refused to pay the claims when the claim was improperly submitted or requests for additional claims information go unheeded. In these cases, if the health care provider fails to followup and resubmit claims within the required timeline, then in many states, the Health Care provider has forfeited the right to seek recourse for the outstanding amounts.

Unfortunately the healthcare providers either knowingly or not proceed to collect on such debts via in house or 3rd party collection agencies. If the medical collections are the result claims that were generated from your visits to health care providers and you were covered by a health care plan at the time service was renedered, then you need to research the claims history with the health care plan provider to see whether or not the medical collections are justified. You need to know if the claims history shows that the plan provider shows that the plan providers had problems with the claims that went unheeded. If this is the case then you will need to file a complaint with your states Attorney General as well and the board of insurance.

While nothing gets a health care provider/collection agencies attention like a nasty gram from the State Attorney General's office, if you are not responsible for the underlying debts for these collections, then you will need to read some of the forum stickies on how to properly request debt validation from the CA.

[wzelewsky]

If you DV and they do nothing and go away, what then would you need to do? I'm confused.

They didnt go away, they just dont respond

If you've been paying on the debt, your options are more limited. A claim that this is the first you've seen of the debt aren't going to be credible.

That I understand

Is this debt not yours, but you just started paying on it to make 'em go away? If so, you might be in need of a lawyer.

No the debt is my husbands, we had no idea that you can DV. People just assume you have to pay...

[someonesomewhere]

dpgirl asked about the EOBs from the insurance company. Do you still have those? If not, did you ever have online access to the insurance company? Try your old access and see whether you can still get in. Sometimes you can, to view old EOBs, but sometimes you can't. If not, give 'em a call and see about having copies of the EOBs mailed or faxed. I've done this a time or two when a doctor's office sent me a letter years later claiming I owe them money.

More than once, I've received a bill from a doctor's office for more than they were permitted to charge me. Because it was an in-network HMO, PPO, POS, MCO, EPO or some other insurance industry TLA, the provider signed a contract with the insurance company agreeing to charge only a certain amount for a given procedure. The EOB will state this generally in very clear terms like patient responsibility. If they overcharged you, it's possible they are in violation.

No the debt is my husbands, we had no idea that you can DV. People just assume you have to pay...

Do you still have the original first letter you received from the CA? Whether you timely DV or not, the CA is required to put 5 things in the first written notice they send you. It's in § 809(a) of the FDCPA. If they didn't do it, they you have them on at least one violation. That's leverage you can use in negotiating a PFD.

http://www.creditinfocenter.com/legal/FDCPA.shtml#809

[rjnjr1019]

why would you mess something up by calling them

[serenity06]

I know that I messed up with calling them but I decided to call the OC and the lady is suppose to be working with me. She told me that she will call me on Monday 4/2/07 to tell me if they will write it off. So I am praying waiting to see what she will be doing.