Need reassurance on how to proceed with medical collection.

[dkorte]

Hi all! I'm new here and this will be my first (and only, as I have just 1 medical collection on my CR) time disputing a medical collection. This is how it shows on my Equifax report, although it's pretty much the same on all 3:

Bonded Collections; Collection Reported 01/2007; Assigned 11/2006; Creditor Class - Medical/Health Care; Client: Bradshaw MTN Diag Lab; Amount - $60; Status as of 01/2007 - Unpaid; Date of 1st Delinquincy 05/2006; Balance as of 01/2007 - $60; Individual Account; Account # - (BLOCKED BY ME); Address: PO Box 26545 Prescott Valley, AZ 86312-6545: (928) 775-5000

Since this is my first time at this, I am basically just seeking a little reassurance. I have already opted out and deleted my old addresses with the 3 CRA's. So my next step is to send off the Pre-Hipaa letter. Is this correct? I know to not send it RRR, but am I suppose to send it CM?

Then, once I receive all 3 responses from the CRA's then I send the HIPAA letter CMRRR, along with insert (a) to Bradshaw Mtn. Diagnostic Labs. What if I do not remember the exact date of services? Can I leave that part out of the letter, or should I just estimate? Is it a big no-no to call Bradshaw Mtn. Diagnostic Labs and ask them the actual date I of my appointment?

Please forgive my newbie-ness. I just want to make sure I get this done right the first time.

[LeslieR]

Why don't you just contact the original medical provider and ask if they're willing to accept the $60 in their office and pull it back from collection? That works more often than not. And will save you a lot of hassle. Drop them a brief note - be contrite and offer to pay. If they aren't willing to do so, I would request one more time, perhaps to the practice owner directly. Talk to enough people until you feel that they simply won't do it. Then engage the "whychat" process. I had three medical collections and they were all resolved in this fashion and I never had to do the whole HIPPA thing.

[dkorte]

Thans Leslie! I don't know why I didn't think of that!?! Sometimes, I think it's so easy to not see the forest for the trees, when it comes to this entire credit re-building process. I feel as if I've taken in so much information in the past few days that my brain is on overload. Thanks for your suggestion. I'm going to give it a go.