Just checked Experian online and found a new collection agency on there - talk about 2 steps forward and 6 steps back :-)
I am genuinely not aware what these charges are for - although it is my doctor before I left CA so maybe it is real. However, I have had to talk to them on the phone numerous times regaring the transfer of my medical records and not once has anyone said I owed anything. I have not recieved any letters or bills from the OC but left CA 18 months ago.
It reads as follows
Today is the first time I have seen this - last checked reports only a couple of days ago and it wasn't there then.
There has been no FCBA (not even sure what that means) dispute to resolve or for me to disagree with. Experian took it upon themselves to dispute all negative accounts by themselves and place a fraud alert on there. This worked out OK as all but 3 were deleted - this however was never on there and, as such, has never been disputed.
I plan to.....
Send medical dispute letter to Exprerian. If not verified and deleted - stop here. If verified continue to step 2.
Send HIPAA letter to OC with payment in full and insert a, b or c.
This is where I get confused. If the CRA verifies but doesn't give me enough information to ensure that this is indeed my account should I pay it and use insert a or dispute it further and insert b or c - I am not sure of the difference in using b or c.
Also, with this consumer statement, I am concerned Experian might give me the infamous 'previously investigated' when it actuually hasn't been. I have not had luck in getting information from Experian that I have requested so have no faith that I would do this time. Even a letter to them from MN AG didn't yield any better results.
FCBA = Fair Credit Billing Act.
Before you go off sending the HIPAA letter, ( I realize that this is for $65), why don't you just ask the doctor if you owe the money? I know that everyone says "Stay off the phone" but I might be inclined just to call them up, ask what the deal is, and ask if they'll pull it back from the collection agency. If they don't, I'd dispute the account as "I've never had an installment account with this company", and see if they verify. If they do, then sock 'em with an ITS for the following violations. See how fast it comes off.
1. 1692e(2)(A) by falsely reporting the account type as “Installment” to Experian.
2. 1692e(8) by communicating credit information which is known or which should be known to be false, by reporting the account type as “Installment” to Experian.
3. 1692e(10) by using false representations or deceptive means to collect or attempt to collect any debt by reporting the account type as “Installment” to Experian.
4. 1692f by using unfair or unconscionable means to collect or attempt to collect any debt by reporting the account as "Installment" to Experian to deceive current and potential creditors.
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You can call the Dr.'s office, however, if they tell you to contact the CA, don't do it.
Try the "medical dispute letter" posted at the bottom of the HIPAA letter on my website.
If that doesn't work, do the HIPAA letter to the OC.
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Thanks - I have tried to speak to the Dr's billing dept but no luck so far. If I ascertain I owe it and they'll pull it back from the CA I'll pay it direct to them. I assume that I would use HIPAA letter insert A to do this.
If not, I'll dispute it with CRA and see where that leaves me.