I sent Central Financial Control a validation letter in regards to 2 medical bills that were appearing on my credit reports. It was a standard validation letter and I didn't sign it (I never do). Anyway, here is their response: "Central Financial Control Consumer Resolution Unit March 1, 2004 Mr. Texas 1234 Street City State Zip Re: Account Number(s): #1XXXXXX & #XXXXXX Facility: City Medical Center Dear Mr. Texas, This office has completed its investigation in response to your Date Goes here, 2004 letter disputing and requesting validation of the aforementioned account(s). Please note this office has updated its records with the credit reporting agencies (CRAs) to reflect a disputed status as well as conducted a thorough investigation of the account(s) in question with our client, City NW medical Center. The account(s) in question arise from services rendered by our client to you on 02/21/2001 & 08/29/2000. Further, the account(s) in question and the outstanding balance(s) have been verified by our client and are due and owing. As part of our investigation, we have also requested and received from our client a copy of the Conditions of Admission (COA) issued at the time of admission. As your February 18, 2004 letter was unsigned, we are unable to validate the consistency of your signature. As such, to ensure the utmost in patient privacy protection, as required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), we kindly request you submit personal identification, namely a governmental issued identification bearing your signature, for example, Drivers License, Social Security Card, Identification Card, so that a comparative determination may be made as to the consistency of the signatures, to ensure to the COA is being released to the proper party. Upon receipt of the requested signed personal identification, this office will forward a copy of the COA signed at the date of service. If I can be of further assistance, please contact this office. Sincerely, Moron Dispute Coordinator Central Financial Control" Any idea what my next course of action should be here? Is anyone familiar with medical collections?
They can't release medical records to random people. They are required to take these safeguards by HIPPA. I would call the bluff! It is their burden to validate, not yours. When they fail to validate send the estoppel letter. I'm not sure how it would play out but by abiding by HIPPA they may be forced to break the FCRA. Be sure to remind them of all the violations you have documented too! |0w
Isn't there another way for them to validate the debt? I'm not asking for medical records here. I'm asking for validation of the debt. When hospital care is given is everything printed on a piece of paper they could use to validate the debt?
Since I've sent the validation letter already I should wait the 30 days and then just send the estoppel?
Oh (now I'm pissed) when did the Collection Agencies start giving a damn about laws period? That's a pretty rhetorical question but since there's no one I can yell at, at home I figured I'd let it go here.
I personally would believe that you have the power here... The 809(b) cease of collection activities is until they obtain AND MAIL the validation to you. Since they are refusing to mail the validation to you, they are enjoining their collection activities indefinately... SO, if you're currently disputing the trade lines, and they verify the trade lines, you would have an 809(b) violation. Just because HIPPA requires them to make sure it is you, does not mean that you have to provide them the means to make sure that it is you.
