If that is the case then it is best that you address it completely and accurately. Do you find this statement in error? If so, where? Where could there possibly be a misunderstanding? If you can find none, then so state openly and directly. because the above IS what I said.
Yes, it is in error by virtue of you asking "As for paying now? I agee that the OP should hold on to his dollars . . . " The OP had stated they had already paid two account and one arose thereafter. Your statements infer that there is an issue as to whether they should be paid. Therein, is the possibility for misunderstanding.
To draw from that the recommendation that it should be paid is an error, particularly since you took it out of the context of the ongoing conversation. Your error, not mine. I drew your attention to the fact that you and others had managed to ignore that there was one that had not been paid by suggesting a reread of the OP's posts. You chose to ignore that. In fact, you took pains to mock that effort. I am often willing to give one a chance to climb off the limb one gets himself on. But if he refuses the opportunity, it becomes his sole and exclusive obligation to go down with it if the limb breaks. Shame on me for giving you that opportunity. I may think twice in the future and opt for calling the spade a spade right up front.
I have to say that this whole thing just sounds completely counterintuitive. OC has no obligation to make a reasonable attempt to inform debtor of bill (or maintain accurate records), CA has no obligation to make a reasonable attempt to inform debtor of bill, and they can just completely degrade your credit into dog crap overnight. From 740 last time I checked and today -- 617 on EXP. The hospital never informed me of monies due either in writing, verbal or in person. I visited the hospital for an unrelated outpatient surgery in 8/07 - and they had all of my information wrong (address, phone) which they updated... but still never mentioned the outstanding bill - during check in or any other time. CA never informed me of monies due at any time. Screw the consumer, I guess. Does seem scary that any random CA out there can totally mess up your credit file on a whim, without any reasonable due diligence to collect the debt. Is there any possibility for results going after the OC? Or possibility of success writing a goodwill letter to OC/hospital and pleading my case based on their shoddy data entry? Ask them to have the CA remove the tradelines? This is a reputable local hospital in a major metro area that competes with lots of other hospitals for business. I also am fairly well connected with docs in the area and could potentially have a couple of docs I know that work at the hospital that could vouch for me and talk to the billing department there. But do OC's ever have any leverage over the CA (I'm assuming there's valuable contracts there for the CA) or circumstances in which they intervene on the debtors behalf?
You may gain some footing with a communication to the hospital in question. It is at the very least a good place to start.
Screw the consumer is the attitude, at least from where you sit. The problem is that you need to find a way into the tangle of information to find out what is really going on. A good starting point is figuring out if the charges are, in fact, yours. If they are yours, it is useful to know the when and why, and understand how they might/might not have been paid. (I'm thinking health insurer error, here.) Once you are armed with the who, what, when, and why, you can address the how of going about correcting the real problem(s) and the ramifications derived therefrom. Unscrew yourself, so to speak. If they are not yours, the path for resolution will be somewhat different then if they are. Or, at least, you will have some options/defenses open to you that you might not otherwise have. If the CA is working for the OC, the OC has the leverage that the agreement (contract) with the CA gives them. It could be a lot; it could be that the OC's hands are tied. Depends. One of the things to find out, if you can. If the OC has sold the debt on, then the OC is out of the game. One thing for sure, it will take your time and your effort to square things away.
Ok, I researched a bit more and found some potential FDCPA issues. From the FTC website: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fdc.shtm it states the following: 1. If you do not have an attorney, a collector may contact other people, but only to find out where you live, what your phone number is, and where you work. In most cases, the collector may not tell anyone other than you and your attorney that you owe money. > The CA discussed the debt, the OC, and everything else with my husband in detail without receiving permission from me - and he is the one that actually paid the debt... I probably wouldn't have. 2. Within five days after you are first contacted, the collector must send you a written notice telling you the amount of money you owe; the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money; and what action to take if you believe you do not owe the money. > CA never did this. CA verbally stated to me on the phone (original CA that I paid) they contacted me in 4/07 and left a message stating to call "Maria at xxx-xxx-xxxx" with no other information. I never, to date, received written notice of the money I owe or whom I owe money, or how much. I just paid it. I am having trouble deciding whether to ... A. Find an attorney (however, I've read some very scary things about consumer protection attorneys.. hard to find a reputable one it seems) B. Do it myself - Try to go the hospital/OC route first with a pleading/goodwill/service complaint, or... C. Write a FDCPA violation letter to the CA. Do I write a verification letter first, wait for a response, then the FDCPA letter? This is TRULY overwhelming me, there is so much information and advice that it's hard to know where to start. Thanks everyone.
FDCPA 805(d) For the purpose of this section, the term â??consumerâ? includes the consumerâ??s spouse, parent (if the consumer is a minor), guardian, executor, or administrator. I don't see a violation here, especially if your state is community property and/or supports a doctrine of necessaries, or the spouse is otherwise legally responsible for the debt.
