So here's a twist on medical collections and CAs. My gf got an equity loan on her property. Part of the loan requirements is that she pay off accounts that were showing on her reports. One of these accounts was a rather vauge reference to a CA in reference to a dentist. It turns out that before she moved last year, she went to see her parents' dentist and was using their medical insurance. The plan evidently denied the claim so her mom had worked out some kind of payment plan--but didn't tell anyone the details. This was evidently one of those olde tyme places where most things are done on a handshake--meaning no paperwork. But then her mom died and dad was forced to move into a new condo... Her reports show the collection account being placed about 2 months after her mom died so that leads me to think that since they didn't get a response, the dentist contacted a collector. When we contacted the dentist and found out all this, we explained the situation with her mom and told the office manager that we had a check payable to the CA but dind't know their address. That's when she tells us that she's sorry about the whole situation and if at all possible, have the check made out to the dentist. Why? Because they have had many many problems getting their money from the collections agency! She even said that she's more than willing to try and get the account pulled from the CA and have her credit file cleared of their entry. (She didn't seem all that knowledgeable on how validation, CRAs, CAs etc work) Any ideas? I was thinking this would be a good opportunity to try and validate--which the CA will not be able to do. I wonder if they will then delete or should she threaten a small claims suit?
Oh yeah, as far as I can tell, the CA is based in our state but they are not registeed/licensed to do business in the state--nor have they paid the required licensing fee.
