I was contacted by a CA on a medical bill for my wife from about a year ago. I don't think it is accurate, they have tried to explain it to me a couple of times and I still think they are wrong. To get them off my back I decided to pay the bill. It amounted to about 420 + interest of around $70. I asked if they could remove the interest they said no. I asked if I paid would they remove it from my credit report they said no. I gave them my ck account # and said I would pay the full amount. When confirming to do so before I agreed I asked for a receipt to be sent to my home. They said the only way to do that was to send them a self addressed envelop with postage. That blew up the deal I was so pissed. I told them I would not agree without them forwarding me a receipt. They said they were sending me to legal. I am thinking about now paying the Dr. directly. Any suggestions?
First of all - when you received the bill you should have demanded a complete validation of the debt. Attempt to pay your Dr. directly will probably go nowhere. The bill is out of the Dr.'s accounting system, transferred/sold to the collection agency. You have to deal with them. They don't have to send you a receipt - your cancelled check is a receipt/proof that you paid it.
If you dispute the bill as in you didn't receive the services or the amount is incorrect, then you should contact the Doctor. Expect an uphill battle, especially after waiting a year, but if you didn't receive what they are charging you for, the Doctor's office is the only place to resolve that. If you don't dispute the bill and you want to pay it off, then try a little more honey than vinegar with the CA. I know that's not always easy, but it can be more effective. AND you have to understand what the CA can and can't do. They can take less than the full amount. That is certainly not their first choice, but it's an option. They can't "delete" the trade line because that would be inaccurate reporting. BUT, they can "not verify" it which will cause it to be removed if you dispute it with the CRA in a couple of months. The way that works is, assuming they agree to this, you pay whatever amount you agree to. In a couple of months, you dispute the tradeline with the CRA. The CRA will ask the CA if this tradeline is correct. If the CA does not respond, then the CRA removes the tradeline from your credit report. Also, they can take you to court and demand a judgement. If you're like 99% of the world who doesn't go to court to defend themselves that's a very cheap option to get a judgement against you. If you DO go to court, and if you go with a lawyer, it can get very expensive and they may or may not win. If you settle, you keep their costs low and profit high. They don't want to go to court, but they will if they don't see any other option. IMO, you were right in not sending a payment (however if you gave them your bank account info, how do you know they haven't just taken it? Don't give them your banking info EVER!!!!) but to do it because they wouldn't send a receipt is a bit odd. My $.02: Let them chill for a while. Don't talk to them. If they call, tell them you can't talk and hang up. Then, during the last week of the month (e.g. about the 25th), call them up and offer to settle for the full amount if they promise not to verify the debt in the future (look for a non-disclosure agreement on this site). If they agree, fax them a signed letter that outlines what you said over the phone (i.e. type up the letter first and read the terms to them. Remember to be nice.) Tell them to sign it and fax it back. Once you receive it, you'll send them a cashier's check. Don't give them your banking info. that's just an invitation to dip into your pocket book. Then, in a couple of months, call up the CRA and dispute the tradeline. It should go away in 45 days or less. If not, then you can sue the CA for breach of agreement.
What is wrong? First rule, the answer is always no the first time you ask something. You could try raving, swearing and insisting that they should "free Tibet". After that, they might become more manageable. At this point, the CA should be singing songs to Jesus. But no, the CA was not singing. They blew the deal over a postage stamp. I know that the US Post Office has raised its rates, but this seems a bit much. Oh, eeek. I would start counting the days and start looking for a lawyer. It is entirely possible that they are not really "sending you to legal". Of course they could be, I don't have a clue. But if they don't, that sounds like to Dumb Bob, who doesn't know anything as he's said many times before, like a threat to take legal action, which if not taken is a violation of the FDCPA. But without a lawyer, Dumb Bob suspects that the other side won't be too impressed, because, you know, of the lack of a threat of legal fees. If the debt has been sold, it's out of the hands of the OC. You should understand that this is perfectly legal and even vital in a credit economy.
