I have a legitimate debt for medical services that was recently sent to a CA. I'm prepared to pay the CA now, but am concerned they might put it on my credit report in the process. How can I prevent this from happening? Thankyou!
Don't deal with the CA at all! Go here: http://community-2.webtv.net/Y-chat/WhyChatsCredit/ Look for Whychat's letter to healthcare provider.
Is the CA reporting the debt? If not it might make sense to pay with a Westcap restriction stating it is paid as agreed.
Geez, great letter, but is it appropriate in my case? The debt does'nt appear on my credit report ,so why would I be asking them to remove it? Please explain and thanks
Geez, great letter, but does it apply in my case? The debt has'nt been reported yet, so why would I be asking them to remove it? Please explain and thanks
Geez, great letter, but does it apply in my case? The debt has'nt been reported yet, so why would I be asking them to remove it? Please explain and thankyou
Sorry for the repeats, the above was meant for dixidriftr. And BTW, where the hecks the delete button?
pnwman, Please point me to a letter with the Westcap. .. and are you suggesting I sent it to the CA? thankyou!
Search for westcap endorsement from the search page here at creditnet. You might also search for it at Bill B's site creditwrench. If it isn't that big a bill and it is not being reported I think I'd pay it and take my chances. Others may disagree.
See of the CA has a copy of the medical procedures on the bill. If so, it's a violation of HIPPA. It's a federal law that makes it illegal to disclose medical info without consent. This will give you leverage if you want to sue or settle.
There are two seperate bills that total 140 dollars. Ofcourse, I could take a chance and pay the CA outright, but I'd feel better using the Westcap and paying the origiinal creditor. Is this the endorsement your referring to? Also, I live in California, does the Westcap apply? thanks again CASHING OF THIS CHECK REPRESENTS PAYMENT IN FULL TO WHOM THE CHECK WAS ISSUED. CREDITOR AND/OR ITS ASSIGNEE, AGENCY, COURT, LAWFIRM AGREE TO REMOVE ANY AND ALL DEROGATORY INFORMATION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED AGAINST SAID ACCOUNT BY SAID FIRM AND BY SAID FIRMS ORIGINAL CLIENT AND CREDITOR WITHIN 10 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF TENDER. TENDERING OF THIS INSTRUMENT SHALL INDICATE ACCEPTANCE OF THESE AMENDED TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES. VOID IF RIGHTS RESERVED
There are two seperate bills that total 140 dollars. Ofcourse, I could take a chance and pay the CA outright, but I'd feel better using the Westcap and paying the origiinal creditor. Is this the endorsement your referring to? Also, I live in California, does the Westcap apply? thanks again CASHING OF THIS CHECK REPRESENTS PAYMENT IN FULL TO WHOM THE CHECK WAS ISSUED. CREDITOR AND/OR ITS ASSIGNEE, AGENCY, COURT, LAWFIRM AGREE TO REMOVE ANY AND ALL DEROGATORY INFORMATION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED AGAINST SAID ACCOUNT BY SAID FIRM AND BY SAID FIRMS ORIGINAL CLIENT AND CREDITOR WITHIN 10 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF TENDER. TENDERING OF THIS INSTRUMENT SHALL INDICATE ACCEPTANCE OF THESE AMENDED TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES. VOID IF RIGHTS RESERVED
Namaskar, the Westcap endorsement is a Restrictive Endorsment. State laws regulate RE's, some states allow these while others do not. In Calif., you are required to send the CA a letter first stating your intention of sending a RE check. check this link out: http://www.carreonandassociates.com/4settle.htm I have settled many medical ca accounts by sending a settlement agreemnent first, requiring the signature of the CA agreeing to delete before I send payment. You can also use the RE (no signature of CA required), but you need to send the letter first. Who is the CA? I also am in Calif., and I have had a BUNCH of medical collection accounts, who is the CA?
Cinderella, Here are a few questions pertaining to the link you gave me: Did you validate with the CA before attempting settlement? Ae you settling on the larger debts or also the small ones(under $150 for example)? Do any of these debts apprear on your CR, and if so, are you getting the CA's to delete them? This particular CA is Berlin-Wheeler, but I'll be dealing with five other one's before I'm home-free. Thanks-
Cinderella, Here are a few questions pertaining to the link you gave me: Did you validate with the CA before attempting settlement? Ae you settling on the larger debts or also the small ones(under $150 for example)? Do any of these debts apprear on your CR, and if so, are you getting the CA's to delete them? This particular CA is Berlin-Wheeler, but I'll be dealing with five other one's before I'm home-free. Thanks-
Unfortunately, I have dealt with a bunch of medical accounts, and having been through it myself, I really have a soft spot for people whose credit histories are destroyed via medical accounts/reasons. DH and I had about 20 medical CA accounts. I detached both of my achilles tendons and DH blew his back out with his silly surfing (major surgery and recovery) and lost his job, leaving us both unemployed. Apparently, my insurance company concluded the problems with my achilles tendons was a "pre-existing" congenital condition and refused to pay or authorize treatment. When DH blew his back out, he lost his job and that left us both unemployed with mounting medical debts. I took the insurance company to court (pro-se) and won a fat chunk of $ against them for their weasle-like ways. All of the CA's except two eventually agreed to settle for deletion. On the two that did not settle, I made requests for validation and both responded within about two weeks with letters of deletion. On one of my validation requests, I insisted DH had insurance and the medical facility did not properly bill the insurance company and it was unfair to place this on his credit report, as it was the OC's fault for improper billing. On one of the CA's I settled with, which had about 8 or 9 accounts, I had to get the OC involved. The CA was reluctant to settle based on my terms. I contacted the OC and explained I really wanted to settle this matter but the CA was being uncooperative. Initially, the OC did not want to get involved, insisting I would have to deal with the CA. Eventually, I got through to some manager at the OC, who agreed to call the CA up on my behalf and tell to accept my settlement. I drew up my settlement letter and sent to the CA to sign and return, and then sent payment in to them. The medical debts with each of the CA's all varied, anywhere from $150 to $6,000. I had about seven different CA's. A few CA's I spoke with on the phone agreed to accept payment in full for deletion, which they faxed a letter to me stating so and then I gave them a check by phone. I think if you are tenacious enough, you can get all your medical accounts deleted, probably through settlement. But if they won't agree to settlement, or if you don't want to settle, there are so many options: 1) Validation 2) Restrictive Endorsement 3) Hippa About one week after sending my checks in to the CA's, I disputed with the CRA's, even though the CA may have agreed to delete, don't actually count on the CA to send in a UDF to the CRA (they got their $$ and they are done with you!), but they probably won't verify. Only one verified, but I contacted them via the telephone and reminded them of our signed agreement we had, and they sent in a UDF to delete. I dealt with Calif. Bus. Bureau, I think they were one of the CA's that agreed to delete on the phone. Also, with medical accounts, there are so many ways for the billing to just get **screwed up**. Chances are, if you have enough medical CA accounts, you can probably count on that somewhere along the way, someone messed up on at least one medical account billing. Trust me, it happens a lot, and CA's KNOW THIS! Anyhoo, I think you have a really good chance of getting what you want with medical CA's
Also, On the accounts that have yet to be reported, call or send your settlement letter in, if paying is the route you choose to go with these. Just make sure they either fax you that letter to not report or sign the agreement. There is much more incentive for them to agree to this since they have yet to report the account(s).
Thanks do much for your lenghtly response. I had a skiing accident in 99 which left me with two broken legs, a broken knee and collar bone and lots of nerve damage. This required 4 surgeries and extensive physical therapy, some of which my insurance co refused to pay for. I'm still fighting them on claims from four years ago! And because I could'nt work for months the bills really piled up. Well, I guess you know how overwhelming this can be... Unforunately, I've already sent DV letters to all the CA's, so I'm in a wait- and- see -mode at this point. But I'll certainly send out those settlement letters as soon as the 30 days are up. And I've copied your post for future reference. Thanks again, Namaskar
