Record of Medical Bill on CR since 2010

[abny10020]

Dear All,

In 2010, I have found on my credit report that there was an outstanding, delinquent bill through collection agency from medical bills I had before in 2007 (small amount). Once I knew of it, I immediately contacted the agency and asked them to remove the notation, since my application is under reviewing through the hospital (the business that hired them). They refused. I called again later after I was approved through the hospital to get a some break on my medical bills and told the agency about the hospital decision. I faxed them all the documents to prove so.

I explained to them that I had no intention of having any delinquent account and that I was just waiting for the decision to be made (which took longer than expected due to documents/application getting lost/misplaced). I immediately offered to pay on the phone because the application now was approved and the discounted amount due was determined, and they agreed to getting the payment as approved (stupid me of course, I didn't get that on writing to ask them to remove it); however, after I paid them, they still won't remove the record of it on my credit report and they said that they will only do so if I can pay them in full (NOT the amount the hospital approved me for, in which they agreed to and received payment for).

For the last year, I have been denied any credit application because of that negative account, although I am very responsible person financially. I need to know how to do this step by step, in as much details (in simple language) as possible. I want to delete it, especially that I paid them the settlement amount they agreed to that was offered by the hospital, so I didn't even negotiate with them!!

Do I have to dispute it, even though I recognize the agency now?
Do I dispute all three CA's at the SAME time?
What is the best draft to do so? Steps?
If it comes back as verified, will that cause me any sort of problems?
What is next after that?

p.s. On CR's, They have marked my account as severely delinquent (paid in full) in 2010

Chane..YOU ARE THE BEST! Thank you so much for such a great website and the truly, incredible help and lives you are saving! I hope you know how much WE appreciate this. Thanks to everyone who offers to help. My Best. Abny10020

[Lian]

If the debt was legitimate, then I dont see any inaccuracy in their reporting to a CRA.

The fact that you intended to pay or later pay does not remove the fact of the delinquency.

The debt collector is not required to delete the reporting of their collection on the debt based on later payment of the debt. In fact, the CRAs, in their reporting agreements, specifically instruct parties who report information to them that such deletions should not be done. So, what would be your basis for dispute? Just that you had no intent to be delinquent, and want it removed to improve your score?

In your dispute letter, you would have to identify some inaccuracy in their reporting.

As to having to dispute with all three CRAs, the answer is no if your dispute is resolved in your favor and the debt collector follows the rules. If they delete information from your CR as a result of a dispute, the statute requires them to additionally report that deletion to any of the other CRAs they also reported the inaccurate information to. If they do that, one dispute would cover you, but don't count on that. It is general practice to dispute separately through each CRA to which the information was reported.

If you dispute through the direct dispute process rather than through the CRAs, then one dispute will cover their reporting to any CRA. I suggest you use the direct dispute process to simply the issues should you prevail.