All 3 CRAs have verified a Paid Medical Collection. What's the next step?

[invza1]

I have a paid medical collection account with Nationwide Credit Corporation from March 2005. I was in a car accident and had to go to the emergency room. The original creditor is the Hospital.

I disputed with all 3 CRAs and they all verified it.

So what should my next step be? DV to the CA? And if that doesn't work?

[Trish]

Is Nationwide the CA? Are they reporting the TL correctly?

[invza1]

Yes it is Nationwide, and yes, it is reporting correctly. But it is a paid medical. When the settlement came in, this was paid by the lawyer before I could even get my share.

[Trish]

A paid collection is a little tougher to have removed since basically you have no bargaining power..........but it's not impossible. You will just have to be persistent. There are a few things you can try.

You can keep disputing it for various reasons. Just try to dispute it differently each time in hopes that you don't get the "previously investigated" or "frivolous" response.

You can also try going directly to the CA. A DV would be one way to do it (or even a 1 2 punch if you wanted to) OR you could just call them up. Ask them why they haven't removed it from your CR yet (because that was the understanding you had........right? ). Talk to several people if you have to (try to write down/remember names) and call them daily......or more often if you want to and have the time. Stay nice and polite........but be a constant PITA. (Think Columbo......lol always super nice but very annoying with all of his questions ) At this point.......since it's been paid........you have nothing to lose and they have nothing to gain. Their time is money.... and if you waste enough of their time, you may get on their nerves enough to where they want to delete it just to get rid of you.

The latter strategy....is, of course, my personal fav.

[invza1]

I thought that this would be different because this is medical-related.

I didn't pay the CA directly. The OC (Potomac Hospital) was paid out of my settlement before I got my part of the settlement.

On the TL the OC is listed as: MED1 02 Potomac Hospital.

Would the HIPPA process apply here?

[Trish]

Oh...

When you said "I have a paid medical collection account with Nationwide Credit Corporation".....it made it sound like you paid the CA.
You can use the HIPAA method as long as the CA was not paid.

You would just start with the medical dispute letter and then when you send the HIPAA letter to the healthcare provider, you would use insert b.

[invza1]

What do you think about a complaint to the ACA or a DV/Demand for Deletion to the CA?

[Trish]

Originally Posted by invza1

What do you think about a complaint to the ACA or a DV/Demand for Deletion to the CA?

It doesn't really sound like they've done anything to warrant a complaint to ACA.
If the OC assigned the debt to the CA at one point, then that would probably be why they are reporting it. I think in this case (if it was the OC and NOT the CA that was paid) it would be better to go the HIPAA route.

[invza1]

REMOVED! Thanks Trish...