credit report question

[Syenye]

I had my tonsils out last year and ended up in the ER. They took down our address wrong and made no attempt to contact us via any other method, and, instead, turned it over to a collections agency who located us. We paid the bill immediately, but it's still on our credit report that it went to collections.

Is this disputable? And will it hurt my credit report much?

[miir]

Ideally, you could have requested that the collection agency remove the debt from your credit report when it was paid.

You could try to contact them now and request that it be removed... but since they have already been paid, they won't have much motivation to do it for you.

They are under no obligation to remove it so be really nice and try to get it in writing.

[Canelek]

It is my understanding that medical collections can NOT be added to your credit reports. Of course, they are added all the time--collection agencies are tactless and uncivil cocksuckers.

For instance, I had a collection item from something that I was never notified about (some co-pay I think), so it ended up in collections. Once I found out it was a medical collections, I disputed and it was removed. I had read in multiple locations that medical collections are not to be reported....can't confirm 100%.

Anyway, it cannot hurt to dispute the item.

MAKE SURE TO DISPUTE VIA EXPERIAN, EQUIFAX and TRANSUNION!

NEVER via a CA.

Once you dispute (all 3 CBs have online dispute, although it is best to use certified mail) the onus is on the collection agency to verify. Most of the time, they have NO proof or are just lazy. After 30 days, if they cannot verify the account, it will be removed anyway.

Good luck!


PS:

Can someone verify the reporting of medical collection? I am pretty sure I am correct here.

[Aabidano]

Can someone verify the reporting of medical collection? I am pretty sure I am correct here.

I've read that someplace as well, but can't find it right now.

[Aslanna]

Google knows all

http://www.creditbloggers.com/2006/05/t ... about.html

The truth about medical collection accounts and your credit reports

MSNBC's Red Tape Chronicles has a great article today about the impact of medical collections records on your credit. In their example, a man who had received treatment for an alcohol addiction was surprised to see a collection record related to that care appearing on his credit reports.

Here are four important facts you should know about medical collection records:

* Medical collection information must be masked on commercial credit reports by law. The FACT Act specified that medical collection data be blocked out on credit reports sold to lenders, credit card issuers, employers, etc. It's not hard to image the negative consequences of having a collection record with "Cherry Lane Mental Hospital for the Severely Deranged" on your credit reports! When businesses pull your credit report for the purpose of an application, the medical office name is blocked out and only the financial information remains.

* Medical collection records do appear on your personal credit reports. When you order your own credit reports, these medical collection records remain unmasked. This is so you can verify that the accounts are indeed accurate and can contact the appropriate business if needed.

* Medical collections remain on your credit report for 7 years. Period. Paying off a collection debt does not cause it to be removed from your report. Don't be bullied by collection agents telling you that payment will cause the record to disappear. You can read your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act online.

* Medical accounts do not appear on credit reports on their own. Only medical collection records for severely overdue accounts will be recorded on your credit history. A simple visit to a hospital or clinic will not be reported.

That was just the first result. Feel free to do some more research! To me it sounds like they can be reported, I mean it's a debt after all, they just can't list the name of the establishment.

[Syenye]

Thanks for the help!

It was ~$130. It shows that it was opened in 8/08 and paid in 9/08. Is it still worth it to dispute?

[Funkmasterr]

Thanks for the help!

It was ~$130. It shows that it was opened in 8/08 and paid in 9/08. Is it still worth it to dispute?

I have been working with a guy through my mortgage company and another credit repair company and from what I've been told by both, taking pretty much anything negative off your report is going to raise your score at least 10-20 points. So it really just depends on your situation and how much those 10-20 points matter to you.

[Canelek]

Definately. Since that will be on your credit report for 7 years after date of last activity, it is negatively impacting your score (settlement, paid colleciton, etc).

If you are successful, your score will immediately go up.

[Syenye]

I checked my credit score, and it's dropped from 760 to 660. Other than the collection, I bought a car and paid off a second mortgage, so I'm not sure how that affects the score.

We called the original creditor, and they had it taken off of our report and are sending us a letter that the report was made in error. Thanks so much for your help!

[Aslanna]

It is my understanding that medical collections can NOT be added to your credit reports. Of course, they are added all the time--collection agencies are tactless and uncivil cocksuckers.

I think you owe collection agencies an apology!

[Canelek]

If it isn't removed within 30 days of when the OC sent correction to the CBs, make sure to send a copy of the letter via certified mail to each of the CBs.

Good job!