Turkeygirl Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Remember when I posted the other day about this credit recovery bill thing that I got in the mail...I got one again today but the catch is the case # is different than on the other bill and it has a hospital listed that I never went to...but the money amount is the same.... SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT:(:eek: We tried calling them but they are closed on the weekends, so I have to wait till Monday and I am scared and have no idea what to tell them other than quit messing around and fix it. I don't believe either of this things have anything to do at this point with the DEC and my ankle injury...because where I went, none of those thigns mentioned on the 2 bills/letters are related to my injury.... I called back the girl I know at the DEC and left a message on her phone to let her know I don't think either of this bill things are related to my injury stuff. Please help me, what do I need to tell these people or what do I need to do? Someone has messed up bad and I am PO'd:mad: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 (edited) had this happen once myself Ruth ,, these collection agency's love to double dip so to speak ... Funny thing is once I asked for a itemized statement from the hospital in question, they couldn't produce one and never heard from them again .. I would demand a itemized statement, and never give any personal info over the phone .. I would call the hospital in question, and get a credit report done .. Edited January 18, 2009 by VermontHunter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Kat Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 sounds like a bill from orignal company and a second notice from a debt collector. Perhaps the debt was sold to another company? Ruth you need to get a credit check. That will tell your story. You will get to the bottom of it when you make your phone call monday. Don't stress of it. I've had way worse happen. My dad has the same name as me. Our credit history constantly gets mixed up....and his credit sucks lol. NO FUN! But it happens. best of luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted January 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 The first latter lists the money amount is for an Emergency Physicians Services LLC and I have an actual script from the Dr. who saw me...that is not him and I actually got an ER bill from the hospital. The 2nd letter lists the money amount, and funny thing is it is the same amount as on the first bill, for a hospital that I have never gone to once in my life...so something is going on. What do I tell these people? Are they going to tell me to prove it? Because I sure as heck will not give them any info...no SS#, no nothing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted January 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 And these bills are from the same debt collector people... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 NOPE Ruth, you tell them to prove it ,, tell them you want an itemized statement from the hospital in question with contact info ... They have to provide that info to you, it's federal law. If they refuse it's most likely some type of scam .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogwild63 Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Take a look at this... http://www.credit.com/credit_information/credit_law/Understanding-Your-Debt-Collection-Rights.jsp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted January 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Thanks guys...I've calmed down slightly,lol. Monday I am calling them as soon as I get home from class, I'm going to ask who they got the bills from, tell them I've never been to that hospital, that my bills were sent to the DEC and they took care of it...and to contact worker's comp or the NY state DEC....anything else I should say? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 These debt collection terrorists can really wreak havoc on ones mind. Like Luke said, they will TRY to collect by every means possible. Hang in there and this will all be straightened out come Monday. Make sure you get names of everyone you speak to, and if you really want to have fun with the calls to the collection agency, tell whomever you are speaking to that you are recording this call for your records and quality assurance purposes. Grab the bull by the...errrr... horns:D Then when it is all settled...take those bills outside for some target practice;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Don't panic Ruth. Remember what I told you about crossing bridges before you come to them It will all get cleared up. Just get on it as soon as you can Monday and eventually it will all get cleared up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogwild63 Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 (edited) WHATEVER you do DO NOT agree to arrange any payments with the debt collection agency. Unless they purchased the account from the hospital, the debt collection agency cannot do anything to you or your credit score. The only thing they can do is return it to the original creditor. If they did purchase the account, then they probably bought it for pennies on the dollar and it is not a secured debt so all they bought is the RIGHT to collect on the debt. If they get threaten anything legal, they must by law (Fair Debt Collection Act) intend to follow through with that threat. That means they would have to spend the money to proceed with a judgement against you and they have to prove that it is your debt which would mean having to get the original creditor to go to court with them. Not likely to happen. More likely to happen is that they would offer to settle with you for a lower amount but more than what they purchased for the account. If the original amount of the debt was $5000 and they bought the rights to collect for about $500, then anything they get over that goes into their pocket with no loss to them. My guess is that they have not purchased the account and that would be the FIRST question I would ask them. The second question I would ask them is if they are an attorney. Usually, that puts them in their place. I am a probation officer and several of my probationers work for debt collection agencies. Most of them are narcisistic and enjoy their job alot. Edited January 18, 2009 by hogwild63 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted January 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Thanks guys. I'm planning on telling them Monday that they have the wrong name because these aren't my bills and I don't have any...and ask them where they even got my name and address...and I'll even tell them they caused undue stress...heck I'll ask to speak to the manager....don't mess with Ruth! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Hope you get it straightened out Ruth. Billing with anything to do with hospitals can be a huge headache even when it is your bill. On our daughters surgery from back in November we have gotten bills from different places(radiology, anesthesiology, surgery group), but we have yet to get the total bill from the hospital, which is pretty scary considering we got the eob from the insurance about a month ago and they didn't pay squat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Be Carefull what personal info you give them when they ask. If they are legit, they should have it all already. If you find out they are not legit, call your local PD or Sheriff's Dept. Investigator. Not out of the question that it is some sort of identity theft if it turns out to not be legitimate. Beware!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 i think what they really want to do, ruth, is to "confirm" your credit card. they will ask you for the number on your card number to confirm some debt. once they have your number, you know where it will go from there. if this is a legit collection effort, luke has it right. make them tell and prove to YOU what you supposedly owe. don't give them any information and NO NUMBERS. don't even tell them what bank or credit cards you have. no information at all about you. just get information from them about what you supposedly owe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted January 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 I am not planning to give them any information. In fact, I have non to give them because I don't have a credit card and I have a Debit card but never ever use it...These letters I got for the money that is owed do not apply at all towards my summer job injury at this point. At this point, they have the wrong person or something....and I just hope and pray they don't blow me off....because they messed up something. I'm going to call them, try to get a manager and say what is up, these are not mine and I do not even have any hospital bills, let alone have never been to the hospital listed and I want to know why they have my name and address...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogwild63 Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Did you not say that a government agency was supposed to pay the bills and they has messed up? Say nothing to them except refer them to the name and number of that person and hang up. They will keep calling though. If not... If they sent her letters, most likely they are legit. Call the hospital and find out what agencies they use and the hospital should be able to tell you which agency they sent the bill to. I doubt very seriously they are not legit. From what you are describing, I do not think this is an illegitimate attempt to get a credit card number, but they are correct in telling you to not give out any financial information. Remeber, unless this colletion agency PURCHASED the account, they cannot damage your credit and if they put anything negative on your credit report, you can file a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission and sue them as well. I WOULD CALL THE HOSPITAL AND SEE IF THEY STILL HAVE THE ACCOUNT!! If the hospital still has the account, you may be able to negotiate with them and have them take it back from the collection agency. In regards to those bills not being yours, most of the time, hospital bills are billed separately - the hospital, the anesthesiologist, the doctor, pathology, lab results, etc. all bill separately. That could account for different account numbers. First, do not give them a piece of your mind; stay cool and collected. You will only get insults and threats. Chances are they are recording you in case you lose your cool or admit to something. Secondly, managers of credit collections agencies do not talk with clients. You will probably get transferred to another collector with more experience and get more and harsher abuse. If they threaten anything, ask them, "What do you mean by that?" and keep asking that until they stop with that threat. If all else fails and you are not able to pay the bills, remember... Hunters Helping Hunters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogwild63 Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Here's what I would do and send it certified return receipt... http://www.fairdebtfaircredit.com/Dispute-Letters-example.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted January 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Forl ike the 5th time here....THE BILLS ARE NOT RELATED AT ALL TO MY CAMP INJURY....THESE ARE ASKING FOR MONEY PERTAINING TO A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT HOSPITAL THAT I'VE NEVER BEEN TO....SO THEY ARE SAYING I OWE MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS NEVER MINE IN THE FIRST PLACE....does that make sense now? lol These people have got to understand when I call them that they are sending these letters to me and they aren't mine....I do not have any overdue bills or anything, I never go to the hospital, the whole summer thing I believe is resolved and these letters besides do not match the hospital I went to or the care provider... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 NOPE Ruth, you tell them to prove it ,, tell them you want an itemized statement from the hospital in question with contact info ... They have to provide that info to you, it's federal law. If they refuse it's most likely some type of scam .. Like Luke said. Make them prove it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Oh, and be prepared for them to possibly be closed on Monday for Martin Luther King Day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted January 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 Yeah, I kinda thought they may be closed...but maybe not..guess we'll wait and see, I'll let you all know how it pans out. I'm just going to try not to make it a big deal, call them and tell themI have no over due bills, I have none like that at all, never been there, don't know what this is about...etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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