Anonymous wrote:I used to have stellar credit. About 18 months ago, I got sick -- life threatening stuff. In the process, I received bills from 30 different medical providers; I missed one (I thought I paid it), and it went to collections (multiple bills from the exact same amount from the same provider broke my tracking system); I paid it when I realized I owed the money. With another one, I am sure I paid it; I have the bank records. However, the Dr turned it to collections....and will not talk to me. The collections people only want the money, not the proof that I paid it.

So, now I have an unpaid bill in collections for $300...that I paid initially. It is killing my credit score.

Is there anything I can do? I could pay and then try to recover.

I would sue the doctor for slander.

Anonymous wrote:Is this Sibley? Their breast health center sent some of my bills to my correct address, but for some reason sent one bill to an address from five years ago. They never called me to follow up or double check the address. Instead they sent it to collections. I am so pissed. The collections lady who called me claimed it was too early to go on my credit but she may have just said that bc I was mad. I haven't checked yet. I paid immediately but am still so pissed. Why didn't they just call me or send it to the right address?

To clarify , I never actually received the bill until collections tracked me down.

Is this Sibley? Their breast health center sent some of my bills to my correct address, but for some reason sent one bill to an address from five years ago. They never called me to follow up or double check the address. Instead they sent it to collections. I am so pissed. The collections lady who called me claimed it was too early to go on my credit but she may have just said that bc I was mad. I haven't checked yet. I paid immediately but am still so pissed. Why didn't they just call me or send it to the right address?

Anonymous wrote:Contact a consumer law attorney. You may well have a claim under the fair credit reporting act. To hit to your credit score can cause material damages and you may be entitled to compensation for those damages.

Collections attorney here. This is so small it's going to cost more than the fees.

OP, under the FDCPA, you are entitled to a statement from the provider. Call the collections agency and let them know you want proof of the debt. They will send you something in writing. At that point, you can verify that it is in fact the same bill you paid and you can send them verification of your payment. If that doesn't work, you can let them take you to court. Here's the thing though. If for some reason you are mistaken, and I can think of reasons for this going both ways, you will owe collections fees along with court costs. So, you need to get the verification of the debt.

Not that it never happens, but most collections agencies are on the up and up. They don't want to be trying to collect a debt that is not owed. They make no money that way.

FWIW, recently, I got a collections notice from a radiologist. I definitely had care, but the radiologist failed to bill my insurance. The collections agency cleared me of responsibility because I was able to show proof of insurance that was effective at the time.

Good luck.

Contact a consumer law attorney. You may well have a claim under the fair credit reporting act. To hit to your credit score can cause material damages and you may be entitled to compensation for those damages.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't be surprised if you don't continue to get new bills years from now. My husband was in the hospital in 2009, we got bills in 2012. Even if you ask if your account is paid in full and get proof, they still can do whatever they like whenever they like. Don't understand why there isn't some time limit.

Something like a statute of limitations? ; )

Exactly, which if there is one, should be less than 3 years.

Anonymous wrote:Don't be surprised if you don't continue to get new bills years from now. My husband was in the hospital in 2009, we got bills in 2012. Even if you ask if your account is paid in full and get proof, they still can do whatever they like whenever they like. Don't understand why there isn't some time limit.

Something like a statute of limitations? ; )

Don't be surprised if you don't continue to get new bills years from now. My husband was in the hospital in 2009, we got bills in 2012. Even if you ask if your account is paid in full and get proof, they still can do whatever they like whenever they like. Don't understand why there isn't some time limit.

Op, submit a complaint with the CFPB

http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/#debt-collection

Sorry, OP. Same thing happened to me with the delivery of my second child. Went all the way to collections for a $75 bill that got lost in the shuffle of the million bills I kept getting. I took a hit on my credit too. My credit was high 700s before that.

Hope you have had a full recovery.

I used to have stellar credit. About 18 months ago, I got sick -- life threatening stuff. In the process, I received bills from 30 different medical providers; I missed one (I thought I paid it), and it went to collections (multiple bills from the exact same amount from the same provider broke my tracking system); I paid it when I realized I owed the money. With another one, I am sure I paid it; I have the bank records. However, the Dr turned it to collections....and will not talk to me. The collections people only want the money, not the proof that I paid it.

So, now I have an unpaid bill in collections for $300...that I paid initially. It is killing my credit score.

Is there anything I can do? I could pay and then try to recover.