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Should I pay to collection agency or the medical provider? Please help!?

  • Hi, I recently received a letter from a collection agency saying that I owe some amount to a client of theirs. However, when I checked the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statement from my insurance company, I saw that some portion of that total charge went through my deductible and I actually owe the provider less. When I called the provider, they checked my account. They told me that they could do the necessary adjustment and they confirmed that they already sent my debt to a collection agency! The representative of the medical provider told me that he put an hold to collection on my account for 60 days and I don't need to send the collection agency any dispute letters. However, the collection letter says 'Your creditor has referred this claim to us for collection. Their records show that the debt is due' And it has warning saying that 'Unless you notify this office within 30 days after receiving this notice that you dispute the validity of this debt or any portion thereof, this office will assume this debt is valid' So: -After my bill is revised and adjusted, should I pay the bill to the provider who gave my account to collection? Is that true that they can put the collection on hold? or -Should I pay it to the collection agency since it has already been referred to them? Alternately, -If I pay the provider and then send the copy of the payment confirmation, EOB and dispute the validity of debt, would they let me go or still report to credit bureaus? After reading the answers, I concluded that I was right to get suspicious and instinctively planning to dispute the collection attempt. However I wanted to add something after seeing some of you wrote that I need a written proof of the amount I owe to provider. When I talked to billing office of the provider, they were unwilling to send me any written proof that they put an hold to collection activity. So, I wouldn't assume they would provide me with a written proof that they will send me something showing I have paid their debt in full, that I have a zero balance, and they are releasing my account from collections. So, let me ask you this: -Do you think keeping the bill they are going to send me and the payment stab or cashiers check or something as a proof and send their copies to the collection agency in my correspondences? -And, can I tell the provider that I can file a lawsuit just because they haven't tried to reach me or sent me several bills before they sent my acco

  • Answer:

    You are in a position of relying on communication between the provider and the collection agency to straighten this out. Meantime, your credit rating is possibly at risk. You need to dispute the amount of the charge in writing to the collection agency. While the amount is in dispute they cannot report you as delinquent. If you have been sent to a collection agency chances are that your credit is already affected, but put your case in writing to keep this from getting out of hand. Good luck.

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First, you should respond to the collection agency (keep a copy of your dispute letter) and dispute the charge as it's too much, and tell them you are working with the dr. to rectify the delinquent charge. Then you go to the dr.s office and pay what they want and BE SURE to get a letter from them, at the same time, showing you have paid their debt in full, that you have a zero balance, and they are releasing your account from collections. Then after you get that letter, you send a certified copy to the collection agency. You tell them the debt is paid in full along with the drs letter, and you will be done. Whether or not they report it to a credit bureau will depend on your state's laws and how long it was unpaid.

It's not as complicated as it seems. Get a letter from the provider stating the corrected amount you owe. Write a check to the collection agency and send it, along with the letter stating that it is your understanding this is the total amount owed. Once it is turned over for collection, the provider no longer wants you to pay them because the collection agency keeps a portion of it as their fee for collecting it. The collection agency automatically reports it to credit bureaus, even if you pay. It still shows as "in collection". EDIT: Forget about suing them, you don't have a reason to do so. Just ask the provider for a statement showing the exact amount you owe. Send that with a check to the collection agency. You need to keep this simple. Your account doesn't get "released from collection". Once it's turned over, that's it, there is no going back to do it over. You owe them money, get a statement so you know how much it is and pay them. It may be different that what the collection agency is asking because they are entitled to add on collection fees, interest and penalties. JUST PAY THE DAMN BILL.

It's not as complicated as it seems. Get a letter from the provider stating the corrected amount you owe. Write a check to the collection agency and send it, along with the letter stating that it is your understanding this is the total amount owed. Once it is turned over for collection, the provider no longer wants you to pay them because the collection agency keeps a portion of it as their fee for collecting it. The collection agency automatically reports it to credit bureaus, even if you pay. It still shows as "in collection". EDIT: Forget about suing them, you don't have a reason to do so. Just ask the provider for a statement showing the exact amount you owe. Send that with a check to the collection agency. You need to keep this simple. Your account doesn't get "released from collection". Once it's turned over, that's it, there is no going back to do it over. You owe them money, get a statement so you know how much it is and pay them. It may be different that what the collection agency is asking because they are entitled to add on collection fees, interest and penalties. JUST PAY THE DAMN BILL.

M W

First, you should respond to the collection agency (keep a copy of your dispute letter) and dispute the charge as it's too much, and tell them you are working with the dr. to rectify the delinquent charge. Then you go to the dr.s office and pay what they want and BE SURE to get a letter from them, at the same time, showing you have paid their debt in full, that you have a zero balance, and they are releasing your account from collections. Then after you get that letter, you send a certified copy to the collection agency. You tell them the debt is paid in full along with the drs letter, and you will be done. Whether or not they report it to a credit bureau will depend on your state's laws and how long it was unpaid.

Texperson

You are in a position of relying on communication between the provider and the collection agency to straighten this out. Meantime, your credit rating is possibly at risk. You need to dispute the amount of the charge in writing to the collection agency. While the amount is in dispute they cannot report you as delinquent. If you have been sent to a collection agency chances are that your credit is already affected, but put your case in writing to keep this from getting out of hand. Good luck.

Greg

MW has the answer. in addition i would like to add that when you pay the bill do so with a postal money order and make sure you keep copies and rreceipt from the m.o.. you definitely DO NOT want your personal checking account info. going to these people.

MW has the answer. in addition i would like to add that when you pay the bill do so with a postal money order and make sure you keep copies and rreceipt from the m.o.. you definitely DO NOT want your personal checking account info. going to these people.

Tricia

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