What qualifies as proof?

Date: Mon, 01/29/2007 - 12:49

Submitted by Jana
on Mon, 01/29/2007 - 12:49

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Total Replies: 4

I wrote last week about something on my credit report from a collection agency. They are saying I owe $110 for a doctors appointment/x-ray I don't recall having. The collection office cannot provide a copy of the bill...only a letter stating that I owe them the money. Due to the original creditor being out of business, I cannot contact them for a copy of the bill. I requested that the credit bureaus investigate. I did ask that the collection agency send me a copy of the letter, as I have never received one in the mail. I got the letter the other day with no detail of the doctors visit. All it says is that per our conversation, I will pay the debt by January 31, 2007, and that if I don't pay as agreed, further damage will show on my credit report. I never agreed to pay the debt. I only confirmed that the address and social securtiy number they have is correct. Does that make it mine, or is there a way that they could have my information by mistake? My question is, what does the collection agency have to provide to qualify for proof to the credit bureaus that this is my debt? Does my confirming that the information they have on me is correct prove that the debt belongs to me?

Unfortunately, you might be stuck because the collection agency

Unfortunately, you might be stuck because the collection agency has your personal info. Having this, they can hit your credit file negatively anytime they want to. It will be risky if they can prove your commitment to pay the debt along with your signature on it.

Usually, when a collector is asked to validate the account, they are required to provide the following info. Once you have the details, you will be sure of their collection practice.

lrhall41

Submitted by Flying Cats on Mon, 01/29/2007 - 13:13

( Posts: 479 | Credits: )

Did the collectors by chance have a date listed for service?I wo

Did the collectors by chance have a date listed for service?I would think that would also be needed for proof of debt.If you dispute the bill and they canot provide ALL the details then it should be removed. There ar many instances when a collector hits someones cr for no legitimate reason.Thats what they have disputes for.

lrhall41

Submitted by taksmom476 on Tue, 01/30/2007 - 08:06

( Posts: 80 | Credits: )

Definitely ask for debt validation. If they don't validate the

Definitely ask for debt validation. If they don't validate the debt, they can't collect it. If they do validate, you can review the documentation and make an informed decision about what to do.

collection agencies do, indeed, make mistakes collecting. I was once contacted by a CA demanding payment for a "Kent Collectibles Bear Family Reunion", which I had never even heard of. I wrote a letter back disputing the debt, and I never heard from them again.

lrhall41

Submitted by Debt Padawan on Sun, 02/04/2007 - 10:29

( Posts: 89 | Credits: )

I think that demanding a Date of Service is an excellent idea. I

I think that demanding a Date of Service is an excellent idea. I know in my job, I have helped prepare patient charts for Medicare billing and know for a fact that a DOS is required, or else we can't bill for that episode. And it also could have happened that the doctor's office mistyped the information and got you, by accident. Had you gone to that doctor in the past?

lrhall41

Submitted by kscornell on Sun, 02/04/2007 - 12:00

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