Consumer complaint received 2019-11-19
Company: Commonwealth Financial Systems, Inc.
State: AZ
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was paid

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX I went to the hospital at XXXX XXXX XXXX Hospital at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, AZ XXXX. I paid for the amount that was leftover after my insurance, XXXX  XXXX/XXXX  XXXX, at the conclusion of the visit. Overall, the visit was for a quick XXXX as I had fallen on my skateboard on the way to class and hurt my XXXX. Attached, is a medical bill showing that amount paid in full for my ER visit at XXXX XXXX. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I was notified from XXXX  that I had a pending unpaid medical bill from COMMONWEALTH FINANCIAL, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, PA XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX On XX/XX/XXXX I called COMMONWEALTH FINANCIAL and was told I had a pending unpaid bill from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, a company I have never heard of or knew about at the time. They stated it was for an ER visit on XX/XX/XXXX. I stated I had forgotten about the visit as it had been over 4 years and have never been notified about any non-payments, including no notifications from my insurance. I was then told that since the bill was so old if I paid now directly to COMMONWEALTH FINANCIAL they would be willing to discount the amount to a lesser amount ( no number was given over the phone, email, or mail ). I asked for further details, but the only information they had was the original collector ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) and the amount I owed them, {$510.00}. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I called XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX hospital and was told that the amount had been paid in full for the ER visit and that any remaining debt would have been sent to my insurance at the time. They emailed me the verified document stating my charges. They also gave me the phone number for the Emergency room physicians at the time to confirm if they had any payment issues. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I called XXXX 's XXXX XXXX XXXX ( A different name was stated by the person over the phone when they answered ) and asked if they had any record of me not paying for any services. They asked for my social and stated that they had no record of me at all. I told them it was for a older record, and they stated that they likely no longer kept that record because they had switched hospitals multiple times and didn't keep records that old. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I opened a dispute with XXXX  that the charge was fraudulent. I could not confirm the charge by any original receipt from the original company that performed the service and had a receipt and voice confirmation from XXXX XXXX XXXX that my visit on XX/XX/XXXX had been paid in full. Additionally, once I called the original company that performed the service they stated they had no record of me and could not confirm or deny that I did or did not owe them money at some time in the past. 

On XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  notified me that they had updated the claim/dispute. The update consisted of them confirming the charge as legitimate, but providing no documentation or original receipt. Once I called the customer service of XXXX   they said they were unable to understand what I wanted and hung up. 

Present, I am sending a complaint to the consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation