Consumer complaint received 2021-11-09
Company: Healthcare Collection Specialists, Inc.
State: NJ
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: I do not know
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
After several unsuccessful attempts to have this alleged collections account deleted from my credit report via a dispute process with XXXX, I sent a letter to XXXX Collections that requested validation and disputed the account in full. 

I sent the letter via USPS certified mail on XX/XX/XXXX, and a delivery was attempted on XX/XX/XXXX. 

Over the next several weeks, I regularly checked the tracking to see whether the letter had been accepted or scheduled for redelivery. When there was no activity by XX/XX/XXXX, and the letter was scheduled to be returned to sender after XX/XX/XXXX, I became concerned that XXXX was refusing to accept the letter as an evasive tactic. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I mailed XXXX a second letter via first-class mail that mentioned that this was my second attempt to make contact and reiterated my that I was disputing this account and requesting validation. On XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX accepted delivery of the letter. As of XX/XX/XXXX, I have received no response from this collections agency. 

The FCRA makes clear that disputed information that can not be validated by a furnisher must be deleted. XXXX Collections has ignored my validation request and continued to send verification of the debt to XXXX without actually validating this ostensible debt and my obligation to pay it, which are clear violations of the FCRA. I believe that they are strategically continuing to furnish this data without validation as a tactic to coerce me into paying a debt that lacks any substantiation. 

I also believe that they are purposely misrepresenting the nature of the debt on my credit report in order to make it more damaging. XXXX uses several codes to indicate the status, purpose, and other information regarding an account. While I have not been given any validation of this debt, based on the alleged original creditor, and the fact that this company handles medical accounts, its likely that this is a medical debt. Medical collections are weighted less heavily than other collections accounts. The appropriate purpose code for medical accounts is XXXX or ( short name : XXXX ) ; XXXX Collections is reporting this account with a status code XXXX ( short name : XXXX ) and no purpose designation of a code XXXX. Due to the significant difference in the weighting of medical accounts, this omission appears to be another coercive tactic on behalf of the XXXX Collections, designed to give them more leverage in negotiating a payment. 

Because XXXX Collections failed to investigate my dispute and respond to my validation within the 30-day timeframe outlined in section 611 of the FCRA, they are obligated to delete this account. The fact that they continue to verify the account with XXXX puts them in direct violation of the the FCRA. I also believe that their credit reporting practices, such as their misrepresentation of the nature of debts, ostensible or legitimate, warrant scrutiny and should be investigated. It appears that this agency is completely disregarding their obligation to accurate reporting of debts, and will go so far as using fraudulent reporting practices in order to manipulate consumers into paying them.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation