Consumer complaint received 2021-05-24
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MD
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem
Sub-issue: Their investigation did not fix an error on your report

Complaint:
I have contacted the below companies requesting detailed information regarding the alleged debt owed. I never gave XXXX XXXX  XXXX or XXXX XXXX permission to release my information to a third party. I asked the collection agencies to provide proof that I signed documentation releasing my personal medical history. I also forwarded a copy to the credit bureaus and they did not follow through with the proper investigation. XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX refused to contact the insurance company to receive payment of services yet has elected to push the responsibility on me. I provided the information from XXXX and they said they never heard back to send payment information. I have attached proof from XXXX regarding my hospital claim for XX/XX/XXXX. The collection agency did not provide proper proof as requested in detailed letter dated XX/XX/XXXX. This was my third request. I have attached the documents I received regarding XXXX XXXXXXXX. I never received any follow up information from XXXX XXXX or XXXX XXXX 

Per HIPPA they do need permission to share my medical information, you have and sent a copy of my medical treatment. You did not just provide a dollar amount you disclosed my full medical record in your response which I did not release permission for you to have. You also did NOT give me proper written notification giving me 30 days to validate the debt. You just added it to my report which is another violation. I have disputed this many times and youre not providing me with the contents of my requests which is why I will keep disputing every month until I get what I requested next time it will be in a court room. If you cant comply to the below request you must cease and desist reporting to the credit bureaus. 

Additionally, I am allowed under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ( HIPAA ) to protect my privacy and medical records from third parties. I did not give permission to any of my current or prior medical providers to release any of my medical information to a third party. I am aware that the HIPAA does allows the release of limited information about me but anything more is to only be revealed with the patients authorization. Therefore, my request is twofoldvalidation of debt and HIPAA authorization. 

Please provide breakdown of fees including any collection costs and medical charges. 
Provide a copy of my signature with the provider of service to release my medical information to you. 
Cease any credit bureau reporting until the debt has been validated by me. 

Please send this information to my address listed above and accept this letter, sent certified mail, as my formal debt validation request, which I am allowed under the FDCPA. Please note that withholding the information you received from any medical provider in an attempt to be HIPAA compliant can be a violation of the FDCPA because you will be deceiving me after my written request. I request full documentation of what you received from the provider of service in connection with this alleged debt. 

Additionally, any reporting of this debt to the credit bureaus prior to allowing me to validate it is a violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which can allow me to seek damages from a collection agency. I will await your reply with above requested proof. Upon receiving it, I will correspond back by certified mail. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation