Consumer complaint received 2017-10-28
Company: Choice Recovery, Inc.
State: OH
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
I need to see documentation that CHOICE RECOVERY has my signature that authorizes them to even have a copy of my medical records. I do not wish to do business with the company concerning my Medical debt and they can return my records back to the Dr Office this is a HIPPA ACT violation. I understand that a contract exists between me and the 1st party, but what obligation do I have at all to these ever changing array of 3rd parties? I have never heard of them, have no written contract with them and never received any benefit from them. I do not see them being in compliance with basic standard of OHIO LAW 1319.12 TAKING ASSIGNMENT OF DEBT ( A ) ( 1 ) As used in this section, " collection agency '' means any person who, for compensation, contingent or otherwise, or for other valuable consideration, offers services to collect an alleged debt asserted to be owed to another. 
( 2 ) " Collection agency '' does not mean a person whose collection activities are confined to and directly related to the operation of another business, including, but not limited to, the following : ( a ) Any bank, including the trust department of a bank, trust company, savings and loan association, savings bank, credit union, or fiduciary as defined in section 5815.04 of the Revised Code, except those that own or operate a collection agency ( b ) Any real estate broker or real estate salesperson, as defined in section 4735.01 of the Revised Code ( c ) Any retail seller collecting its own accounts ( d ) Any insurance company authorized to do business in this state under Title XXXIX of the Revised Code or a health insuring corporation authorized to operate in this state under Chapter 1751. of the Revised Code ( e ) Any public officer or judicial officer acting under order of a court ( f ) Any licensee as defined either in section 1321.01 or 1321.71 of the Revised Code, or any registrant as defined in section 1321.51 of the Revised Code ( g ) Any public utility ( h ) Any person registered to sell interment rights under section 4767.031 of the Revised Code.

( B ) A collection agency with a place of business in this state may take assignment of another person 's accounts, bills, or other evidences of indebtedness in its own name for the purpose of billing, collecting, or filing suit in its own name as the real party in interest.

( C ) No collection agency shall commence litigation for the collection of an assigned account, bill, or other evidence of indebtedness unless it has taken the assignment in accordance with all of the following requirements : ( 1 ) The assignment was voluntary, properly executed, and acknowledged by the person transferring title to the collection agency.

( 2 ) The collection agency did not require the assignment as a condition to listing the account, bill, or other evidence of indebtedness with the collection agency for collection.

( 3 ) The assignment was manifested by a written agreement separate from and in addition to any document intended for the purpose of listing the account, bill, or other evidence of indebtedness with the collection agency. The written agreement shall state the effective date of the assignment and the consideration paid or given, if any, for the assignment and shall expressly authorize the collection agency to refer the assigned account, bill, or other evidence of indebtedness to an attorney admitted to the practice of law in this state for the commencement of litigation. The written agreement also shall disclose that the collection agency may consolidate, for purposes of filing an action, the assigned account, bill, or other evidence of indebtedness.

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