Consumer complaint received 2019-07-31
Company: PMAB,LLC
State: SC
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged

Complaint:
In attempt to begin the home buying process, I reviewed my credit report around XX/XX/XXXX. I was advised by a realtor to contact several medical collection companies in an attempt to validate and/or pay any outstanding medical bills. PMAB , LLC had one account on my credit report for {$1100.00} for XXXX XXXX - XXXX. I contacted PMAB via phone to ask for more information on the debt as I was trying to reconcile any outstanding debt I may have had. I was advised there were a total of 6 accounts present dating back to XXXX. I asked for account details to be sent to me as well as a deletion letter stating that if payment was received, the negative collection account would be removed from my credit report. I received an email as requested within 48 hours listing the following 6 accounts that each have a different account number : 1. XXXX XXXX XXXX $ XXXX/ Date:XX/XX/XXXX 2. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX $ XXXX/ Date:XX/XX/XXXX 3. XXXX XXXX XXXX {$42.00} Date : XX/XX/XXXX 4. XXXX XXXX {$940.00} Date : XX/XX/XXXX 5. XXXX XXXX {$35.00} XX/XX/XXXX 6. XXXX XXXX {$910.00} XX/XX/XXXX After reviewing the details of the accounts, I emailed the PMAB , LLC representative back to state that I reviewed my insurance claim statements to validate the accuracy of the outstanding debt/dates of service provided by PMAB. I confirmed that I was able to verify accounts 1, 2, 5 & 6. Account 3 for XXXX was too old and I was not able to find any information and account 4 appeared no where on my claim statements. I informed PMAB that account 4 was invalid and incorrect. I offered to pay for the remaining 4 accounts the same day. I offered to pay {$1500.00} for accounts ( 1, 2, 5 & 6 ) that were valid for a settlement amount of 20 % less than the total shown as mentioned during the phone call when I initially inquired about the accounts. I received a response advising me that account 3 for {$42.00} had been deleted and my account balance was updated to {$3000.00}. I was advised that my only option was to follow up with the XXXX XXXX medical office about my dispute regarding the validity of the balance owed due to my inability to confirm any charges from the office via my insurance. I advised that the refusal to accept a {$1500.00} payment to cover the other accounts ( 1, 2, 5 & 6 ) was unfair as they are individual accounts that should not be affected me disputing another account. I was shocked and disappointed that no other options were provided regarding my rights to dispute this XXXX XXXX balance other than contact he medical office and basically in the meantime, the negative credit reporting would remain for accounts that I technically could pay and could be removed but the supervisor XXXX XXXX would not accept the {$1500.00} payment. XXXX XXXX email stated that I could setup payment arrangements to pay all of the accounts, which would remove the negative account credit reporting and that would be my only option. I'm sure account 3 was deleted due to the statue of limitations and the fact that I disputed the validity of the {$42.00} balance because I'm unable to confirm information from XXXX. All accounts are being addressed as one, when they are in fact not one account. I should have the ability to make right outstanding debts that I was truly unaware of and pay them individually. Especially, since the one account remaining is disputed as invalid and inaccurate. However, I have not been allowed to do so. Also, if the accounts are being handled as one account vs 5 separate accounts, then one account should be placed on my credit report. After having this discussion with PMAB and being denied the ability to simply payoff the debt that was valid, a new account has been reported to the credit bureaus for {$940.00} for PMAB for XXXX XXXX as of XX/XX/XXXX. How can a new account be reported if my payment option is being handled as if I have one account with PMAB. This new account from XXXX was just placed on my credit file in retaliation after having the discussion with the PMAB representative. There has been inconsistent and unfair treatment regarding the various accounts held by PMAB. I have been offered no assistance regarding the disputed account and after informing a representative that the one account for XXXX XXXX was invalid and incorrect, it was placed on my credit report 4 days later. The tactics being used by PMAB to force me to pay a disputed debt is manipulative, deceptive, unlawful and a violation of the fair credit reporting act.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation