Consumer complaint received 2018-03-05
Company: HEAD MERCANTILE CO., INC.
State: MI
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was paid

Complaint:
Back in XXXX i was involved in a motorcycle accident. I did have insurance which paid my medical, however several items were not paid due to incorrect coding. As a result they went into collection. They were all for XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX Ohio. When they were sent for collection they went to an attorney, They were marked individual but when they were paid it was one lump sum. which we paid to the attorney. I should add that it had gone to court. Because we had moved we never got a notice so there was a judgement, which was paid in full..I have a notice from the court and the attorney that shows it was paid. This was back in XXXX of XXXX. All of a sudden in XXXX of XXXX one of the amounts owing shows up on my credit report {$560.00}. I called HMC which ids the collection agency that now has it and explained to them that it was paid. They disagreed so I filed a dispute with experian.I informed them that I had even contacted alliance hospital which she had trouble locating the debt since the XXXX had turned it over 4 years ago. But she showed no such amount owing. I contacted the attroney 's office who handled this. When this debt was paid the credit bureau was not notified. Since the amount paid did not match any invoice ( as I said, there were 5 different invoices that equaled XXXX which I am sure includes interest ) The hospital said the account was closed. Somehow XXXX of the invoices from this group that amounted to XXXX which is listed on the invoices that were paid. It somehow was shuffled off ( I get the feeling that the hospital was not notified in a timely manner, therefore may have been passed on to someone else for collection. Which I found out had indeed been passed on. Several times over the years. This HMC however decided that after 4 years they would list the debt as owing and all but destroyed my credit. I have asked them to show proof as I did with with XXXX. I faxed XXXX the court document and letter from the attorney that it was paid. All they did was send dispute results back stating that it will remain on my report. Nothing from the hospital, nothing to back up their decision other than what they said. This is horrible, how do these people get away with this. The hospital didn't even know who HMC was as when the original debt was placed in collection, it was through an attorney. Don't they have anything better do do than to ruin the lives of honest hardworking people who are trying to get by. It's a wonder that so many people do things under the wire..trying to do them right is quite obvious to no avail. I have the receipts and court documents showing this was paid. It is actually a few dollars more with the added interest. I have absolutely no confidence or trust in our credit reporting agencies. The seem to have carte blanc in what and how they do things. All I want is for this XXXX that they claim is owing taken off my report. An apology from experian I'm sure is a pipe dream but worth mentioning. I do hope that the CFPB can help get this resolved. 

Respectfully, XXXX XXXX

Company public response: Company believes the complaint is the result of a misunderstanding
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation