Consumer complaint received 2021-03-25
Company: Arcadia Holdings, LLC
State: TX
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:
In XX/XX/2019, I visited the emergency room at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX, Texas. Upon entering, I informed the receptionist, nurse, and doctor that I wanted to be told clearly up front what charges would be assessed, so I could approve or reject the service. I specifically said that I did not want any surprise bills after the fact. They all -- three separate persons -- agreed that they would do so, and that I would not receive surprise bills. And on that basis -- and only on that basis -- I entered the facility. I was told at the time that I would receive a bill for $ XXXX. I agreed to that, and later on I received and promptly paid that bill. But I was NOT told that I would receive an additional bill of {$690.00}. So when that improper and unauthorized bill came, I refused to pay it. 

Sending that bill was plainly and simply a breach of contract. I did not -- and do not -- consider it appropriate for a hospital or any other service provider to make up whatever dollar mount feels right to them and then demand that it be paid after the fact, without giving advance notice to the customer and without getting the customer 's agreement -- particular after making a promise to do so and agreeing not to send bills without first doing so. 

XXXX XXXX called several times to collect this payment, and I plainly stated my position. They then referred the matter to Arcadia Recovery Bureau, and again I plainly stated my position. I do believe that a service provider, or debt collector, acting in good faith would have agreed that sending a bill in violation of a promise constitutes a breach of contract and would have accordingly voided the bill. 

Therefore, I was dismayed to learn recently that Arcadia Recovery Bureau reported the non-payment to all three credit bureaus. I then subsequently lodged disputes at all three credit bureaus, but I have been disappointed to learn that XXXX and XXXX  have since affirmed the adverse account. 

This disappointment stems from two foundations : First, as a substantive matter, as stated above, I think the charges are legally unenforceable, plain and simple, and should not be levied against me. But second, and more troubling, neither XXXX  nor XXXX  apparently even considered the substance of my dispute. Instead, the entirety of their process included asking Arcadia whether they agreed with my position. Predictably, then did not -- and apparently in the face of such a self-serving statement, backed by no evidence and without any assessment of credibility, XXXX  and XXXX  determined that the creditor ought to be believed over the consumer. 

What happened here was wrong. It simply can not be the case that a service provider can make up an unauthorized bill -- breaching its own contract to do so -- and then harm the consumer 's credit when the consumer refuses to pay it. Therefore, the adverse account should be removed from my credit report.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation