Consumer complaint received 2019-03-11
Company: AmeriCollect
State: MO
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
On XXXX, at approximately XXXX XXXX, I received a call from telephone number ( XXXX  ) 2XXXX. Upon answering the call, I talked with a woman named " XXXX '' - company ID # XXXX, who stated that she was calling on behalf of a company called AmeriCollect which is located at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. in XXXX, WI. 

XXXX asked for me by name and I responded by telling her that she was speaking with the person she was calling for. No further verification of my identity was requested before she begins to tell me that she is attempting to collect a medical debt for {$200.00} dollars and some change. 

I explained to her that I had received medical services for which I was sent several bills from various entities, and that to the best of my knowledge, as of the time of her call, I believed that I had paid each of those debts to the original creditors. 

I asked if she could mail me some form of written documentation pertaining to the alleged debt, to include the entity to which it was originally owed, so that I could contact that entity to verify that I had not already paid the money which she was attempting to collect on. 

XXXX refused to do so, stating that her company records showed that a written notice had been sent in XXXX, XXXX and that they would not send another one or provide me with further information over the phone, without me providing her with my home address, date of birth, or last four digits of my social security number. I asked to speak with a supervisor in an attempt to resolve the matter. 

I was then connected to " XXXX '' - ID # XXXX, and again asked to be sent a written notice regarding the debt to the address her company had on file as I have lived in the same home for many years. I further explained that it was entirely possible that the notice she claimed had been sent in XX/XX/XXXX, may have been misplaced due to the fact that I had been recwiving numerous bills from various entities regarding the same medical visit during that time. I told her that I did not recall having seen any such notice, and simply asked that her company mail a notice so that I could verify the validity of the debt. 

She too refused to mail anything to the address her company had on file, citing concerns that it may be sent to the wrong address. I explained to her that " XXXX '' had already disclosed that she was calling about a medical bill without any verification that she was in fact speaking to the correct person, and told XXXX  that I am aware that this constitutes a violation of my rights as a consumer. 

I again asked " XXXX '' to send me something in writing, so that I could verify the debt, and she again refused to do so. She then proceeded to tell me that the account was in a " grace period '', but would soon be marked as a negative entry on my credit report. She further stated that she would add notes to my file with her company to indicate that I not be contacted by telephone any further, and instructed me to contact AmeriCollect in the event that I was willing to provide further personal information to satisfy their requirement in order to be sent verification of the debt. 

I am pretty upset about the fact that I have no way to know whether this is a legitimate debt, nor to whom it is allegedly owed. I currently have excellent credit, and sufficient funds to satisfy the debt alleged however I will not blindly pay a random company without knowing that I actually owe the money they are requesting.

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