Consumer complaint received 2018-01-16
Company: Overton, Russell, Doerr and Donovan, LLP
State: OR
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
I had a hospital debt from XX/XX/XXXX and had a financial agreement to repay this on a monthly basis ; which was done as agreed. I received a letter from the debt collector last summer ( XX/XX/XXXX) for the amount of XXXX and contacted the firm and explained that I had been making payments and that the amount they were trying to collect did not represent these payments, and the maximum amount the hospital could charge me was XXXX ; which represented my co-pay at the time. The woman I spoke with was pleasant and told me that there would be no action until I sent in documentation to show payments. I did questions why the account was being sent to a collection agency since I was making payments and she told me it did not matter if I was making payments, the hospital could still hire them. 

I received nothing else form the company and on XX/XX/2017 I finally was able to get the information compiled and sent a copy of payments, with proof of insurance ( to verify the incorrect amount owed ) and a letter to both the hospital and the debt collector. 

The first week of this year XX/XX/XXXX I received a letter from he collection company dated XX/XX/XXXX with an amount due of {$95.00} which I assumed was the balance after the proof of payment was received. When I called the credit agency they said it was another amount and that they had not received any communication from me regarding the payments made. ( This information was sent certified and I am still looking up the postage receipt - I should have within 48 hours ). I explained the scenario to the call center representative, XXXX. I did not get any real information from him, other than it was my fault if it did not require a signature. ; which it did not - it was certified ; AND, this was a separate bill : which shocked me. If the services provided were only two days apart and I received the first notice last XXXX - why am I receiving my first notice for this account XXXX? I also asked XXXX to request detailed information from the hospital about charges and he responded that they were not allowed to ask for that because it was confidential information. 

I asked to speak to a manager and he transferred me to a woman who 's name I believe was XXXX. We reviewed my discussion with XXXX and she basically said the same thing. While I thought the issue was taken care of she assured me it was not. I asked why I did not receive any further communication from them and she stated that they are a debt collector, not a billing company and they send out collection notices at differing times on a case by case basis. When I asked her about what they case by case basis was, she could not explain and became defensive. She said she could request detailed billing information via their paralegal. She was very defensive after the questioning about statements and hung up on me. 

I have dealt with this company before, they adversely affected my credit. It is unconscionable that they are able to accept a debt collection account without proper validation and without constant notification to the patient.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief