Consumer complaint received 2021-08-07
Company: Medical Data Systems, Inc.
State: VA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive notice of right to dispute

Complaint:
Medical Data Systems ( MDS ) put a collection on my credit report without contacting me. The medical bill belongs to XXXX. I can not recall the exact date I became aware of the MDS collection account on my credit report ; however, on XX/XX/XXXX, I contacted MDS to inquire about the debt. I was informed that it was for XXXX. I explained that I had been paying XXXX XXXX for the account and MDS never attempted to reach me prior to adding the account to my credit. The representative asked for my address, and she said that is not the address on the file. I informed her that my XXXX  XXXX XXXX office box had been closed for over a year and XXXX was aware that I had moved because I spoke to them recently about the past due bills. XXXX XXXX had to know my address because they sent me a letter. If the account went to MDS from XXXX XXXX, MDS should have known. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I filed my dispute with XXXX  because MDS never contacted me for payment prior to putting the account on my credit. If given the opportunity I would have paid the debt to MDS the same way I made payments to XXXX XXXX. *XXXX  , stated the following, We have verified that this item has been reported correctly. In XX/XX/XXXX I scheduled automatic payments to MDS through XXXX XXXX. The first payment went out with a Deliver by date of XX/XX/XXXX. In a letter from MDS, post marked XX/XX/XXXX, I was informed, Based on the information provided with your payment, we are unable to locate an account in our system The letter included one of my checks, which was dated, XX/XX/XXXX. However, it appears that at least two of my payments were sent to XXXX. 

I have since contacted XXXX to inquire about why MDS is saying they did not have my current address. XXXX assures me that MDS was given the address they have on file, which is my current address. I can show that XXXX had my current address in XXXX of XXXX. However, I believe it was sooner than that because I was paying XXXX XXXX before that. I have been excluded from consideration for employment due to this matter. No company should be allowed to place negative accounts on a consumer 's credit without due process. In this instance, I have been attempting to pay a debt and to no fault of my own it is being delayed. 

Credit reporting is being used to deliberately hurt consumers. Debt collectors, of all kinds should have to demonstrate that reasonable efforts were made to contact the consumer. Not every consumer is running from debt. Consumers are not being given the opportunity to rectify matters. I have demonstrated my willingness to pay this debt. I have been made aware, by XXXX, that MDS currently has 3 medical accounts from XXXX and MDS has yet to notify me about any, only placing the account on my credit report. Apparently MDS has 4 months to collect the debt and then they put it on your credit. XXXX must know that MDS is not trying to contact patients. Well if they did not know before, they know now.

When I contacted MDS last week I was told I could not settle the account on my credit report because it is a small amount. Why does that matter, especially if I have 3 accounts? MDS is claiming that when I called in XXXX I was told they would remove the debt and I declined. That makes no sense. When I contacted MDS in XXXX I just wanted them to remove the debt off my credit report because they did not notify me and if they had I surely would have been making payments. I thought the goal was to collect a debt or is it to ruin people 's lives by reporting negative accounts on a credit file? 

*I filed my complaint against XXXX  with you and their response was they would conduct an investigation. That apparently never happened and you have since closed my complaint. It does not appear that corporate bullies are going to be held accountable.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation