Consumer complaint received 2022-01-28
Company: California Business Bureau, Inc.
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
I am a XXXX retired XXXX with XXXX plus years military service and a VA XXXX XXXX of XXXX XXXX XXXX As such, I exclusively use the VA for 100 % of my health care needs and during XXXX I was taken by ambulance on two occasions to XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX. Both ER visits to XXXX involved shortness of breath with severe XXXX and XXXX pain. The first ER visit occurred from XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX when I was hospitalized for XXXX days with a XXXX XXXX 
The second ER visit occurred on XX/XX/XXXX for identical symptoms as the first. Fortunately, following multiple procedures and tests, I was discharged later that same day. Unfortunately, XXXX admin personnel made a clerical error on my discharge documents on by inserting an erroneous billing code that resulted in me being sent unknowingly to collections for a bill of {$4900.00} Guarantor ID # XXXX. Account # XXXX. 

It deserves mentioning that veterans are routinely sent to collections due to late payments or oversights by the VA or their assorted private providers however, these matters are typically resolved by responsible parties before derogatory reports impact the veterans otherwise good credit histories. At this particular time in XXXX, I had already lost count how many times I had conversed with both XXXX and XXXX XXXX ( among others ), to facilitate payments for bills generated by both ER visits mentioned above : XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX. XXXX ( Succeeded now by XXXX ) XXXX XXXX XXXXt XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX PH : XXXX XXXX XXXX Following multiple conversations with both XXXX and XXXX, including various debt XXXX and agencies such as California XXXX XXXX, my final conversation with both XXXX and XXXX regarding any outstanding bills or collection notices from any entity whatsoever, was on or around XX/XX/XXXX. During these final conversations both XXXX and XXXX assured me this issue was nothing more than a clerical error that can take time to resolve and I was not to worry about it. Both also advised me the bill had been resubmitted with proper billing codes for approval and theyd let me know if they needed anything further from me. I insured they had one anothers contact information and never heard from either of them ever again. 


Fast forward slightly more than a year later with more of the same erroneous billing errors and collection notices when, on or about XX/XX/XXXX, my wife and I were awoken by an early morning phone call on her mobile phone from an individual identifying himself as XXXX XXXX who was working with the VA in an effort to locate XXXX XXXX regarding outstanding medical bills from XXXX XXXX. Considering the inordinate amount of previous phone conversations I had with the VA, XXXX XXXX, California XXXX XXXX and various other collection agencies like them, where I shared every shred of my personal information to multiple agents so as to take myself out of their crosshairs, its fair to say I was astonished that XXXX XXXX had now taken to harass my wife in addition to me since they all know how to contact me, or at least should, providing they do anything with the information they insist on gathering every time you talk with them. XXXX XXXX was very deceptive and rude to both my wife and I in both tone and comment so I quickly explained to him that I was a 100 % rated veteran covered by the VA for 100 % of my medical costs then provided him with XXXX XXXX XXXX as per routine to facilitate payment for whatever XXXX bill it was still outstanding. Before hanging up he asked what I suggested he do if the VA refuses to pay this bill? I did my best to explain it wasnt my fault whenever XXXX XXXX is delinquent in paying his medical bills and reassured him that XXXX would help him resolve the matter. 
On XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX XXXX left me a voicemail requesting I contact him which, due to his disrespectful manner, I elected to notify XXXX instead for the second time to express a sense of urgency on this matter. I did not get to speak with XXXX but provided another detailed voicemail explaining the situation to include XXXX XXXX contact information. I have yet to receive a reply from XXXX or XXXX XXXX despite additional calls from me. 

Collection Agent XXXX XXXX California XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX XXXX XXXX Ext XXXX On XX/XX/XXXX I received notice from my ID Protection Provider that my credit information had received adverse reporting due to XXXX clerical error on my ER visit back in XXXX. For what its worth, my XXXX XXXX prior to this has averaged XXXX or better. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I received a call from XXXX who works with the VA XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX, MT. XXXX : ( XXXX XXXX ). XXXX advised me the matter was being resolved and should be removed from my credit report history within the next few days. She also advised me that her office had paid XXXX for this bill during XX/XX/XXXX. XXXX subsequently returned the check for reasons unknown.

Company public response: Company believes the complaint provided an opportunity to answer consumer's questions
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation