Consumer complaint received 2019-08-22
Company: SCA Collections, Inc.
State: SC
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
To Whom It May Concern : In reviewing my XXXX and XXXX XXXX files XX/XX/XXXX, I noticed an entry on my files indicating that I owe SCA Collections {$210.00} ( Original Creditor XXXX XXXX XXXX   ), which is a third-party collection agency. I was surprised and unaware of any outstanding medical bills that I possessed, and contacted the respective credit bureaus to dispute and request validation of alleged debt. In early XX/XX/XXXX I received the first letter dated XX/XX/XXXX from SCA Collections requesting me to contact them to pay the account in full and then they will notify the credit bureau to mark the account as paid on my credit report. 

For starters, I refuse to contact a company and pay a bill I know nothing about, especially when it hasnt been proven that the so-called debt owed belongs to me. I had insurance and have never received any notice or itemized statement from the original creditor saying a bill wasnt paid by my insurance company. I have made several other attempts to validate this debt, however, SCA Collections keep sending the exact same letters dated XX/XX/XXXX, and XX/XX/XXXX with NO VALID PROOF nor HIPPA RELEASE. Furthermore, I am allowed under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ( HIPPA ) to protect my privacy and medical records from third parties. I did not give permission to any of my current or prior medical providers to release any of my medical information to a third party. I am aware that HIPPA does allow the release of limited information about me but anything more is to only be revealed with the patient 's authorization. Therefore, my request is twofold -- validation of debt and HIPPA authorization. 

Additionally, any reporting of this debt to the credit bureaus prior to allowing me to validate it is a violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which can allow me to seek damages from a collection agency. 

SCA collection has violated both my CONSUMER and HIPPA rights. I did not sign any contractual agreement with SCA Collection for them to have my medical records nor did I sign a medical release form from the medical facility for them to obtain my records. The laws of HIPPA regulations state that any time you go to the doctor and when you sign that HIPPA form, it states medical information, charts, diagnoses, and other Personal Health Information ( PHI ) is to only be shared with the individual you put down that can have this medical information released to them. The person you put down on that form, is the only person that can receive that information I.e. spouse or family member you designated. The minute that XXXX XXXX gave that information to a collection party ( SCA Collection ) showing my PHI is a direct violation of HIPPA. I did not sign a form giving up my PHI to this debt collection agency. I demand that this account be closed and removed from each of the credit bureaus ( XXXX and XXXX ) because it has already violated my rights, as well as been detrimental to my credit file and have damaged my credit history causing credit, employment, and insurance denials and higher rates due to the erroneous reporting. SCA Collections behavior is both unethical and illegal, and I am within my rights to sue them for the damages that have already been done.

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