Consumer complaint received 2016-01-23
Company: Mountain Land Collections, Inc.
State: UT
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical
Issue: Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not mine

Complaint:
On XXXX XXXX, XXXX I received a letter from Mountainland collections. The letter, which was addressed only to me, indicated that I had an amount of {$380.00} in collections. I immediately called the number on the letter ( XXXX ) from my cell phone to find out what was going on as I had not been to the medical facility referenced in the letter. 
The collections representative indicated the debt was incurred by my husband. I informed him that my husband takes care of his bills and they would need to contact him for resolution. I was told that since I am married to him, I was just as liable for the debt. I disagreed. I was informed that if I did not pay the debt it would impact my credit. It seems extremely unfair that due to HIPPA laws I ca n't call the medical facility to discuss a debt that is not mine, but I can be held liable for it by this collection agency. I was listed only as a contact on the medical records, not a liable party. Furthermore, they did not make any attempts to reach my husband by phone or mail. 
On XXXX XXXX, XXXX I received a call from Mountainland Collections on my cell phone. I am sure they obtained the number from the call I placed two days earlier as I never gave them my phone number or authorized them to contact me on my cell phone. I told them not to contact me again. They said that there was another debt in collections that was in my name. The {$25.00} debt was from XXXX XXXX for a medical purpose. I did recall that debt, and I recalled not only was it paid the day I received notice, but I had to provide them proof of it 5 years earlier. Additionally, I had not been contacted by them since providing that proof. I told them that I would not provide the proof again. ( To obtain proof from my bank for an archived payment, I would have to pay a fee. I should not have to go through all of that when I had sent it to them previously ) I decided to pay the {$380.00} debt because I did n't want this to impact my credit. On XXXX XXXX, XXXX I called Mountainland Collections to pay my husband 's debt. I was told there was a {$10.00} fee to pay the debt. I disagreed with the fee and was told I could mail a check in to avoid paying the fee but if I did n't pay that day, it would be reported to the credit bureau, therefore leaving me no option but to pay the fee. They would not take a payment over the phone if I did n't agree to pay the fee. On XXXX XXXX, XXXX I made payment of {$390.00}. 
I asked to speak with a manager to report what I felt to be harassment, deception, and unfair collection practices. The representative refused to let me speak with a manger, so I let her know that I felt the way they handled collection of this debt was violating my rights under FDCPA and TCPA laws. 
Today, I pulled a copy of my credit report and found that the {$25.00} debt from XXXX XXXX has just recently been reported ( it was never reported in the 5 years prior because I paid it and sent them the proof that they now claim to have no record of ). I am frustrated and upset. I have done everything in my power to take care of not only my debt, but my husband 's debt as well and still feel like this company continues to harass me by reporting a debt that I have paid and provided proof of payment. 
This has dropped my credit score and impacted my ability to get a lower rate on a loan. I want Mountainland Collections to be liable for their actions. I am sure that I am not the only one they have done this to.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation