Consumer complaint received 2016-10-18
Company: TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
State: TN
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
On XXXX XXXX, XXXX I went XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX due to XXXX related issues, they were not able to assist and I was transferred to XXXX XXXX. I was in XXXX XXXX hospital approximately 12 hours and the bill after insurance was approximately {$2500.00} and approximately {$1400.00} for a 48 hour stay including labor and delivery. Due to the large amount I owed, I reached out to work out a payment arrangement. XXXX XXXX willingly accepted {$50.00} a month with no problem. 
When I reached out to XXXX XXXX, I was told, they wanted the entire balance paid within one year, which would have been approximately {$160.00} per month which I was not able to commit to. I told them I could pay {$50.00} per month on XX/XX/XXXX and they stated that was okay but my account would still be sent to their debt collector and they would work out a payment plan with me. Central Financial Control sent a letter stating and if I could not pay the entire balance to call. I called and tried to work out a payment arrangement and originally they would not accept {$50.00} per month. They suggested I use a credit card to pay at least {$500.00} which would have incurred additional finance charges that I was not willing to pay. They finally approved the {$50.00} monthly payment for one year and after one year I would have to pay more. I tried to set up automatic drafts for the monthly {$50.00} payment which they declined to honor because I was not paying XXXX of the overall bill. The representative even went so far as to state I could use my tax refund to pay off the balance. I began calling each month to make the payment and twice I did forget but I paid the {$50.00} before 30 days had passed. One was paid on day 29 and the other on day 30, I am more than willing to pay the balance in full but I can not afford what they are requesting which is why I reached out to them when the first bill was sent. If they would have allowed an automatic draft of {$50.00} on the XXXX of each month this could have been avoided. 
I missed the XXXX XXXX payment and when I called on XXXX XXXX, XXXX and the representative stated because I defaulted on the payment they would no longer honor the {$50.00} monthly payment arrangement and they had already sent notice to the credit bureau on XXXX XXXX, XXXX. 
I am requesting assistance from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to continue with the original {$50.00} monthly payment arrangement as I am not able to pay the additional amount requested by Central Financial Control and want to prevent any adverse actions taken on my credit report. 
I know there have been other claims against this company primarily in XXXX when The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( Bureau ) reviewed the practices by which Syndicated Office Systems, LLC, d/ b/a Central Financial Control ( Respondent ), collects medical debt and furnishes information relating to consumers to consumer reporting agencies. The Bureau had identified the following law violations : ( 1 ) Respondent failed to respond within 30 days to consumer disputes about the information Respondent furnished to consumer reporting agencies, in violation of Section 623 ( a ) ( 8 ) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( " FCRA '' ), 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 8 ), and Subpart E of Regulation V, 12 C.F.R. 1022-43, the implementing regulation of the FCRA ; and ( 2 ) in certain instances, Respondent failed to provide consumers with a " debt validation notice '' within five days of its initial communication with the consumer in connection with the collection of a debt, in violation of Section 8og ( a ) the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( " FDCPA '' ), 15 U.S.C. 1692g ( a ). Under Sections 1053 and 1055 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of XXXX ( " CFPA '' ), 12 U.S.C. 5563, 5565, the Bureau issued a Consent Order ( " Consent Order '' ).

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation