Consumer complaint received 2020-05-06
Company: AMCOL Systems, Inc.
State: TX
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged

Complaint:
In XXXX, I became very XXXX, and a colleague took me to a stand alone emergency room where I was seen by a XXXX who diagnosed XXXX XXXX. 
I had XXXX XXXX, and felt like I had the XXXX. Having just relocated to the area, I had a new insurance plan, and did not know where I could go for care. I did not know either that there were health services providers that fell under Emergency Room and others under Urgent Care. 
I provided all my information, address, insurance, and asked the clerk to verify that they were on my plan. I was so sick that week. 
In XX/XX/XXXX, I had a major car accident, through no fault of mine. I also had medical issues and was paying all the medical bills. 
In XXXX or XX/XX/XXXX, I received a bill from the emergency room and was paying {$10.00} to {$20.00} per month. 
Then, I received a notification that my account had been turned in to AMCOL.

I called AMCOL and explained that I did not have a bill from XXXX XXXX XXXX until XXXX, that I was making payments, that I had a lot of other medical bills that I was paying on due to the car accident.. 
I requested a copy of the bill, and asked AMCOL to reverse the account to XXXX XXXX XXXX. I have friends who are doctors, and they told me that the service provider can always recall a bill from a collection agency, especially because an unpaid bill can be a tax write-off. 
The AMCOL employe that talked to me told me that it was not possible ; that they were not sending accounts back to the provider, and that if I did not pay, that was going to impact my credit report negatively. 
I asked her if it was a threat, she repeated the part about a negative impact on my credit report. Information on my credit report for that specific bill was modified several times because I questioned why the coding on my report was changed from " paid '' to " no data '' to " derogatory '', because I kept calling and asking questions. Also why was that information only reported to one of the credit bureaus, and not the others, and when I asked, the other credit bureaus adjusted their report to match the first one that posted the report, without even verifying any information. 
I offered to pay a little every month, since I had so many other medical bills. She agreed. I asked her about my credit report, and she told me that as long as I paid the bill, my credit report would be ok ; she would remove any notice about a collection.. 
When I had enough money to pay the bill off, in XX/XX/XXXX, I did. 
In XXXX, I was considering buying a home, and was looking to be pre-approved. I went to my bank, and was told that my credit was something like 620. I was surprised because the last time I had needed my credit score, it was above 750. 
I requested a copy of my credit report and notice the derogatory negative report from AMCOL.

I called AMCOL and was told, that because it was in collection, it stayed on my report. I reminded the person that I was told that once the bill was paid, that would not impact my credit report or my score. 
The response from the clerk was that it was her decision and that it stayed on my report. 
I contacted the emergency room, and they referred me to the emergency room holding company. 
I made contact, then drove to their corporate office to be able to speak with someone. 
I spoke with the Patient Relations Manager who was very surprised by the derogatory report since the bill had been paid in full. 
She researched billing and emailed me the receipts with the AUD # for each. 
She also checked with AMCOL who told her that once the AUD # is obtained, it is up to the credit bureau to remove it. 
I called the credit bureau ( XXXX ) and asked them to update my credit report based on the information provided by the Patient relations Manager, they responded that they were not allowed to take any information over the phone, and also that they had received a call from Amcol stating that they were maintaining the derogatory report.So XXXX  maintained the information, and that information was shared with the other credit bureau, even though the bill was paid. 
I contacted the Patient Relations Manager, she was very surprised by this, and advised me to file a dispute with XXXX 
I did file a dispute and XXXX denied it because they were taking the recommendation of AMCOL. 
How can a credit bureau purport to present an accurate picture of a person 's credit worthiness, and lean towards the business versus the consumer/customer? 
I went through divorce proceedings that lasted more than 10 years, and cost me more than a {$100000.00}, I have had XXXX cars accidents, and for none of them am I at fault, and of course, the other motorists either had the least insurance or none at all, and I am paying the bills, I have had to fly overseas several times to attend a funeral in my close family. I have XXXX children, and my ex-husband was not working, so all the medical insurance, all the clothes, school supplies, ... were on me. My car was totaled, I had to buy a new one. I had to relocate for my job 3 times, at my own costs. The last car accident triggered major health issues that required major XXXX. right now, I am paying on close to 45 medical bills. Considering what I have gone through, and what I have and am sttill dealing with, I have an amazing credit history! 
Yet, that is not being considered. 

That medical bill was paid! There should not be any impact on a credit report because of a medical bill. That cost me 100 points! For one bill that was paid! 

Why file a complaint now? Because the derogatory notice is still impacting my credit score, and causing negative consequences to my ability to obtain a good interest rate and be pre-approved by a lender for a mortgage to buy a house. 
Look at my credit report : 15 years ago, my score was above 850. And then, there was life, ..and that derogatory report dropped my score by a 100 points.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation