Consumer complaint received 2016-11-14
Company: TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
State: GA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.)
Issue: Disclosure verification of debt
Sub-issue: Not given enough info to verify debt

Complaint:
XX/XX/XXXX To Whom it May Concern : I recently requested that all three credit bureaus remove the record on my credit report showing a collection from Central Financial Control ( Transunion was the only entity that would ). I paid the debt under the assumption that it would be removed once I paid. However, it appears that I was manipulated into making that agreement. 
Please take note of the following as you review this matter : 1. On or around XX/XX/XXXX, I received a call from a representative ( " Representative '' ) of Tenet Health/XXXX XXXX XXXX ( " XXXX '' ). The Representative stated that I owed {$430.00} and if I did not pay today, it would go to a collection agency. I told the Representative that I had just received my first bill for that debt on XX/XX/XXXX and I was confused because I had entered into a payment agreement with XXXX to pay my balance XX/XX/XXXX or XX/XX/XXXX and the balance was paid in full. 
2. I told this Representative that I dispute the debt and he said something to the effect of " fine, I 'll send it to the disputes department and you 'll receive verification of the debt in the mail. '' 3. Regardless of the assurances of the Representative, I sent my own letter to XXXX ( attached ). 
4. I never received any verification of the debt from XXXX. 
5. On or around XX/XX/XXXX, I received a call or letter from Central Financial Control indicating that the debt from XXXX in the amount of {$430.00} had been referred to them for collections. 
6. I immediately dispatched a letter ( " XX/XX/XXXX letter '' ) ( attached ) disputing the validity of the debt and demanding verification. I received no response to this letter. 
7. On numerous occasions, I spoke with Central Financial Control, each time demanding recognition of my letter and a record of my dispute of the debt. I did not receive a response to this demand. 
8. One time, XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX, or XX/XX/XXXX, I noted I missed a call from Central financial Control. I called them back. They proceeded to 1 ) Identify themselves as Central Financial Control ; 2 ) ask for identifying information ( partial social security, phone number, mailing address, etc. ) 3. Send me from Department to Department looking for someone who could find a record of the alleged debt. They did not find someone. At that time, I was told by their representative that there must not be a debt owed. I concluded that CFC had searched for validity of the debt and found none. And was unconcerned. 
9. About a month ago, I began searching for a new vehicle. As part of that process, I viewed a credit report of the XXXX major credit reporting agencies. As part of that report, I found a collections account from Central Financial Control on XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX. XXXX immediately removed the account. 
10. I contacted CFC to resolve the matter. CFC stated that if I paid {$240.00}, the account would be considered paid in full and it would be removed from my account. 
11. As of today, XX/XX/XXXX, I called and requested an update on the removal and was told by a CFC representative " regardless of what any other employee told me, it was against the policy to remove debts from credit reports. '' I believe that CFC has manipulated my decision making with misrepresentations. 
I request that this matter be fully reviewed and that my credit history be updated.

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