Consumer complaint received 2017-07-17
Company: Grant Mercantile Agency
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
Emailed-   XXXX   XXXX   , at mail to :  XXXX  1st email  XX/XX/XXXX  I believe am being excessive and illegal charged interest and fees on medical bills. Medical bills are n't liquidated debts and there was no specific implied agreement expressing authorizing rates of interest. I never agreed with interest that 's twice the amount of the original debts, which I did n't agreed to or see as reasonable charges for medical service. Every state has a limit to the amount of interest and collection fees that can be charged, if applicable.
Am requesting an itemized statement of fees and interest being charged. A copy of contract authorizing such fees and collection charges. And a print out of California laws supporting rate of interest and collection charges for medical bills, without contract. Removal of interest and collection fees within 30 days of letter. Stop reporting inaccurate debts with interest to credit bureaus.
When assigned the debt by the original creditor, the collection agency can demand and collect interest from the debtor to the same extent that the consumer would be obligated to pay interest to the original creditor. The obligation to pay interest is not changed by the debt being assigned to a collection agency.
If a collection agency does demand and collect interest, it should be shown as a separate amount from the principle when it is first demanded from the consumer. Subsequently, each additional amount of interest should be shown as a separate increase to the total balance due at that time.
The collection of any amount ( including any interest, fee, charge, or expense incidental to the principal obligation ) unless such amount is expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or permitted by law. Congress passed a bill that only non-private hospitals can charge interest on a hospital bill, because it an unliquidated debt.
1. The original debtor didnt charge interest and nowhere in contract expressed it. Never did the collection agency inform me of the interest being charged or at what rate in written. They just started to apply it at their own interest rate to the original debt. Interest wasnt applied to any of this account until two years after being placed in collection by Grant Mercantile agency, when I began to dispute accounts. As of  XX/XX/XXXX , account opened  XX/XX/XXXX  balance was {$2200.00}. By XX/XX/XXXX  the balanced jumped to {$2400.00}. This was less than two months of interest that had been add to each of these accounts. As of  XX/XX/XXXX , account opened XX/XX/XXXX  balance was {$870.00}. By  XX/XX/XXXX  the balanced jumped to {$940.00}. As of  XX/XX/XXXX , account opened  XX/XX/XXXX  balance was {$1500.00}. By  XX/XX/XXXX the balanced jumped to {$1600.00}.
2. California has laws on a cap on interest amounts that can be charged by collection agency, if any interest. I would like an items statement expressing original debt amount, when interest began to be charged and at what interest rate. I want them to express under what California law, they have rights to interest on these accounts.
3. Are remove debt from collection report by particular collection agency, if my rights were violated in any way within 30 days.
4. Correction to collection accounts, within 30 days.
5. Never sent a written notice of interest collection and/or rate being charged by collection agency.
2nd emailed  XX/XX/XXXX  I received letter sent from your company dated  XX/XX/XXXX . Referencing account #  XXXX  in total amount of {$2800.00}. Principal {$1800.00} and interest {$960.00}. You sent verification of debt, that was n't requested. I requested validation of debt which provides me with contract expressing authorizing rates of interest, if any. An itemized statement of fees and interest being charged and dates of when they were charged. And a print out of California laws supporting rate of interest and collection charges for medical bills, without a contract. If your collection agency demands and collect interest, it should be shown as a separate amount from the principle when it is first demanded from the consumer. Subsequently, each additional amount of interest should be shown as a separate increase to the total balance due at that time. The collection of any amount ( including any interest, fee, charge, or expense incidental to the principal obligation ) unless such amount is expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or permitted by law. Congress passed a bill that only non-private hospitals can charge interest on a hospital bill, because it a liquidated debt.   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX   is a private hospital. Never did the collection agency inform me of the interest being charged or at what rate in written at any time. Your company just started to apply it at their own interest rate to the principal of the debt. Interest wasnt applied to any of this account until two years after being placed in collection by Grant Mercantile agency, when I began to dispute the accounts. I want documentation requested and validation on all  XXXX  accounts that been disputed and placed in collection by Grant Mercantile Agency, within 30 days.
I would appreciate if my legal rights be granted and this hardship that your company is placing on my life, stopped.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation