Consumer complaint received 2023-02-09
Company: ONLINE Information Services, Inc.
State: TN
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive notice of right to dispute

Complaint:
I first begin receiving contact from this company last year on XX/XX/XXXX saying that it was an owed debt. They did not provide enough information to go off with first contact then I continue to received more letters. As of XXXX of last year it shows up on my credit reports as an debt owed from XXXX. 

I sent a letter as followed : My name, address, ss # and the date of XX/XX/XXXX by certified mail. 

Online Information Services XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Re Account # : XXXX Dear Collection Agent, I took a look at my credit report and saw a collections from you reporting on my credit report. I am unaware of this debt and why is it on my credit report. So therefore as allowed under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) I am requesting that you allow me to validate the alleged debt. I am aware based on what you are reporting there is a debt from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX but I am unaware of the amount due since there is no breakdown of any fees. 

Additionally, I am allowed under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ( HIPAA ) to protect my privacy and medical records from third parties. I do not recall giving permission to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX from them to release my medical information to a third party. I am aware that HIPAA does allow for limited information about me but anything more is to only be reveled with the patients authorization. Therefore my request is twofold- validation of debt and HIPAA authorization. 

Please provide a breakdown of fees include any collection costs and medical charges. Provide a copy of my signature with the provider of service to release my medical information to you. Cease any Credit bureau reporting until the debt has been validated by me. 

Please send this information to my address listed above and accept this letter sent by certified mail as my formal debt validation request, which I am allowed under the FDCPA. Please note that withholding any information received from any medical provider in an attempt to be HIPAA compliant can be a violation of the FDCPA because you will be deceiving me after my written request. I request full documentation of what you received from the provider of service in connection with the alleged debt. 

Additionally, any reporting of this debt to the credit bureaus prior to allowing me to validate. It may be a violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which allows me to seek damages from a collection agent. I will await your reply with the above requested proof. Upon receiving it, I will correspond back by certified mail. 

A brief summary of what I am asking for is the original contract, the creditors information, payment history and proof of ownership. 
[ End of letter ] I did receive on XX/XX/XXXX a response or lack there of with the same information saying that it had been verified. They print it out and eternal document on their own makeshift system Im not giving any details XXXX the creditor as far as their name address or phone number making it where I could contact the creditor. They also be able to give me a payment history of itemized billing to the account of what the services were for the date etc. They could not even produce it was me from asking for my written signature on the document agreeing to pay these fees on the original contract. I will attach a photo of the receipt for the certified mail and the internal document they made just to provide make shift proof.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation