Consumer complaint received 2023-10-03
Company: Penn Credit Corporation
State: GA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
To whom it may concerns, After viewing a copy of my credit report and after receiving many unwanted calls and attempts on XX/XX/2023, I noticed a collection account placed on my credit report from you in XX/XX/2023. I am requesting that you allow me to validate the alleged debt. I am unaware of any outstanding medical bills that I possess, and I am seeking the name and hospital/medical provider to which I owe the debt and a detailed breakdown of the fees that I owe. Additionally, I am allowed under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ( HIPAA ) to protect my privacy and medical records from third parties. I did not give permission to any of my current or prior medical providers to release any of my medical information to a third party. I am aware that the HIPAA does allows the release of limited information about me but anything more is to only be revealed with the patients authorization. Therefore, my request is twofold validation of debt and HIPAA authorization. 
Please provide breakdown of fees including 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. 
Agreement with your client that grants you the authority to collect on this alleged debt. Agreement that bears the signature of the alleged debtor wherein XXXX agreed to pay the creditor. 
Any insurance claims been made by any creditor regarding this account. 
Any Judgments obtained by any creditor regarding this account. 
Name and address of alleged creditor. 
Name on file of alleged debtor. 
Alleged account number. 
Address on file for alleged debtor. 
Amount of alleged debt. 
Date this alleged debt became payable. 
Date of original charge off or delinquency. 
Verification that this debt was assigned or sold to collector. 
Complete accounting of alleged debt. 
Commission for debt collector if collection efforts are successful. 

Your claim can not and WILL NOT be considered if any portion of the above is not completed and returned with copies of all requested documents. Please send this information to my address listed above and accept this letter, sent certified mail and via the consumer financial protection bureau, as my formal debt validation request, which I am allowed under the FDCPA. 
Please note that withholding the information you 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 this alleged debt. Additionally, any reporting of this debt to the credit bureaus prior to allowing me to validate it ; is a violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which can allow me to seek damages from a collection agency. 
I will await your reply with above requested proof. Upon receiving it, I will correspond back by certified mail. 

Best Regards, XXXX XXXX

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