Consumer complaint received 2023-09-27
Company: KINGS CREDIT SERVICES
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive notice of right to dispute

Complaint:
I received a complaint filed in XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX for a XX/XX/XXXX medical debt belonging to my former XXXX. Kings credit services, a collection agency, is a corporation located at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, CA, XXXX. Kings credit services is represented by XXXX XXXX of the law firm XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, located at XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, CA XXXX. I was not aware of the debt as I had received no calls, reminders, or letters from the doctors office or the debt collection agency. 

The first cause of action in the complaint stated prior to the commencement of this action, the claims were assigned to plaintiffs assignor, and or plaintiffs assignor owned said claims, and said claims have now been assigned to this plaintiff for collection. 

The only information provided in the complaint was the name of the doctor, the amount of the bill, and a date. The date was either the date of last service, last billing or last payment received. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I sent a discovery document to Kings Credit Services, a corporation through their attorney I requested the following : Produce ownership documents, showing ownership of debt to include charge off of account, payment history, balance sheet, and a purchase agreement with the date and amount that Kings Credit Services paid to purchase the debt. I needed this to establish that Kings credit services is entitled to payment. 

Produce debt validation, letter with name address, and to whom the letter was addressed as I had never received a debt validation letter. Civil Code Section 1744.185 ( e ) ( 1 ) of the civil code requires that a debt collection agency send a debt validation letter after making the first contact. No contact was ever made. I never even received a notice of debt assignment from Kings credit services. Is that a loophole?

Produce document, showing the dates of each visit, services provided, and the amounts of each service. This information was needed to verify the debt.

I requested any documents, signed prior to any procedure with a good faith estimate of the anticipated amount of the bill that would not be covered by my employer- provided XXXX XXXX XXXX insurance with the patient signature, and indicating his willingness to pay the balance. 

The attorney ignored the discovery document. I still have not received the information, and I have not received any information to indicate a good reason that he was not providing any of the information. He promised to email me the information I needed, but never emailed me. After making two verbal requests and sending a letter I submitted a statement of discovery issues to the court. 

On XX/XX/XXXX the attorney met with me before court and indicated that I would get my dismissal. Since there was no paperwork, the court set a court date of XX/XX/XXXX. I still not have received court paperwork for the dismissal in spite of the fact that I contacted his office several times each month after the XX/XX/XXXX court date. 

Please also note that the complaint was filed one week before the statue of limitations expired. The last date of billing, payment or service was XX/XX/XXXX, the Saturday of memorial weekend. XXXX XXXX office is not open on the weekends. 

Additionally, my former husband was awarded retroactive benefits for SSI/SSP and Medicaid. All benefits were retroactive to date of application of XX/XX/XXXX. Please note that Welfare & Institutions code ( WIC ) section 14019.4 obligation to cease debt collection upon proof of Medicaid eligibility ( known as Medi-Cal in California ) . Also, 42, CFR section 447.15 and WIC section 14019.3 ( d ) and 14019.4 ( a ) prohibits balance billing of Medicaid beneficiaries.

I advised the attorney of my former husband, SSI/SSP status and his entitlement to retroactive Medicaid benefits in my XX/XX/XXXX initial response to the lawsuit. I was unable to provide a Medicaid card as we divorced and I was not entitled to a copy. However, I have since provided all the information needed to bill Medi-Cal . I also provided the same information to XXXX XXXX, Neurology, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX, CA XXXX.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation