Consumer complaint received 2016-08-02
Product: Debt collection — Medical
Issue: Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed — Debt is not mine
Company: The Nguyen Law Firm, PLC (VA)

On XXXX XXXX of 2016 I had XXXX performed by an XXXX named XXXX. XXXX XXXX is an owner/employee of the creditor XXXX, a large XXXX practice having multiple office in XXXX Virginia. I sought out XXXX XXXX because he had performed successful XXXX approximately sixteen years ago, caused from a XXXX. This XXXX required a number of XXXX XXXX to be performed by other providers in addition to XXXX office. After XXXX and the months ensuring, I received a number of notices from my health insurance carrier indicating that I should expect certain invoices from the various medical providers to be mailed to me after their plan 's negotiate rates had been applied and the amount to expect from each one. And as I always do, once I received an invoice from the medical provider I compared it to my insurance company 's notice to ensure the correct negotiated rate was invoiced and then promptly made payment. As of today, all medical service invoices related to this XXXX have been paid since invoices have been submitted to me except for this XXXX, which is why I am drafting a formal complaint. While traveling on business in early XXXX, a collection company, The Nguyen Law Firm , PLC contacted me by phone and I mentioned that I had NEVER received an invoice from XXXX office and would gladly pay if they could forward to me the invoice. I asked which mail address they were using and the law firm indicated an address, which I immediately explain was an address that was no longer valid and that I had moved from that address 13 years ago. I had also mentioned that during the onboarding process not one person from their practice had asked me for my updated address. I guess in a rush for getting my updateing insurance information they assumed I had not moved. I did not that they did have my correct mobile number and that why was this the firm time that anyone was contacting me and why was it a law firm for collections rather than a member of the practice? I also demanded a copy of the invoice be sent to me and provided my current mailing address. I did make clear that since the medical practice was the one at fault for not having every sent me an invoice or chose not to reach out to me that I was not going to pay any collection/legal fees for the mistake of the medical practice. I am a CPA/shareholder in a large firm. I would never send an account to collections for an error made by my firm. If I never sent an invoice to the correct address or failed to make a simple phone call to obtain the update/corrected mailing address for a client I would never expect them to pay for my mistake. Anyway, still to this date I have yet to receive an invoice. What I did receive after speaking with the law firm, in which I provided my updated mailing address was a demand letter for the amount ( again no invoice ) plus legal fees. I immediately within one business day responded in writing stating that I would pay in full the medical charges but no attorney/collection fees as it was not my error rather the physician 's office. I enclosed a check with my letter. A few days later ( XXXX XXXX ) I received a call from same law firm telling me they could not accept the check because it did not cover the legal/collection fees. They offered to reduce the legal fees by 50 % which I declined. I stated I WOULD NOT pay for someone else 's error and that they had payment for the XXXX XXXX. On XXXX XXXX I received the law firm 's response letter with the check I had originally mailed and they did not accept but offer a XXXX period to reconsider their original offer. This prompted me to file my complaint with the CFPB. I have documents that I can send you if they are needed.