Consumer complaint received 2023-09-15
Product: Debt collection — Medical debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was paid
Company: Credence Resource Management, LLC (PA)

I have contacted Credence Debt Collection on XX/XX/XXXX as well as XX/XX/XXXX to provide proof that this was not a valid debt as it has already been paid to a different debt collector. I have provided ample proof that this is the same exact debt another debt collector already collected AND I PAID. This is not a valid debt that Credence is trying to collect and they will not acknolwedge that it is not valid and they will not stop attempting to collect. 

In my first email I sent the following : I am responding to your contact about a debt you are trying to collect. You contacted me by mail, on XX/XX/XXXX and identified the debt as an outstanding amount owed of {$210.00} to New Jersey XXXX XXXX XXXX. with account # XXXXXXX. 

This is NOT A VALID DEBT : First and foremost, THIS IS NOT A VALID DEBT. On XX/XX/XXXX, I was contacted by XXXX XXXX another debt collector attempting to collect the same {$210.00} owed to XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX with account # XXXX. Same is attached as Exhibit 1. On XX/XX/XXXX, I made payment in the amount of {$210.00} ( {$210.00} owed to XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX and a {$6.00} processing fee ) to XXXX with a reference # of XXXX  ( Exhibit 2 ). As you can see, the consumer # listed ( XXXX ) in Exhibit 2 matches the same consumer # listed in Exhibit 1 ( XXXX ), thus proving that any outstanding debt was already paid through another debt collection agency. Thus, the debt you have presented as outstanding in your XX/XX/XXXX letter is NOT A VALID DEBT, and should be removed from your account. 

If for some unknown and asinine reason your company disagrees, please supply the information below so that I can be fully informed to take my next steps : Why you think I owe the debt and to whom I owe it, including : The name and address of the creditor to whom the debt is currently owed, the account number used by that creditor, and the amount owed. 
If this debt started with a different creditor, provide the name and address of the original creditor, the account number used by that creditor, and the amount owed to that creditor at the time it was transferred. When you identify the original creditor, please provide any other name by which I might know them, if that is different from the official name. In addition, tell me when the current creditor obtained the debt and who the current creditor obtained it from. 
Provide verification and documentation that there is a valid basis for claiming that I am required to pay the debt to the current creditor. For example, can you provide a copy of the written agreement that created my original requirement to pay? 
If you are asking that I pay a debt that somebody else is or was required to pay, identify that person. Provide verification and documentation about why this is a debt that I am required to pay. 
The amount and age of the debt, including : A copy of the last billing statement sent to me by the original creditor. 
State the amount of the debt when you obtained it, and when that was. 
If there have been any additional interest, fees or charges added since the last billing statement from the original creditor, provide an itemization showing the dates and amount of each added amount. In addition, explain how the added interest, fees or other charges are expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or are permitted by law. 
If there have been any payments or other reductions since the last billing statement from the original creditor, provide an itemization showing the dates and amount of each of them. 
If there have been any other changes or adjustments since the last billing statement from the original creditor, please provide full verification and documentation of the amount you are trying to collect. Explain how that amount was calculated. In addition, explain how the other changes or adjustments are expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or permitted by law. 
Tell me when the creditor claims this debt became due and when it became delinquent. 
Identify the date of the last payment made on this account. 
Have you made a determination that this debt is within the statute of limitations applicable to it? Tell me when you think the statute of limitations expires for this debt, and how you determined that. 
Details about your authority to collect this debt. 
I would like more information about your firm before I discuss the debt with you. Does your firm have a debt collection license from my state? If not, say why not. If so, provide the date of the license, the name on the license, the license number, and the name, address and telephone number of the state agency issuing the license. 
If you are contacting me from a place outside my state, does your firm have a debt collection license from that place? If so, provide the date of the license, the name on the license, the license number, and the name, address and telephone number of the state agency issuing the license. 
As noted initially, THIS IS NOT A VALID DEBT. In order to make sure that I am not put at any disadvantage, in the meantime please treat this debt as being in dispute and under discussion between us. 

I demand an immediate response upon your review that you are no longer pursuing this debt as it is NOT outstanding. 

Thank you for your cooperation. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX I then sent a follow-up email with the following : To whom it may concern : I am in receipt of your most recent correspondnece ( Exhibit 1 ) advising of the request to verify the account debt along with the " actual '' statement from the provider ( Exhibit 2 ). First and foremost, you have failed to respond to the 13 other questions posed in my original communication. You only sent what you believe to be " proof '' of the debt. You have once again failed to properly communicate. 

I am again going to state this fact as I previously did in my XX/XX/XXXX email, this payment has already been made AND THERE IS NO LONGER ANY OUTSTANDING DEBT WITH PHYSICIAN SERVICES. 

I will remind you of my prior email with proof of NO VALID DEBT : On XX/XX/XXXX, I was contacted by XXXX XXXX XXXX debt collector attempting to collect the same {$210.00} owed to XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX with account # XXXXXX. Same is attached as Exhibit 3. They also included proof of debt attached as Exhibit 4. As you can see, YOUR PROOF OF DEBT MATCHES THE SAME NUMBERS AS THE PROOF OF DEBT PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY I ALREADY PAID. On XX/XX/XXXX, I made payment in the amount of {$210.00} ( {$210.00} owed to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX and a {$6.00} processing fee ) to XXXX with a reference # of XXXXXXXX ( Exhibit 5 ). As you can see, the consumer # listed ( XXXX ) in Exhibit 5 matches the same consumer # listed in Exhibit XXXX ( XXXX ), thus proving that any outstanding debt was already paid through another debt collection agency. Thus, the debt you have presented as outstanding in your XX/XX/XXXX letter is NOT A VALID DEBT, and should be removed from your account. 

Lastly, I have provided substantial evidence in all of my communications to proof the validity of my claims. THIS IS NOT A VALID DEBT. If I don't hear from your office confirming discharge from all oustanding debts regarding this matter by end of day Friday, XX/XX/XXXX, I will have no choice but to file a formal complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Based on my experiences within the industry, I have on doubts the CFPB will agree with my position based on all evidence I have provided. 

I look forward to hearing back from you immediately advising that this is not a valid debt. 

XXXX XXXX