Consumer complaint received 2023-07-19
Product: Debt collection — Medical debt
Issue: Written notification about debt — Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company: Credence Resource Management, LLC (MD)

On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a letter from Credence Collections regarding a debt in the amount of {$590.00} from XXXX XXXX XXXX. I responded to them with a letter on XX/XX/XXXX that was sent via certified mail that I required verification and validation of the debt in question. In my response to them, I requested validation of the debt which included my signature on a contract, a breakdown of fees, etc. Additionally, I explained that if this is a medical debt, I requested to know who released my HIPAA protected information without my authority? ( The body of the letter will be included at the end of this of this formal complaint description of events. ) They responded with a letter dated XX/XX/XXXX as follows : We have received your dispute on the above account. We have investigated your dispute and verified that the charges on your account are valid. 

As I asked for a breakdown of fees, original contract, whom they spoke with to verify the debt, etc., their response was wholly inadequate. As their original letter stated that they would be reporting this erroneous debt to the credit bureaus, I was concerned that this would affect my great credit standing adversely. 

The body of my response letter is as follows : I received a bill from you dated XX/XX/XXXX and as allowable under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, I am requesting validation of the alleged debt. I am aware that there is a debt from XXXX XXXX XXXX but I am unaware of the exact amount due and your bill does not include a detailed breakdown of any fees. 

Furthermore, I am allowed under the HIPAA law ( Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of XXXX ) to protect my privacy and medical records from third parties. I do not recall giving permission to XXXX XXXX XXXX for them to release my medical information to a third party. I understand that the XXXX does allow for limited information about me but any details may only be revealed with the patients authorization, therefore my request is twofold and as follows : Validation of Debt and HIPAA authorization - Please provide a breakdown of any fees including any, and all collection costs and medical charges- Please provide a copy of the my signature with the provider of service to release my medical information to you - Immediately cease any credit bureau reporting until debt has been validated by me Please send this information to my address listed above and accept this letter, sent certified mail, as my formal debt validation request, of 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 will be a violation of the FDCPA because you will be deceiving me after my written request. I am requesting full documentation of what you received from the provider of service in connection with this alleged debt. 

Furthermore, 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 can allow me to seek damages from a collection agent or agency. 

I await your reply with the above requested proof. Upon receiving it, I will correspond back with you by certified mail.