Consumer complaint received 2016-03-25
Product: Debt collection — Medical
Issue: Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed — Debt is not mine
Company: Richard Sokoloff, Attorney At Law (NY)

I have been contacted 3 times by a collection agency related to a hospital visit in XXXX XXXX. I responded to the XXXX letter dated XXXX XXXX, XXXX as well as the second letter dated XXXX XXXX, XXXX. I wrote formal letters to the agentXXXX, requesting detailed information on the bills he was writing to me about and to date I have received no detailed legal response to my queries. 

The original XXXX communications from XXXX indicated balance due of {$2000.00}. I responded to XXXX letters formally, requesting additional information as to the validity of the claim and I provided copies of my medical insurance identification cards each time. I also CC 'd copies of these letters, via XXXX mail, to XXXX XXXX the claimant. I delivered these letters, in person, to XXXX XXXX 's office at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX - XXXX XXXX, XXXX, NY XXXX on XXXX XXXX, XXXX and XXXX XXXX, XXXX and had them signed for as proof of my response. I will be happy to provide you with copies of these letters. 

I received the third collection agency notice from the collection agent, XXXX XXXX, yesterday ; his letter is dated XXXX XXXX, XXXX. This latest letter indicates that the amount due is {$300.00}, not the original amount of {$2000.00}. Have they have utilized the information I provided in prior communication to file their claim to my medical insurance company? I do not know, but the claim amount communicated is now only {$300.00}. To date I have not received a letter from my medical insurance company indicating an " amount you owe '' regarding claims XXXX XXXX or XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX may have filed. 

In XXXX letters to XXXX XXXX I stated that payment in full to XXXX XXXX XXXX will be made immediately should : 1. The authenticity of the bill be provided, 2. XXXX XXXX inform the that the paperwork from XXXX XXXX XXXX was filed correctly, 3. That XXXX XXXX payment was denied for valid reasons, 4. That they had filed a routine Level I appeal as to the denial of payment, if they had actually filed a claim. 

I am XXXX in NYS and in terms of medical insurance and my pension I am an employee XXXX. We have excellent medical insurance coverage and I have never had an experience like this in the past. 

The truest problems that exist are the fact that I have not been provided with proof as to the validity of the claim, that the claim has been filed with my insurance company, that it has been denied by my insurance company, and if denied by my insurance company that they have filed a routine appeal. None of my questions have been addressed by either XXXX XXXX or XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. 

When I checked my credit report today, XXXX XXXX, XXXX, it listed XXXX claims by XXXX XXXX as " In Collection. '' This clearly is having a negative impact upon my credit rating. The claims on my credit report indicate XXXX unpaid bills in the amount of {$250.00}, {$610.00}, {$250.00}, and {$900.00}. These bills reported to the credit reporting agencies total the original amount of {$2000.00}, not the {$300.00} bill I received from his office yesterday, XXXX XXXX. Please note that {$300.00} is not listed above. 

I intend to write a third letter to him today and deliver it to his office on Monday, XXXX XXXX, XXXX as proof of valid, legal communication regarding this matter. I am utterly clueless as to what is going on regarding this matter and I have taken painstaking legally responsible action in this matter It is important to note that I have received no answers to any questions I have posed to XXXX XXXX or XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX via XXXX, email, or mail. 

Thank you for your time and attention in this matter. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX