Consumer complaint received 2022-04-19
Product: Debt collection — Medical debt
Issue: False statements or representation — Attempted to collect wrong amount
Company: Merchants Credit Corporation (WA)

XXXX XXXX XXXX is attempting to collect a debt on behalf of XXXX XXXX for a services related to covid-19 testing on behalf of both myself and my wife. In addition, they are trying to collect for an additional medical appointment for which I have no record. 

Both my wife and I where tested for Covid-19 on XX/XX/XXXX. My spouse had been into a doctor 's appointment earlier in the week and the doctor suspected that she had Covid-19, but no test were available in the area where we lived. The clinic then called my spouse several days later and requested that we both come to the clinic for testing. 

To be clear, there was no appointment or examination on XX/XX/XXXX. Instead, we were tested for XXXX  and XXXX. We were told that we were required to be tested for XXXX as part of the testing protocol. I had insurance, but my spouse did not. 

Shortly thereafter, we started receiving bills for the testing even though we were told that the test would be covered. I called XXXX about both my bill and my spouse 's bill, and I was told that the bill was in error, and not to pay it. We received many more bills over the last two years, and each time I called, the representative apologized and told me that the bill would be resolved. 

We received our first dunning letter, addressed to my spouse, from Merchants Credit in the amount of {$200.00}. My spouse and I called the collection agency and informed the representative that the bill was for covid-19 testing, that collection was barred, and that no additional examination had been done. We were told by the representative that Merchants Credit would still consider the debt collectable. As a result, we wrote a letter to the collection company on XX/XX/XXXX, disputing the debt, stating that no appointment took place, and that all services and tests were related to covid-19 testing. In response, we simply received another latter claiming to " verify '' the debt, I also received a dunning letter on or around XX/XX/XXXX, from Merchants Credit, in the amount of {$230.00}. In addition to the testing, I am also being billed for an appointment on XX/XX/XXXX, for which I have no record of attending. 

I sent a letter response on XX/XX/XXXX, stating that the charges are barred by the section 6001 of the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. All of the services being billed related to a clinic visit for the sole purpose of receiving a Covid-19 test. The test took place on or about XX/XX/XXXX, which was during the emergency period, which was declared on XX/XX/XXXX, by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to be in effect as of XX/XX/XXXX, and that no appointment occurred on XX/XX/XXXX. 

I have also searched my emails, text messages, and XXXX timeline, and I have been unable to find any record of an appointment on XX/XX/XXXX. 

In response, I received another dunning letter from Merchants Credit today, XX/XX/XXXX, which was addressed to my spouse, but contained an itemization for charges in my name. I did not request verification of the debt. I sent a letter disputing the debt. Therefore, I should have received no further communications from Merchants Credit. XXXX XXXX violations aside, sending a letter with " verification '' when I disputed the debt appears to be a violation of the FDCPA on its own.