Consumer complaint received 2020-08-18
Product: Debt collection — Medical debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was paid
Company: CMRE Financial Services, Inc. (CA)

To the attention of the Honorable XXXX XXXX, XXXX CA, and allied regulators, While this may not be a legal definition of harassment, I am never the less being continually asked by CMRE, the collection agency for XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX ( XXXX, XXXX  ), for payment on bills Ive already paid. This means I must take time away from more important issues to define in detail that CMREs charges are either a mistake or a complete fabrication. 

XXXX billing, or the submittals from the doctors office have been erroneous. For example, CMRE lists on their most recent demand for payment for an office visit on XX/XX/XXXX where I had to travel 13 miles to  XXXX XXXX. Further, I asked XXXX XXXX for the results afterwards via the patient supplied site to post comments, and never got them. Therefore the travel to XXXX and the test done there was worthless to me. Its unfortunate since the technician seemed to be very thorough and the results would, I believe, have been worth the time and expense. 

The above example is not the only one of XXXX, XXXX errors. A visit on XX/XX/XXXX contained a billing error of {$410.00} for a visit made to XXXX XXXX. The original bill was {$430.00} ( before insurance ) with pending insurance of {$380.00}. I had to call XXXX, XXXX and speak to a woman in the office over this math error, which she agreed to fix ; otherwise the bill stated I owed {$410.00}. She did correct this for me to the amount owed of {$25.00}, otherwise I would have had to go to XXXX billing office and pay a toll call to correct their mistake. XXXX has made sure that it is as difficult and costly as possible to contact them over such issues. 

On XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX arranged for me to see a XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX. His bill, while affordable after insurance, did not appear on any statements for about 2 years. XXXX XXXX had since left XXXX, XXXX. I refused to pay that bill because of the number of years that had elapsed before receiving it. As a new patient I considered receiving bills this old would totally destroy my recording keeping by forcing me to look back that many years to make sure it was valid. I also spoke to a person in the XXXX, XXXX office, and it was agreed that this bill was too old to be presented, and it didnt appear subsequently. It also is not within XXXX, XXXX stated policy of the expectations for the patient to receive charges within 45 days of a procedure. 

The following are my responses to ALL the CRME demand payments, and my payment record. 

On XX/XX/XXXX CMRE lists the original bill as {$3.00} as unpaid. This was listed as ZERO responsibility on XXXX, XXXX statement dated XX/XX/XXXX. This amount was paid with the statement total with chk # XXXX XXXX   in the amount of {$35.00} The original balance of {$3.00} dated XX/XX/XXXX was listed as ZERO responsibility on XXXX, XXXX statement dated XX/XX/XXXX. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I was billed for {$5.00}. This was paid by chk. # XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) in the amount of {$130.00}. which included ALL described services. CMRE lists this as a total due to them of {$5.00}, though paid. 

The XX/XX/XXXX visit, shown on XXXX, XXXX statement dated XX/XX/XXXX was also paid by chk. # XXXX XXXX in the amount of {$130.00} that included all visits. 

The XXXX, XXXX statement for service on XX/XX/XXXX was an issue of double billing by XXXX, XXXX. When CMRE got it, it was triple billed for the same service, though paid originally via chk # XXXX XXXX for the statement presented on XX/XX/XXXX. 

On XXXX, XXXX statement dated XX/XX/XXXX ALL outstanding services were paid for a total of {$33.00}. Included were as follows. Procedures are coded for brevity. 

The original balance of {$3.00} ( XXXX Electrocardiogram ) dated XX/XX/XXXX was listed as ZERO responsibility on XXXX, XXXX statement dated XX/XX/XXXX. 

Procedure coded XXXX listed on XXXX, XXXX  statement for service of XX/XX/XXXX was paid by chk # XXXX XXXX originally charged at {$5.00}, but CMRE also added interest on what had already been paid. 

Procedure coded XXXX patient responsible for {$16.00} was also paid on receipt of XXXX, XXXX  statement dated XX/XX/XXXX by chk. # XXXX XXXX in the amount of {$130.00} for all listed. 

Procedure coded XXXX patient responsible for {$11.00} on XXXX, XXXX   statement dated XX/XX/XXXX was also paid by chk. # XXXX XXXX  in the amount of {$130.00}.

Procedure coded XXXX patient responsible for {$24.00}, per XXXX, XXXX statement dated XX/XX/XXXX was also paid by chk. # XXXX XXXX in the amount of {$130.00} for all listed. 

Due to the ongoing problems with billing I waited until ALL previous bills were available to be paid. I have no desire to put up with the billing mistakes, math errors and debt collector threats. I will not be returning to this medical center. This kind of treatment does not enhance a persons health. Most of the treatment consisted of one test after  another with no resolution, I need to add. The only result of value was one requiring me to lose weight which I undertook of my own volition, not at the suggestion of any medical doctor. It appeared to me they were more interested in prescribing yet more tests, with little suggestion afterwards as to what they indicated. In particular I was asked to have a magnetic resonance image taken near the end of all my listed visits. I felt by this time there should be some direction as to why such an expensive test was needed. I was told, Why do you care. XXXXnsurance pays for it. The correct answer should have been, ... because ... and you can fill in the blanks. 

Since this has proceeded for some time, and I have answered the reasons previously why these payments are no longer due, having already been paid, I must now go to the next step requesting that you, the Federal Trade Commission, through the Federal Trade Commissions Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FTC, FDCPA ) step in and put a stop to these illegal requests for moneys already paid. 

The following is a screen shot of my XXXX balance at the XXXX, XXXX. This should be enough to show that XXXX, XXXX, acknowledges I have paid for all XXXX, XXXX services. I can provide ALL statements from them, as well as bank statements showing ALL charges have been paid. What should happen is that CMRE should first be fined for submitting demands for payments already paid, that can be fully verified upon additional request. CMRE should also be made to pay my costs for all statements from XXXX, bank records and access to my billing account at XXXX. Access to my XXXX billing account, by the way, can be provided if Im given specific directions by the recipients to be in receipt of these records. This includes allowing CMRE to directly view the image from XXXX below ( not shown here ) showing no balance owed. If CMRE persists they need to be BANNED AS A DEBT COLLECTOR to protect others from what Ive experienced. 

I will gladly provide copies of all statements from XXXX, XXXX, as well as my bank that show the payments for services were paid. Ive noted on each XXXX statement the check number and bank used to make the payments on each statement. 

There is an additional cost to me to have to copy all these statements again as copies sent through the USPS from XXXX and my bank to you, as XXXX  ; FTC, FDCPA ; as well as XXXX, XXXX and their debt collector, CMRE. It appears that either there is no communication between XXXX, XXXX billing and their debt collector, CMRE, or CMRE is attempting to see if they are able to intimidate me into paying non-existent debts. 

I also made a spread sheet that contains all of the above. It is a bit easier to follow, but Im not sure if there is a way to include it with all recipients of this message. 


IMAGE REMOVED I will very much appreciate your response. In the event that this issue continues where a court will have to look at the evidence your response will provide additional proof that there is NO justification for CMREs demands for payment. I will extend my gratefulness for your help afterwards to public news sources that will be read by others being unjustly intimidated for payments they do not owe. THIS HAS TO STOP. CMRE has to be BANNED as a debt collector. It is un-AMERICAN, as well as a number of other descriptions that apply if the rule of law is ignored. 

I suggest a deeper look into this to see if there is collusion within XXXX, XXXX to generate duplicate requests for payment. I was provided insight into double billing from within XXXX, XXXX. 

What I received from CMRE was not understandable. On one sheet they listed {$0.00} amount due. On another they listed {$110.00} due. The distinction is not defined, but as far as Im concerned I paid in full for ALL services via my final chk # XXXX XXXX for {$33.00} as requested on statement from XXXX, XXXX  dated XX/XX/XXXX. ( See the above image showing current XXXX balance. ) ... NOT POSSIBLE HERE. 

The intended recipients of this are CMRE, Federal Trade Commission ( Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ), CA XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX, XXXX ). 

Cc : CMRE ( XXXX ) XXXX ( XXXX ) FTC, CFPB ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) XXXX XXXX , California XXXX  , XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX, XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX : XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX