Consumer complaint received 2022-01-12
Product: Debt collection — Medical debt
Issue: Written notification about debt — Didn't receive notice of right to dispute
Company: Medical Data Systems, Inc. (NV)

On XX/XX/XXXX I received alerts from all XXXX credit bureaus of a collection that was being reported by Medical Data Systems. When I reviewed my credit reports I saw that the debt had started to report and impact my credit score as of XXXX. The amount at that time it showed I owed was {$450.00} and the collection originated from XXXX Hospital. I never received any notices from the collection company or XXXX hospital regarding any debt. I immediately disputed the information. XXXX removed the inaccuracy but XXXX and XXXX did not. On XX/XX/XXXX I called XXXX Hospital regarding this alleged debt and was told they referred the account to collections and that notices had been sent with no response. When I asked what address this information was sent to, I was provided an address that I had not lived at in over 6 years. I was also informed there was a note in the system stating that the notices were returned by USPS as undeliverable. I was told by XXXX Hospital they sent billing notices on XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX and received the return mail back on XX/XX/XXXX. When I asked why they would send an account to collections if the mail returned knowing I was not notified they had no response. I spoke to a supervisor in billing named XXXX ( ID number XXXX ) who informed me the hospital did not gather my insurance on my date of service which was XX/XX/XXXX. I was informed that they could collect my insurance information and submit the claim. I was told to do this, they would be informing the collection company to pull the account because the only way they could submit the insurance claim was if they made the account active on their end. I was told that once this was completed the collection would be removed from my credit report. At that time, I provided my correct address to the hospital and I requested copies of all the notices they sent to my old address be sent to my new address. I never received the requested information. I informed that supervisor that I never received any notices from the collection company either and when asked what address did they provide to the collection company I was provided with my old address from 6 years prior. This is a violation of the FCRA as the hospital and collection company failed to notify me of the debt and did not follow laws to allow the 30 days to dispute the validity. Had notice been sent to my correct address, I could have disputed and provided my insurance information but I was not notified and sending correspondence to an old address that returned mail does not constitute informing me. In addition, each time I disputed the information with XXXX and XXXX the collection company continued to update inaccurate amounts of the debt and reported the debt as valid. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a call from XXXX the supervisor in billing at XXXX Hospital and confirmed they submitted the claim to my insurance and once paid the debt would be removed. My issue is, two different places were trying to collect the same debt which was XXXX Hospital and Medical Data Systems. On XX/XX/XXXX the claim was submitted to my insurance in the amount of {$1100.00} and approved on XX/XX/XXXX. The insurance initially paid {$470.00} of the {$1100.00} but since my deductible was met earlier in the year my coinsurance kicked in and the insurance paid an additional 80 % which was {$520.00}, making me responsible for the remainder 20 % which is {$130.00}. I ended up disputing the information again with XXXX and XXXX and the collection company changed the original reported debt of {$450.00} to {$250.00}. Once I confirmed the check was cashed by XXXX Hospital on XX/XX/XXXX, I submitted another dispute and this time the collection company reported I owed {$650.00}. This was a billing error on the hospitals part which is why they ended up making the account active and submitting an insurance claim. This was never supposed to be a collection account. The collection company failed to notify. The collection company failed to report accurate information. The collection company falsified information to the credit bureaus. The collection company has tried to collect a debt that XXXX Hospital was paid for. The collection company never reported correct amounts to the credit bureaus. My insurance was billed for {$1100.00} but the collection company first reported to the credit bureaus I owed {$450.00} as of XX/XX/XXXX, then reported I owed {$250.00} as of XX/XX/XXXX, then reported I owed {$650.00} on XX/XX/XXXX. This has damaged my credit score tremendously as I had no collections or negative information reporting. As of the date of this complaint, I still have not received any correspondence from this collection company and they continue to report the false information. I am attaching the explanation of benefits from the insurance company as proof. On XXXX XXXX I received a letter from XXXX Hospital with the breakdowns of the insurance payments made to them and the remaining balance after insurance which was {$130.00}. The letter was dated XX/XX/XXXX and this is the only letter Ive ever received and this is only because I provided them with my address when I called on XX/XX/XXXX. I made the payment in full for the remainder {$130.00} on XX/XX/XXXX. I owe no debt and this information needs to be removed immediately. You can not report a billing error as a debt, that was paid, that you never notified the consumer about and damage someones credit. In addition to the explanation of benefits, Im attaching the statements from the hospital which clearly shows the information above and also states on the notice this is a current account. I have also attached the receipts for payment of the remaining {$130.00}. Im attaching the pictures from my credit report showing the different amounts being reported.