Consumer complaint received 2017-09-28
Product: Debt collection — Medical debt
Issue: Written notification about debt — Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company: Ability Recovery Services, LLC (NY)

On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a phone call from XXXX XXXX stating I owe a debt and that I should pay it BEFORE it goes to collections. I denied owing any company any money and avoiding any debt. I asked for proof of debt but she claimed it was sent already on XX/XX/XXXX without me even requesting it. I ask her for proof she sent it because I do n't have it and apparently neither do they have it, as you will read below.. 
I tried to resolve the matter anyway. XXXX informed me it was a medical bill for a XXXX XXXX Facility on XX/XX/XXXX, that it was " probably a medical group ''. She had no further information. She put me on hold to talk to her supervisor. I had no knowledge of any medical bill from any medical facility prior to this call and considered it a possibility it could be a bill that was a workers compensation claim sent to my job for payment and asked for a debt validation letter. 
I hung up with XXXX and consulted the office manager at my job about my comp claim from last year. They do n't have anything on file but if it is indeed their responsibility they promised they will pay the bill. I called XXXX back and told her IF it is indeed a bill from my work incident they said they would pay for it, XXXX explained they do n't have it and it will take up to 10 days to get a copy from the origin of debt and a few more days to get it sent to me from there. 
Today XXXX/XXXX/XXXX I received notice that XXXX XXXX XXXX reported a Collections Debt to the credit bureaus. Yet I feel I tried to put the best effort to resolve this matter and they misrepresented themselves to me about " avoiding credit report '' and they still reported it on XXXX XXXX, XXXX which is AFTER my phone conversation with XXXX requesting a debt validation letter they do n't have and ca n't provide yet. Plus, I discovered she is stating it takes more time is then allowed by law to provide me debt validation letter that they do n't have and never sent, nor have proof sent. Both these actions violate federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. I can provide and do permit the CFPB the permission to access my USPS informed delivery account which the USPS records all mail sent to my address, either the USPS is wrong or there is no letter. I do not want this information on any of my Credit Reports. 
Also, I just contacted XXXX of XXXX as I write this, they will not let me pay them directly. The address they had was wrong ( I corrected my address with them today ), they claim the address they had on file was provided by the hospital, hence never getting the bills or collection letters and explains why Ability Recovery Services cant provide proof they mailed it to me. 
I am in distraught because of a spelling and claim error Between the Hospital ( which had all the right info and did get paid by comp ) and the XXXX XXXX XXXX ( which claims received their information from that hospital ) that likely passed onto collections, I am in a situation I should n't be in. 

This still does n't excuse Ability Recovery Services violation for reporting to the Credit bureaus without me receiving a debt validation letter or proof they sent one to the correct address. Then requesting an excessive amount of time to acquire one as well. ( middle of XX/XX/XXXX she told me )