Consumer complaint received 06-07-2016 about Debt collection (Medical) with The TRAF Group (NJ).
Issue: Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was paid

Complaint: I went to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX, NJ ) on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX. I left the XXXX after waiting over 30 minutes & not even seeing a Triage nurse. I never saw the financial dept nor a physician. 
In XXXX XXXX, I discovered that A-1 Collection Service ( XXXX, NJ ) had submitted to my credit report a {$29.00} balance due from XXXX a year prior ( XX/XX/XXXX ). 
I immediately called A-1 Collection Service on XXXX XXXX, XXXX as I had never been notified of a bill via mail or phone call from XXXX or A-1 in the 20 months prior ( XX/XX/XXXX-XX/XX/XXXX ). I spoke with XXXX XXXX XXXX who confirmed that XXXX is alleging that I treated at their XXXX on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX and I never paid their bill. XXXX XXXX also notified me that XXXX had been billing an address that I had not lived at since XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ). I provided my correct address. Shockingly XXXX XXXX also admitted that they ( A-1 ) has never attempted to collect this debt other than report to the credit bureau due to the small dollar amount. I asked for a return call from a supervisor and was told that XXXX XXXX XXXX would be calling me. As of this date ( XXXX/XXXX/XXXX ) I have NEVER heard from anyone at A-1 Collections, not even to collect the debt. 
The past 2+ months, I have been speaking with my personal insurance carrier ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) in an effort to obtain documentation to prove that XXXX has acted inappropriately and billed for a service not owed by me. 
I have spoken with XXXX XXXX XXXX Complaint and Appeals Dept many times ( XXXX ) XXXX. XXXX XXXX confirmed that in XXXX XXXX, XXXX was notified via EOB ( copy attached ) that they billed with a wrong modifier and they needed to resubmit the bill. They were also notified that there was NO SUBSCRIBER RESPONSIBILITY regardless. XXXX ignored this request and apparently continued to bill me at an incorrect address. Given this. I had no knowledge that a bill was even generated for a XXXX/XXXX/XXXX date of service. The fact that XXXX was billing an address that I had not lived at in 6 years is more proof that I was never treated in their XXXX. I have attached a letter from XXXX XXXX dated XXXX/XXXX/XXXX which confirms the information above & again that their is no subscriber responsibility. I have also attached a copy of the actual EOB sent to XXXX on XXXX XXXX, XXXX. 
It is my opinion that both XXXX and A-1 Collection Service are in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and should be fined accordingly. 
XXXX was notified via EOB on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX that there was no subscriber responsibility and furthermore they needed to resubmit with a correct modifier - they ignored this request. Instead, they attempted to bill me at an address that I had not lived at since XXXX XXXX. Not receiving a response, they sent this {$29.00} bill to collections - A-1 Collection Service in XXXX XXXX. 
XXXX has also been contacted by XXXX several times since XXXX XXXX & told that there is no subscriber responsibility. They have also been provided documentation. They continue to refuse to close this account with a {$0.00} balance and notify A-1. This can be verified with XXXX XXXX directly. 
A-1 is also in violation as they have never attempted to collect this debt in any way since XXXX XXXX. Even upon receiving a phone call from me at which time I provided a correct address - they still failed to attempt to collect the debt to this day. 
I have also been in contact with XXXX on XXXX XXXX, XXXX and spoke with a XXXX. She confirmed she saw numerous entries between XXXX and XXXX but could not give me any info as the matter was now with collections. 
This issue has caused damage to my credit history and caused me to have higher loan rates and even credit denials. 

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation