Consumer complaint received 2025-10-12 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Medical debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was paid
Company: Creditors Bureau Associates
State: GA

Complaint narrative:
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX provided transportation patientXXXX   Claim was processed and paid by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX was paid to XXXX XXXX XXXX  the patient portion due was XXXX which was paid on XXXX  These payments are NOT disputed by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX continued to bill for the portion not covered by insurance XXXX. Phone calls to XXXX XXXX XXXX billing number and a follow up mailing that included a copy of the EOB showing the claim payment breakdown did not stop the billing attempts.\XXXX   As a result of continued billing, a complaint was filed with the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX copy of the complaint and the response from XXXX XXXX XXXX  follows:XXXXn\nOriginal Complaint to XXXX (this can still be found and verified on the XXXX  website)\nAmbulance service was provided on XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX billed a total amount of XXXX  The discounts applied (due to the fact that XXXX considers XXXX XXXX XXXX an in-network provider) totaled XXXX The amount paid by XXXX  was XXXX  which left a patient balance due oXXXX XXXX.As can be seen in the attached document, XXXX XXXX XXXX is now sending a second invoice for XXXX despite having received a copy of the EOB showing the XXXX payment and acknowledging receipt of the payment of XXXX.The billing person states that they are disputing the contracted amount with XXXX XXXXnd not the amount owed by the patient. That is not a patient problem and they don\'t get to bill the patient for the balance above what the payer has negotiated. Good or bad - that is not how insurance works. I have paid the patient portion in full and do not dispute what was owed. I am disputing their billing practices. I have had three conversations with the same billing person - twice in November and once today - XXXX XXXX XXXX I was given a contact to call and have left him a message. Based upon the other similar complaints that have been lodged here against Metro Ambulance, I can see that this is a theme for them. If they don\'t like the payment from the insurer, they need to negotiate a better contract with the insurer up front.\nBusiness response on XXXX (from XXXX XXXX XXXX)\nTo Whom It May ************** have reviewed the investigation related to the handling of the ambulance claim ****** speaks about in her complaint.XXXX XXXX  has a contract with XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX of Georgia, which also covers XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Federal members.  We also extend the contracted rate to all XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX members, including members with home plans out of state. XXXX  is required, peXXXX XXXX XXXX to file all claims through the local office.  The claim ******** is referring to was billed to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  of GA at our current contracted rate.  XXXX XXXX of GA forwarded the claim to the members home plan for processing. \nWhen we became in-network with XXXX (over a year ago) and entered into their system nationally, XXXX contracted rates were not entered at the XXXX XXXXf GA contracted rates.  We have yet to find anyone at XXXX of GA able to help us resolve this on-going issue, despite speaking with multiple representatives. \nIn an attempt to help force the issue, we were left with no choice but to bill the members, providing them with the name of the most recent representative MetroAtlanta has been dealing with.  While it is not the members fault this has occurred, they are the policy holder and, sadly, often times, will have more sway with XXXX than we do as a provider. \nIt is unfortunate it has come to this but when XXXX  pushed our in-network XXXX out nationally, they blatantly failed to push our contracted rate out as well.  So, in effect,our contract is not being honored bXXXX XXXX  due to no fault of XXXX XXXX  \nAll payments received from XXXX and the patient, along with contractual allowances, have been recorded on patients account.  The balance remaining of XXXX  is the difference between what XXXX  and patient has paid us and the contracted rate we have with XXXX  of GA. \nMetroAtlanta Ambulance has never and will never employ any illegal or unethical billing practices.  We are merely doing our best, as any company would, to get financially reimbursed at the rate XXXX agreed to when we signed the contract. XXXX  after billing by XXXX XXXX XXXX  stopped for a period of about 2 months, a re-start of the billing began in April.  I contacteXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and explained the situation.  A representative of XXXX XXXX XXXX made attempts to reach XXXX XXXX XXXX, but was not successfulXXXX   more billing attempts were made by XXXX XXXX XXXX  I once again reached out to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXnd it was suggested to me that I file a grievance, which I did.  A final notice billing attempt from XXXX XXXX XXXX dated XXXX  was received. XXXX  the outcome of the grievance dated XXXX was received.  In short, the claim was processed appropriately and paid appropriately. XXXX  notification of collections attempt from Creditors Bureau Associates was received. A response with all related documentation was sent in order to substantiate that this was not a collectible debt.\XXXX  a response from CBA was received stating that they were verifying the debt and were continuing their attempts to collect.XXXX  - I reached out to an attorney to get assistance with this matter.  To say he was shocked by the admission in the response to my complaint on XXXX that this "was not the fault of the member that this occurred",  A copy of the following letter was sent to XXXX XXXX XXXX by USPS and also a copy was sent to the home of the CEO by XXXX   No reply was given and no acknowledgement of receipt of either communication was provided. The letter was as follows: \n\nXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  GA XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX (fax) \n        XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  \nvia U.S.P.S. \XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX registered agent XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  GA XXXX \n\n     Your Run No: XXXX XXXX  Date: XXXX   \n  AmountXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXDear Sir/Madam: \n \n Please allow this letter to serve as notice that I represent the above referenced clients in \nregard to this matter.  All future communications regarding this account should be directed to this \noffice. \n \n Please allow this letter to serve as a Notice to Preserve Evidence. By way of this Notice, you are hereby required to preserve all evidence that you have in your possession that relates to the claim and/or incident listed above. Such evidence would include, but not be limited to, any photographs, videos, documents, statements (whether video, recorded or written), communications (whether via phone, text message, written correspondence or electronic messaging) or any other item that you have received or that is currently in your possession that pertains to the above \nreferenced claim. Under Georgia law, the failure to preserve any item in accordance with this Notice will result in a negative inference that any such item of evidence would have been beneficial to my client. \n \nI have been retained to assist ***** in resolving a disputed debt in the \namount listed above. I have reviewed the correspondence between my clients and XXXX XXXX Service, Inc. (hereinafter XXXX). Based on that correspondence it appears that my clients insurer, XXXX XXXX XXXX paid XXXX paid XXXX  for the date of service indicated above. My clients then paid their patients portion in the amount of $46.94 for this date of service on XXXX XXXX XXXX  Since that time, and despite the fact that the charges \nrelated to this service were paid in full under the terms of my clients insurance coverage, XXXX XXXX has continued to bill ****** in the amount of XXXX \n \nMy clients have reached out to XXXX  on numerous occasions in an effort to resolve this matter. My clients have also contacted their health insurance provider who has confirmed that the claim was paid in full in accordance with the agreement between the insurer and XXXX \nA copy of that correspondence is attached for your reference.  \nDue to the continued attempts on the part of XXXX to bill them and a lack of any \nmeaningful response to their repeated inquiries, ****** lodged a complaint with the XXXX XXXX XXXX regarding XXXX billing practices. In response to that complaint, a representative of XXXX described an ongoing issue between XXXX  and my clients insurer. The XXXX response to the complaint went on to describe that XXXX XXXX  continued to knowingly bill patients in excess of the contractual amount in an attempt to force the issue with the insurer to be resolved in favor of XXXX. A copy of the complaint and XXXX response is attached for your review. \nAs I am sure you are aware, any dispute that XXXX may have with an insurer does not mean that XXXX is permitted to bill the insured member in excess of the amount allowed by the contract. If XXXX continues to accept an insurer, and the payments for services they receive from that insurer, then XXXX is bound by the contract it has with the insurer. In this case, my clients insurer has paid its portion and my clients have paid their portion per the terms of the agreement between XXXX and the insurer. Simply put, this means that this account is paid in full and has been since XXXX XXXX XXXX  \nDespite this, XXXX has continued to bill my clients. To make matters worse, XXXX recently turned this matter over to a collection agency. This has resulted in a derogatory entry on my clients credit report that is related entirely to a bill that has already been paid. Please be advised that any continued efforts to collect on this account by either Metro-Atlanta is a violation of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, (15 U.S.C 1692 et. seq.). Please be advised that if you persist in your attempts to collect this disputed debt from my clients, you will be subject to statutory penalties under this Act. These penalties include, but are not limited to, an \naward of attorneys fees and costs of litigation in addition to the statutory penalties and any actual monetary damages my clients suffer as a result of your failure to abide by the F.D.C.P.A. ***** further dispute the reporting of this account to any/all of the credit \nbureaus. As the source of the false information that has been reported to the credit bureaus XXXX XXXX  may be subject to penalties as well.  As I am sure you are aware, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. 1681, (hereinafter the FCRA) prohibits any creditor from filing false or misleading information on a consumer credit report. On behalf of my clients, I formally request that you cease and desist any attempts to collect this debt. Further, I request that this item be removed from each of my clients credit report and that you refrain from any further negative reporting. Failure to \nremove this item will subject you to the penalties described herein. \nIt is my sincere hope that this matter can be resolved without the need of additional \nlitigation and expense. However, if you do not notify my office on or before the close of business on XXXX XXXX XXXX that this matter has been reported as paid in full and that no further collection actions will be taken, I will not hesitate to initiate litigation in order to protect my clients interests. \nAs part of that litigation, I will be requesting an award of actual damages, court costs, attorneys fees and for all statutory damages and penalties provided by both the F.D.C.P.A. and the F.C.R.A.  \nSincerely, \nJ. Daniel Howard \nAttorney for XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX after the legal attempts failed and balancing the cost of filing a lawsuit against the amount owed, I decided to pursue other avenues to clear this derogatory mark from my credit report.  NOTE - no further attempts to collect the debt have been made; but the derogatory mark on the credit report remainsXXXX  - filed dispute of collections with Equifax and provided substantial documentation.  On XXXX Equifax provided notice that the matter had been investigated and provided the "result" as follows: \n\nThe Results Of Our Reinvestigation\n\nCollection Agency Information (This section includes accounts that have been placed for collection with a collection agency.)\n\n>>> We have researched the collection account. Account # - XXXX The results are: WE HAVE VERIFIED THAT THIS ITEM HAS BEEN REPORTED\nCORRECTLY. THE FOLLOWING FIELDS HAVE BEEN MODIFIED: *ADDITIONAL INFORMATION *BALANCE DATE *STATUS DATE. If you have additional questions\nabout this item please contact: XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, GA XXXX Phone: XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  GA XXXX : XXXX XXXXAccount Number Date Reported Date Assigned Creditor XXXX XXXX XXXX  Original AmountXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX seems apparent that the investigator(s) did not read the provided documentation and made no attempt to contact XXXX XXXX Ambulance, but simply confirmed the collection activity with Credit Bureau Associates.  Of course they are going to say it\'s "accurate".  XXXX  - I am now forced to continue trying to get my credit report returned to its former pristine condition as I have never had a debt go to collection. I humbly pursue this matter through CFPB in hopes of bringing this matter to final closure.'

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