My debt collection adventure!

[Akoto]

Excuse the vent, but I must. I'm already tired enough without this crap. :P

I receive management for my chronic pain at the University of Miami. My doctor there is excellent, but he has nothing to do with their deranged billing system.

A few weeks ago, I received a call from the billing department. The lady calling informs me that I have not paid a certain bill for $49 which was due last year. This bill had been problematic for me, because I was positive that I'd paid it twice already. She continues by saying that I needed to pay or I'd be sent to collections. In return, I explained that I'd gladly resolve the issue, but I first needed to retrieve the relevant papers. They had been turned over to the lawyer who's helping me get disability. That was the end of the conversation.

It turns out that she went ahead and sent me to collections anyhow. I received the notice on the same day a copy of the bill arrived from my lawyer. Rather than stressing further over it, I just paid yet again and hoped to be done with it. It was a mark on my credit score, but I'm just too wiped to worry about that.

Fast forward a few weeks to today. I get the mail, and what do I find? A letter from the University of Miami, containing two checks totaling over $200. It turns out that, yes, I really had paid them twice before. I'd also paid too much on another occasion or two because of their odd billing system. I called their billing department and was told that the lady who sent me to collections was in the wrong, because she could've just checked the account balance and drawn the money from that.

So, I was sent to collections when I had actually done nothing wrong. The collections agency explained that it would still show up along with 'paid on time' if someone ever pulled my report. My credit won't be affected at all, but I'll have to explain what happened for the rest of my life. At least I did get an apology, from both parties.

If my doctor weren't so kind, not to mention knowledgeable about my unusual condition, I would so be outta there. :P

[Gormy Cuss]

1. I hope the apology was in writing.

If it shows up on your credit reports, dispute it.

a "CRA" is a credit reporting agency like a credit bureau.

Q. What can I do about inaccurate or incomplete information?

A. ... both the CRA and the information provider have responsibilities for correcting inaccurate or incomplete information in your report. To protect all your rights under this law, contact both the CRA and the information provider.

First, tell the CRA in writing what information you believe is inaccurate. CRAs must reinvestigate the items in question - usually within 30 days -- unless they consider your dispute frivolous. They also must forward all relevant data you provide about the dispute to the information provider. After the information provider receives notice of a dispute from the CRA, it must investigate, review all relevant information provided by the CRA, and report the results to the CRA. If the information provider finds the disputed information to be inaccurate, it must notify all nationwide CRAs so that they can correct this information in your file.

When the reinvestigation is complete, the CRA must give you the written results and a free copy of your report if the dispute results in a change. If an item is changed or removed, the CRA cannot put the disputed information back in your file unless the information provider verifies its accuracy and completeness, and the CRA gives you a written notice that includes the name, address, and phone number of the provider.

Second, tell the creditor or other information provider in writing that you dispute an item. Many providers specify an address for disputes. If the provider then reports the item to any CRA, it must include a notice of your dispute. In addition, if you are correct -- that is, if the information is inaccurate -- the information provider may not use it again.