So I am at a doctor's office and ask to get tested for something. They get the test done. I never get a bill, and nobody says anything about my insurance not paying. Five months later I get a letter from a debt collection agency. Its for just under 500$. I can't figure out where it comes from. Its got the name of a lab and according to the letter it seems that I have been delinquent on payment, but my doctor never let me know. My intuition says "Well I did ask for a lab test...5 months ago..."
Is my doctor getting a kickback? Why would they cause me so much trouble? Why would they do this knowing full well that I'm going to get hurt? Nobody said "You owe this." Nobody said "This didn't get covered." So I think that somehow this lab is paying the doctor. Now I have no idea what the original amount is. I've got no paperwork on it, and the debt collector is trying to almost double the amount. Thanks Doctor!
Seeing your post a day late. I hope you've not yet responded to that agency, especially since you don't recognize the debt. You do have rights and you can stop them from impacting your credit report (at least, for the moment).
You have the right to challenge a debt collection within 30 days of being notified. And legally, they can't
harass contact you or others nor report it to credit bureaus until they've provided this information.
Do not indicate in any way that you (may) owe that debt, as soon as you do they can have you on the hook for it. Instead,
send them a letter via certified mail stating you DO NOT owe any debt and that THEY need to provide YOU with:
- the name and address of the original creditor, the account number, and the amount allegedly owed.
- the age of the alleged debt (always prefix with "alleged")
- a copy of the last billing statement
- their licensing info (which can help weed out this isn't some scammer)
and whatever else may be applicable to the situation. You can Google something like "sample letter to debt collector" and find several examples along with additional info on what else to do to protect yourself.
Personally, I've found that Drs office screw up records. Many years ago (early 00s), I paid a medical bill to the hospital but got a debt letter. Ultimately, it was for another patient but our account numbers were conflated. Another time, I was harassed on 2 separate occasions by different agencies looking to collect on a debt that was racked up by the previous tenant (the debt dated back to before I lived there). They buy these accounts for pennies on the dollar and the info must be incomplete and they just searched an address and sent it to whoever's listed. I wrote letters like above and said don't contact me unless to provide verification and they're not to report it to any credit bureau. Never heard from either one again.
Within the last 3 months I've received 2 voice mail messages + 1 call from different Drs offices with appointment reminders. I don't know the patients they referenced, never been a patient with this offices myself. The 3rd time it occurred, I happened to answer. They'd missed dialed, so I assume this other person's number is extremely similar to mine.
It may be your account has been conflated with another patient's or this is entirely bogus. Either way, don't assume or accept that it is yours until you're given verification. And if it is yours, you may be able to get them to settle for less.
