Hounded For Medical Payments

Summary

If you are being hounded for medical payments by an unscrupulous company and collection agency, you have rights under the fair debt collection practices act. Request a written statement from the original business confirming you dont owe them any money and consider filing a complaint with the consumer financial protection bureau. Seek legal advice from a consumer protection lawyer if needed.

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I am being hounded for medical payments from an unscrupulous company and now a collection agency...the amounts vary from thousand of dollars to hundreds of dollars seemingly depending on their mood. The business that I supposedly owe this money to says I do not owe them...and they tell that collection company that, but the letters keep coming. The changing amounts are the weirdest part. the company is TEAMhealth...the other collection company is HRRG.
Have you received any written communication from the original business stating that you do not owe them any money?
only verbal
Can you request a written statement from the original business confirming you don't owe them? In Kansas, debt collectors must validate the debt if you dispute it in writing within 30 days.
I could do that yes
That's a good step. In Kansas, if a debt collector continues to contact you after receiving a written dispute, they're violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

- Nearest court: Kansas Judicial Center, contact: (*) *-*.
I did send an email to the woman who has been handling this issue for me. I hope to hear back from her...but the number she has for me is a phone that is temporarily dead.
Have you provided her with an alternative way to contact you? It's important to maintain open communication during this process.
yes thru my email
That's good. Have you informed the collection agency about your updated contact information? It's crucial to keep all parties updated to avoid any miscommunication.
No I have NOT communicated with them in any way as I read reports on line that this allows them access to me and my contact information and in one case they actually tried to get a customers bank info and funds
Are you aware that under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you have the right to request the collection agency to stop contacting you?
As they have not paid any attention to responding from the actual organization they said I owe money to....it seems if I try to contact them...that just adds another layer to the problem.
Have you considered filing a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regarding this issue?
No.
Have you considered seeking legal advice regarding this issue? In Kansas, you have the right to dispute a debt and request verification from the collection agency.
I have not been successful in finding the right kind of lawyer to handle this.
What specific area of law does your case fall under? This will help in finding the right lawyer. In Kansas, consumer protection lawyers handle such cases.
that's what I need to know.
Your case falls under Consumer Protection Law. In Kansas, you can contact the Kansas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at (*) *-* for assistance.
thank you.
You're welcome! If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask.