If you’re like most people, you pay your medical bills on time. As such, when a debt collector calls you or knocks on your door regarding an outstanding medical bill, you may be incredibly confused. If you check your records, you may find that this bill has already been paid. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for medical bills to be incorrectly sent to collections. As such, if this reflects your circumstances, this blog explores the steps you can take to dispute the bill with the help of a San Diego consumer lawyer.
Why Would a Paid Medical Bill Be Sent to Collections?
Unfortunately, there are a number of reasons why a medical bill that has already been paid may be sent to collections. Most commonly, this is due to a processing error. If there is a technical glitch in the payment processing systems used by medical offices, it can render your payment incorrectly as outstanding. As such, it can be sent to collections.
Another reason a paid bill may be sent to collections is because of a late payment. Despite the fact that you may have paid the bill in full, if it is paid late, it may not be reported as paid before being sent to a collection agency.
Finally, if your billing information is outdated, you may find that it can result in a bill being incorrectly labeled as unpaid. As such, the medical office may send the bill to collections without realizing that you have paid it from a different billing address.
How Can I Dispute This?
It’s important to understand how to dispute a bill incorrectly sent to collections. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you should not wait before handling this matter. If you delay taking action, the collector may file a lawsuit against you, which can result in additional legal complexities. As such, the first thing you should do is request a debt verification letter from the collector. This will confirm information about the debt, like who the original creditor is and the amount due. You should send this request through certified mail, as this will provide a return receipt, confirming that the collector got your letter.
In addition to sending the request, you should also send documentation that supports your claim that the debt was incorrectly sent to collections. This can include a receipt from the medical office showing that you paid the bill or a credit card statement showing the bill was paid to the correct party.
Once the collection agency sees that the debt is incorrect, they are responsible for informing the credit agencies of the error. The credit agencies must then correct the error.
In the event that the creditor claims the bill is still unpaid despite documentation, you can contact the medical provider directly to explain the situation. If they cannot help, you should contact an experienced debt collection error attorney. They can assist you in proving that the bill has been paid.
At Barthel Legal, we understand how difficult these matters can be. That’s why our dedicated team of attorneys can assist you during this frustrating and confusing time. Contact us today to learn how we can fight for you.
