My husband was sent to collections by a dentist's office (in early April) for a bill he does not owe. We wrote a dispute letter and sent it to the collection agency. We didn't hear anything for 5 weeks so my husband called them and the collection agency said that they faxed a copy of our dispute letter to the dentist's office the day they received it, but had not heard anything back from him. So we waited. Now almost 2 months later, the collection agency has still not heard from the doctor. How long does the dentist have to respond to our dispute, this has been put on my husband's credit report and they refuse to take it off....Is there somekind of time frame that the dentist has to dispute our dispute?????
2006-06-29 10:31:33 · 8 answers · asked by mellabela 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Credit
There is no limit on how long they can take to verify the debt with the dentist, but in the mean time, they are no longer allowed to report that debt on your credit file or contact you to collect the debt.
Be sure that EVERYTHING you do with the collection agency is in writing and you send it certified mail. Phone calls will magically disappear from their records and you have no proof of anything. Collection agencies count on your ignorance of the law.
Good luck. Collection agencies suck.
2006-06-29 10:41:59 · answer #1 · answered by WiserAngel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best way to dispute the information is with TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian, they will open a dispute with the company reporting the debt. The company has 30 days to respond to the dispute. If they do not respond to the dispute than the tradeline will be removed from the credit report.
Send the dental office & the collection agency proof that you paid the invoice in full; such as a copy of the cancelled check or paid in full receipt.
If the office is still insisting that you owe additional money you can report both the collection agency and the dental office to the Better Business Bureau or take them to court.
2006-06-29 11:34:46 · answer #2 · answered by nswanson1980 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If that truly "is not" your husbands account, I would suggest going to the link I provided and go to the medical forum. Read about using HIPAA.
If your husband sent the dispute letter within the 30 days after receiving the first bill from the collection agency, they have 30+5 days to respond. If they do not validate within that 30 days but continue to try to collect or verify with the credit bureaus, that is a violation.
If you use the HIPAA material (which you will use with the orginal medical provider not the collection agency) You can legally tell the dentist (if you are positive that your husband is not liable) to kiss off and take the collection agency with them.
2006-06-29 10:56:43 · answer #3 · answered by echo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know why everyone is telling you to go after the dentist!!!
The dentist did not place the report on your credit history, the collection agency did!
Quit playing around here! Your next step is to send a final demand letter to the collection agency. Point out that the law gives them 30 days to validate this debt. They have failed to do that, so they must delete this report. Failure to do so violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act, as they are posting unvalidated information to your credit history.
Follow this up with a lawsuit. Go down to small claims court and file a claim for for $1000 against them. If you have all of your letters and facts straight, you will easily win.
Quit playing around with these guys!!!!!
2006-06-29 11:22:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The credit agency should ahve told you that the dentists office has only 30 days to respond if they don't then the credit bureau has to take it off your husbands credit. I would try disputing through another credit bureau your gonna have to do that anyway and have all three take it off his credit. Trans Union Experian and Equifax are the three. Good Luck
2006-06-29 10:35:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your state should have something like a consumer advocacy office (Georgia does), I suggest you call them and let them advise you. There are state offices that license dentists and oversee credit reporting agencies. Also, write a letter to the Better Business Bureau, they will write your dentist a letter.
2006-06-29 10:42:35 · answer #6 · answered by GA_metroman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you call the dentist office yourself and ask them what is up?
2006-06-29 10:35:30 · answer #7 · answered by KB 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its on your credit already and they ain't going to take it off, so tell em it stick it.........
2006-06-29 10:36:08 · answer #8 · answered by Gizmo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋