Wife received debt collection letter

[chiefsfan1]

Yesterday in the mail was a letter to my wife stating this was a attempt to collect a debt. Now we are both confounded. This is a first. It's only $50 bucks but still.
We then checked her credit on the annual free report we are allowed. NO red flags.
The letter does give the name of the creditor. I plan to call them tomorrow to inquire.
I want to call the collection agency and read them the riot act. Our credit scores are very very high.
However I have since learned about a letter of validation. I am writing it soon.
This maybe a case of junk debt buying.
The date on the letter is April 21, 2016. I just read where the have 5 days to send validation documents.

Anything else I can do? In fact the agency is here in town.

 

[eljefino]

check your own credit report to see if this is legit.

Write the collection agency a letter saying nope not your debt.

Don't pay it (yet).

 

[tomcat27]

dont give them any more information than you have to. do not provide them with your social security number or DL number, I would presume that it is not legitimate. you can ask them for supporting documentation and they must provide it.

 

[chiefsfan1]

I just checked mine, its fine. I have a letter ready to go requesting all sorts of info from them to validate what they claim.
And will send it certified, return receipt.

I definitely plan on not giving them any more info than necessary.

 

[mrgrim]

Is this a legit debt or scam? It could be an operator error and your wife's name came up. I'd call/write and ask them to prove you guys owe anything.

 

[901Memphis]

50$? Sounds like a medical co pay, maybe it was an oversight. Small debt collections don't show up on credit reports very fast in my experience

 

[chiefsfan1]

Interesting, I starting digging into the company. I ran across 2 different names of it a the same address. hmmmmmm.

 

[JayhawkRoy]

I would not talk to them over the phone. Send your letter demanding exact info concerning the debt (date incurred, company involved, description of services/goods allegedly provided). It doesn't have to be certified at this point. A less expensive certificate of mailing can be used.

Put all communications in writing so a good audit trail is established.

When received, check every detail. You may be amazed at the inaccuracy of their records.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: chiefsfan1
Yesterday in the mail was a letter to my wife stating this was a attempt to collect a debt. Now we are both confounded. This is a first. It's only $50 bucks but still.
We then checked her credit on the annual free report we are allowed. NO red flags.
The letter does give the name of the creditor. I plan to call them tomorrow to inquire.
I want to call the collection agency and read them the riot act. Our credit scores are very very high.
However I have since learned about a letter of validation. I am writing it soon.
This maybe a case of junk debt buying.
The date on the letter is April 21, 2016. I just read where the have 5 days to send validation documents.

Anything else I can do? In fact the agency is here in town.



I would not call. They are better on the phone than you. Always write. Send something like the following:

Under Section 809(b) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act you are required to provide me the full validation of the debt. What I am requesting is a document that states I actually requested a product/service from xyz company and that document was signed by me. This is different than just a statement or bill from them. If you are unable to provide that validation, then I request that you immediately stop all efforts to collect this debt. I further request that all communication with me be in writing.

 

[chiefsfan1]

Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
50$? Sounds like a medical co pay, maybe it was an oversight. Small debt collections don't show up on credit reports very fast in my experience


actually the exact amount is $50.05.
Could be a over site. Contacting the provider first thing in the morning.

 

[totegoat]

Sounds like a scam.

 

[JayhawkRoy]

Provider may not talk to you. Many don't after they turn the debt over to a collection agency. Bear that in mind if you make the phone call to the provider or debt originator.

 

[Donald]

If your a current customer or patient of the provider they will talk to you.

 

[Mr Nice]

Annual credit report . com

For free annual reports from the big 3 credit agencies.

 

[chiefsfan1]

Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
Annual credit report . com

For free annual reports from the big 3 credit agencies.


Done that, they are clean.
This is the very first notification of anything. I pay all the bills and have never seen a past due notification.

I found this template to use.

http://www.debt-n-credit-letters.com/Debt-Dispute/debt-dispute-letter-1.html#letter

 

[AirgunSavant]

As said prior you can get a co!lections notice and it will not find its way to your credit report very soon as it is their collections dept to add urgency on your end which they have succeeded already. You're looking into it instead of throwing it away.

I got this daily even when all were paid. You have to keep meticulous records as often they billed me three times for already paid medical bills.

I owed over $100k after insurance and the bills came from all over the country. It was crazy.

 

[chiefsfan1]

Originally Posted By: AirgunSavant
As said prior you can get a co!lections notice and it will not find its way to your credit report very soon as it is their collections dept to add urgency on your end which they have succeeded already. You're looking into it instead of throwing it away.

I got this daily even when all were paid. You have to keep meticulous records as often they billed me three times for already paid medical bills.

I owed over $100k after insurance and the bills came from all over the country. It was crazy.


CRAZY!!!!

After researching debt collection regulations in Missouri, they are not regulated. Great.....

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: AirgunSavant

I owed over $100k after insurance and the bills came from all over the country. It was crazy.


Holy sweet baby Jesus, what did you get done, a quadruple bypass?????!!!

 

[JayhawkRoy]

No they aren't. That is why your personal due diligence and records keeping is very important.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: AirgunSavant

I owed over $100k after insurance and the bills came from all over the country. It was crazy.


Holy sweet baby Jesus, what did you get done, a quadruple bypass?????!!!


Add another zero for that...