I disputed a medical bill in 2000 because the emergency room billed the wrong insurance company. I called, faxed and wrote them letters including my insurance card to try to get them to correct their error but they never responded. They never answered the phone when I called, I just left message after message only to get another invoice. My actual insurance company would not process it because the bill was made out to a different insurance company and some billing codes were missing.
I finally wrote them a certified letter in late 2000 advising them that because they did not respond to my repeated requests to correct the issues, I would not be paying the bill. Months later a collection agency called me and I sent them all of my documentation. They agreed with me that the creditor had not followed up and were actually somewhat helpful, but by then my insurance company's billing deadline had expired. I advised them at this time that I will not pay the invoice due to the hassles and time the creditor caused me to waste.
Over 6 years later, I start getting collection letters again. I wrote the agency summarizing the above situation and asked them to cease contacting me which they did. 6 months later I get a letter from another agency and repeated the above steps.
Finally MCM Midland Credit Management writes me to advise that they are collecting on this debt and that I need to pay or they will start calling my home and office. I wrote them the cease letter, but they ignored it. Finally they managed to get my unlisted number and started calling my wife daily (she works at home, I commute). My wife explained the situation and they said "We don't care, this isn't going away". After another letter threatening my credit (current 785 score) I called them and reminded them that they were violating the fair debt collection law by harassing me after I wrote them to cease. They claimed they didn't get my letter and would note it as a dispute. I checked my credit and they had reported this as a new debt that is seriously delinquent and damaged my credit score. I contacted Experian and filed an online dispute and they removed the negative marks once I showed them that they falsely listed it as new debt after the statute of limitations expired. I also consulted an attorney and filed a complaint with the FTC. The attorney wanted to go after them but I am really too busy, and they have stopped harassing me. Hopefully this will not start over again when the next agency buys this. Anyway, you CAN fight them and win just document yourself and know your rights.
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