On May 14 my crippled elderly mother receives a call that she owes $186.49. The person who she spoke with did not give her any details of this alleged debt.
On May 15 we received a letter dated May 12 as a 'Notice of Debt'. The Federal Agency supposedly we are delinquent to is the 'HHC Medicare Secondary Payer".
This letter states, 'this serves as formal notice that the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Financial Management Services (FMS), has referred your delinquent debt to' us.
The letter states no details about this alleged debt. My mother who is crippled fortunately has me, her 50 year son, to care for her. The woman who spoke with my mother said they could be called for details. I tried to call but only reached an answering machine.
This letter stated, 'Unless you notify this office within thirthy days after receiving this notice that you dispute the validity of the debt or any portion thereof, this office will assume this debt is valid. If you notify us in writing with thirty days after receiving this notice, this office will obtain verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment against you and mail a copy to you...[we] will provide you with the name and address of the original creditor.'
I wrote a letter asking for these details and more; mailed it certified and return receipt requested on Monday May 18. I will play ball for the first pitch but will wait and see the rest of the inning. I do have my own power hitter for the fourth batter if necessary (a great lawyers firm).
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