5 year old debt

[biojay]

Washington State.
History: I was contacted by a collection agency (agency) regarding an alleged unpaid bill from a trip to an emergency room in April of 2000. I cannot find any information on that bill after contacting the hospital or the emergency room physician's billing service. The agency informed me that their last information on this bill was that I was to contact the emergency room regarding the unpaid bill and they had not heard back from me or the emergency room since 2001 (I am not clear on the exact date of this interaction). The agency stated they cannot fax or email the information regarding the alleged unpaid bill due to HIPAA regulations. Since this is 5 years old I was skeptical that this was a credible debt, so, I did not provide the agency my home address. I did provide a fax number and offered an email address.

Questions:
1. Is there an amount of time (statute of limitations) on this sort of collection?
2. Can they charge me interest for the past 5 years since they did not contact me in that time?
3. Since I had health insurance at the time that should have covered this claim, can I expect the insurance company pay off this debt? (I changed insurance companies.)
4. The agency personnel were insulting, threatening and tried to embarass me into providing personal information (address, employer, etc.). The WA state office of the attorney general published guidelines that a collection agency may not do these things. I submitted a formal complaint after talking to agency a second time to complain to their main office but all they did was more of the same. Could I have a claim for damages against the collection agency?

[ihatearizona]

Originally Posted by biojay

Washington State.
History: I was contacted by a collection agency (agency) regarding an alleged unpaid bill from a trip to an emergency room in April of 2000. I cannot find any information on that bill after contacting the hospital or the emergency room physician's billing service. The agency informed me that their last information on this bill was that I was to contact the emergency room regarding the unpaid bill and they had not heard back from me or the emergency room since 2001 (I am not clear on the exact date of this interaction). The agency stated they cannot fax or email the information regarding the alleged unpaid bill due to HIPAA regulations. Since this is 5 years old I was skeptical that this was a credible debt, so, I did not provide the agency my home address. I did provide a fax number and offered an email address.

Questions:
1. Is there an amount of time (statute of limitations) on this sort of collection?
2. Can they charge me interest for the past 5 years since they did not contact me in that time?
3. Since I had health insurance at the time that should have covered this claim, can I expect the insurance company pay off this debt? (I changed insurance companies.)
4. The agency personnel were insulting, threatening and tried to embarass me into providing personal information (address, employer, etc.). The WA state office of the attorney general published guidelines that a collection agency may not do these things. I submitted a formal complaint after talking to agency a second time to complain to their main office but all they did was more of the same. Could I have a claim for damages against the collection agency?

1. Here's info on the statute of limitations: [url]http://www.creditinfocenter.com/rebuild/statuteLimitations.shtml[/url]
I'm not sure what medical bills would fall under - written?? - 6 years SOL.

2. If interest is allowed, per the agreement you would have signed, then yes.

3. Doubtful that the insurance company would now pay.

4. If they violated the FDCPA, you can take them to small claims court.
Check this link: [url]http://www.creditinfocenter.com/eBooks/PoorMansClassActionLawsuit.shtml[/url]