Credit lowered for false debts

[thrillhouse]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Virginia.

I have creditors calling me at me place of business, home, cell, for debts on one thing I never bought and a hospital bill I paid last year.

Verizon Fios is not available where I live, yet they are leaving me voicemails saying I owe $400 for a fios receiver. I have never had fios, its a false debt.

In July 2014 I had a surgery. There was a copay that I didn't pay until December 2014. I am still getting calls about a debt having to do with the hospital. Yet when I contact the hospital through their web portal, they say I am paid in full. My credit has dipped from 728 to 645, please help me, I want it to stop and don't know what to do or who to talk to.

Thanks in advance

 

[single317dad]

Most bill collectors, when presented with proof that their debt is not valid, will cease collection efforts. Only a few of the nastiest ones will waste their time harassing an alleged debtor who doesn't actually owe money. What have these collectors said when you told them you don't owe the money?

As far as your credit report goes, whoever says you owe them money is the party that will be reporting that to the bureaus. Who is listed as the creditor on those debts?

It's possible someone has used your information to sign up for the Verizon service. You need to talk to them and find out what's really going on.

Many hospitals are very quick to turn bills over to collectors; our local hospital sends many bills out as soon as 7 days after service for self payers! My mother, who has insurance, has this same problem every time she gets treatment from the hospital; she waits for her insurance to pay, then starts "payments" on the rest as she can afford them. The problem is, the hospital isn't a "pay when you can" type of place, and they send the bills to collections right away. The collectors call even after the bill is paid (directly to the hospital), and it's always a task convincing them she's paid in full.

 

[thrillhouse]

I haven't actually spoken to them, they leave threatening voicemails but I haven't picked up for them yet.

I have 4 voicemails on my phone now that are unread, so I will listen to them after work and see if there is a number to call them back. (they always call from blocked numbers).

 

[thrillhouse]

It took a long time but I finally got my free credit reports in the mail from the "big three" ratings bureaus.

They say I have two hospital bills in total of about $900.

I have an email directly from the hospital's billing portal that states I have been paid in full since 2014.

So now it should just be a matter of disputing the negative reports online, then call each bureau and get a human and explain what happened and ask for a more fair score and to have the collections removed.

Thanks sing317dad, for pointing me in the right direction and giving me hope of restoring my credit. I am truely sorry for your mother's experience and wish her better health and hope myself never to return to the hospital.

 

[thrillhouse]

Finally got this resolved. If anyone is in the same boat, look up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau:

http://consumerfinance.gov/

They fixed everything, contacted the debt collector, who removed the debt, and contacted the big three credit reporting agencies (transunion, experian, and equifax) and removed the derogatory entry. Now my credit score is back up in the 700s.

Feels great to have justice. I strongly suggest to anyone suffering from credit shenanigans to call or go online to CFPB and they will help you.