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To dispute medical collections, you will have to contact the three credit reporting companies, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, as well as the lender or creditor handling your debt. You will have to submit paperwork that documents why you believe the medical debt is inaccurate, as well.
A lawyer can help you dispute medical collections and explore your options for getting relief from various types of debt. In some cases, you may be able to file for bankruptcy, and this is something a bankruptcy lawyer can help with.
Disputing Medical Collections by Reporting an Error to the Three Credit Reporting Companies
Each credit reporting agency, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, has an online reporting system to help you dispute medical collections, along with other errors you find in your credit report.
You also have the option to mail in a form to dispute something on your credit report. You can even call the credit reporting agencies to dispute a debt. The sooner you get in contact with the agencies, the better.
Medical collections and other debts can negatively affect your credit score, making it harder to access loans and credit cards you may need to keep your family afloat, especially if you face a medical condition.
Information You Will Be Expected to Provide
When disputing medical collections with the three credit reporting agencies, you will have to fill out a bit of paperwork and provide specific information about the debt you are disputing.
According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), mail-in and online forms will usually ask for the following information:
- Your name, address, and telephone number
- The confirmation number attached to your credit report
- A detailed explanation of mistakes on your credit report, such as your account number with a lender or creditor
- A copy of the portion of your credit report listing the disputed items
Additionally, you will have to explain the reason you believe the medical debt reported on your score is an error. For example, you may have already paid the debt, but it still appears on your credit report. You may have already set up a repayment plan with the lender or credit, as well. In some cases, the creditor may have simply notated the wrong amount of debt you have.
You can ask each credit reporting agency to remove or correct the erroneous item from your credit report.
Disputing Medical Collections by Reporting an Error to the Lender or Creditor
After contacting the three credit reporting agencies, you should also contact the lender or creditor directly. You can provide them with the same information you gave to the credit reporting agencies.
It’s understandable that you may be wary of contacting a lender or credit collection agency. They may be trying to contact you through various means, as well. Before you contact them, you should consider the following options for debt relief.
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You May Be Able to Negotiate Your Medical Debt
Lenders send debts to collection agencies when they no longer wish to handle them with you directly. They may have tried to reach out to you for weeks or months to seek payment. When your debt goes to a collection agency, your credit report can suffer greatly. You should take this matter seriously and consider your options for alleviating the debt.
One of the options you have is to get into contact with the original lender to negotiate a repayment plan. A credit collection agency may also negotiate a lower payment for you. The sooner you can address this situation, the better. The longer you have medical collections on your credit report, the worse your score can get over time.
You May Be Able to File for Bankruptcy to Eliminate Your Medical Debt
Another option for addressing medical debt is bankruptcy. Under certain Chapters, you can eliminate your medical debt, which will get a creditor off your back. Bankruptcy is not something to take lightly, though, and you will have to go through an application process to see if you qualify for a certain bankruptcy Chapter.
In general, medical debts may be completely eliminated through Chapter 7 bankruptcy or negotiated into affordable payment plans through Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Still, filing any form of bankruptcy can also affect your credit score, but it may be the best route to take in your situation.
How a Bankruptcy Lawyer Can Help With Medical Debts
A bankruptcy lawyer can delve into your finances and debts to determine if filing is right for you and explore which Chapter would best suit your needs. When they take on your case, they can:
- Explain the bankruptcy process and walk you through your options
- Complete and submit the proper forms to the court
- Relieving you of having to speak with debt collectors
- Determine which of your assets will be affected by filing for bankruptcy
- Exploring any possible bankruptcy-related tax consequences
Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, Can Help Explain More About How to Dispute Medical Collections
If you are ill and undergoing medical treatment, the last thing you want to deal with is medical collections. You deserve to rest and focus on your recovery, not hassle with creditors and credit reporting agencies. You can turn to Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, for help.
Call us today for a free consultation, and we can explain more about how to dispute medical collections.
