Debt Validation Letter for Medical Bills
Challenging the validity of a medical bill debt (or any other debt) is actually quite simple. Below you can find a sample debt validation letter for medical bills that you can use as described here.Follow these steps so that you stay on top of things and get the debt removed from your credit report.
Search you records for the supposed debt
If you have any record of the medical bill, especially purchase agreements, statements and other pieces of information – you may be able to use it to your advantage down the road.
Send a debt validation letter to the collection agency
Do this within 30 days of the original letter you received from the agency or else you will lose your chance to dispute the debt. Use the sample debt validation letter for medical bills provided below.
This debt validation letter outlines the following:
- Your request for proof of the debt.
- Your request for proof that the collection agency does in fact hold the debt now
- Your request for a statement regarding how much principal you owe plus any fees and interest that have been added
- Your request for a copy of the contract you originally signed saying you will be responsible for payment of the debt
- Your request for contact information of the original creditor in case you need to call or write them if necessary.
Send the debt validation letter to the debt collector’s address listed on the debt noticed you received. If you didn’t receive a notice but account is listed on your credit report, send it to the address listed in your credit report’s “Contact Information” section.
Send the debt validation letter via certified mail, return receipt requested, so that you have document that the collection agency received your correspondence. Keep a copy to yourself.
Research debt collection laws while you are waiting for a response from the collection agency
It is always better to know a bit about your rights as a consumer so you can properly deal with the collection agency.
Look up your state’s laws on how these agencies are licensed as well as the specific laws on how the agency may go about collecting debts. If they are in violation of any of these laws, report them to the state and send them a letter stating that they are in violation and should not contact you again.
The validation process is outlined in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act so you should take the time to read it
Evaluate the response you get from the collection agency
- If they can validate the debt, you may have to pay it or risk damage to your credit. You can also try a Pay for Delete approach.
- If the collection agency is misinformed because you’ve already paid the debt and you can prove it, send copies of your own paperwork to back up your story and request that they remove the item from your credit report.
- If they cannot provide proof that you owe the debt, write another letter telling them they could not validate your debt and do not have any legal right to attempt to collect this debt from you, and thus they need to remove the listing from your credit report.
Additionally, file a dispute with the 3 credit bureaus as outlined here: How to dispute your credit report.
- If the collection agency does not respond to you at all, draft a letter stating that they are in violation of federal law and that they do not have any right to try to collect the debt. Send this letter including a copy of your debt validation letter and the return receipt as a proof that you previously contacted them and they did not respond within the allowed time frame. Request that they remove the debt from your credit report immediately!
Additionally, file a dispute with the 3 credit bureaus as outlined here: How to dispute your credit report.
- Agreement with your client that grants you the authority to collect on this alleged debt.
- Agreement that bears the signature of the alleged debtor wherein he/she agreed to pay the creditor.
- Any insurance claims been made by any creditor regarding this account.
- Any Judgments obtained by any creditor regarding this account.
- Name and address of alleged creditor.
- Name on file of alleged debtor.
- Alleged account number.
- Address on file for alleged debtor.
- Amount of alleged debt.
- Date this alleged debt became payable.
- Date of original charge off or delinquency.
- Verification that this debt was assigned or sold to collector.
- Complete accounting of alleged debt.
- Commission for debt collector if collection efforts are successful.
Sample Debt Validation Letter for Medical Bills
Simply copy this text into your favorite text editing software, or download a text version of it from this link. Replace the bolded items with your personal information and edit the [square brackets] as required.
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code
Debt Collector’s Name
Debt Collector’s Address
Debt Collector’s City, State Zip
Date:
Re: Account Number XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX
To whom it may concern:
I am sending this letter to you in response to a notice I received from you by [mail/phone] on [Date of letter/phone call].
Be advised this is not a refusal to pay, but a notice that your claim is disputed and validation is requested.
Under the Fair Debt collection Practices Act (FDCPA), I have the right to request validation of the debt you say I owe you. I am requesting proof that I am indeed the party you are asking to pay this debt, and there is some contractual obligation that is binding on me to pay this debt.
This is NOT a request for “verification” or proof of my mailing address, but a request for VALIDATION made pursuant to 15 USC 1692g Sec. 809 (b) of the FDCPA. I respectfully request that your offices provide me with competent evidence that I have any legal obligation to pay you.
At this time I will also inform you that if your offices have or continue to report invalidated information to any of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, Trans Union), this action might constitute fraud under both federal and state laws. Due to this fact, if any negative mark is found or continues to report on any of my credit reports by your company or the company you represent, I will not hesitate in bringing legal action against you and your client for the following.
Violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
Defamation of Character
I am sure your legal staff will agree that non-compliance with this request could put your company in serious legal trouble with the FTC and other state or federal agencies.
If your offices are able to provide the proper documentation as requested in the following declaration, I will require 30 days to investigate this information and during such time all collection activity must cease and desist. Also, during this validation period, if any action is taken which could be considered detrimental to any of my credit reports, I will consult with legal counsel for suit. This includes any listing of any information to a credit-reporting repository that could be inaccurate or invalidated. If your offices fail to respond to this validation request within 30 days from the date of your receipt, all references to this account must be deleted and completely removed from my credit file and a copy of such deletion request shall be sent to me immediately.
It would be advisable that you and your client assure that your records are in order before I am forced to take legal action.
Creditor/Debt collector declaration
Please provide the following:
Please provide the name and address of the bonding agent for [Debt Collection Agency Name] in case legal action becomes necessary.
Your claim cannot and WILL NOT be considered if any portion of the above is not completed and returned with copies of all requested documents. This is a request for validation made pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Please allow 30 days for processing after I receive this information back.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Signature
cc Federal Trade Commission
Debt Validation Letter for Medical Bills