What happens if I am in collections for something I shouldn’t have been responsible for?
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What happens if I am in collections for something I shouldn’t have been responsible for?
I was a witness to a car accident and was billed for the ambulance. I fought it and thought everything was taken care of. I went the other day to apply for a car loan and have now received a collections letter for the bill amount, mind you the accident was over 3 years ago. So this is now effecting my credit. Do I have any recourse for getting this off my credit report and to get these people to just leave me alone?
Asked on July 25, 2011 Michigan
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Wait so you were just a witness and were instead billed for the ambulance call? Isn't that a kick in the teeth. When you say that you thought that it was all taken care of what do you mean? That you tried to straighted out the mess with the ambulanceservice? Here is what you need to do. You have a right to dispute the charge with the credit bureaus and you should. You have to write to each of them by certified mail, return receipt requested and dispute the reporting. Th credit bureau must go back to the reporting creditor and ask them to verify the debt owed. They have 30 days to do so. If they do not then the information has to be taken off of your credit report. Now, as for the collection agency, send them a copy of the letter you send to the credit bureau with documentation showing that the ambulance did not render services to you or anyone for whom you are financially responsible. Call the bill collector first and ask for a supervisor. Always better to get a name and actual address to send the info to. Good luck.
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