So I just got a letter from a law firm...

[ToyfareMark]

They are attempting to collect on a debt I have from my dental surgery in January. The problem is that I have been making monthly payments all year, and can prove it. It makes no sense that the dental firm would put this debt up for collections. I've contacted a lawyer, and plan to file a suit against the law firm, and the dental firm. It makes no sense why they would do this, and I'm tired of being harassed about it. So that's it, just wanted to get it off my chest.

[polarbearpete]

Sept 25, 2020 4:37:37 GMT -5 ToyfareMark said:

They are attempting to collect on a debt I have from my dental surgery in January. The problem is that I have been making monthly payments all year, and can prove it. It makes no sense that the dental firm would put this debt up for collections. I've contacted a lawyer, and plan to file a suit against the law firm, and the dental firm. It makes no sense why they would do this, and I'm tired of being harassed about it. So that's it, just wanted to get it off my chest.

What suit would you file against the law firm and the dentist? Just have your lawyer show them the proof of payments to get them to drop it.

[MC Blowfish]

Did you work out the payment process with the dentist?

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Did you talk to the dentist and check your credit report? That would be my first steps since it could just be a scammer. I get calls every now and again from scammers inquiring about my student loans. But I never even answer those because they’re obviously bots, I pay my student loans regularly, am on good terms with all my student loan servicers, and have no derogatory marks on my credit.

[Hurbster]

I don't think you need to go as far as to sue them, debt companies make mistakes all the time. If you have proof of payment everything should be fine. Lawyers probably don't need to come into it.

[J. Hova]

It sounds like a scam to me and it was probably a year ago that some of this got some traction in the local media around here. Biggest thing is to not make a payment to the 'collection agency' otherwise it is an acknowledgement of the debt and then it gets stickier to get away from it. Keep making payments to the dentist in the meantime.

[Brandon Walsh is Insane.]

Sept 25, 2020 8:39:08 GMT -5 KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! said:

Did you talk to the dentist and check your credit report? That would be my first steps since it could just be a scammer. I get calls every now and again from scammers inquiring about my student loans. But I never even answer those because they’re obviously bots, I pay my student loans regularly, am on good terms with all my student loan servicers, and have no derogatory marks on my credit.

I get those calls too... and I’ve never had student loans.

Some will even mask their numbers, it’s horrible.

This does sound like a spoof or scam though. I would contact the dentist to see if your account is in good standing.

[Feyrhausen]

It could also be a case where they sent a bunch of accounts to collection and sent yours by mistake. That should be able to be cleared up without lawsuits.

[Deleted]

Just ignore it. Collection agencies give up after awhile and agree to settle with you for like twenty bucks.

[Natural Born Farmer]

Lawyers aren't cheap, and unless you can prove tangible harm the best case scenario is they drop the debt and you still have to pay your lawyer.

If they genuinely just dropped the ball, showing them the receipts sounds way more expedient.

[OldDirtyBernie]

Sept 25, 2020 6:11:07 GMT -5 MC Blowfish said:

Did you work out the payment process with the dentist?

Yeah, this is important because if you just decided to make payments but didn't set up a payment plan through the dentist or billing agency then they're well within their rights to send the account to try and collect the debt. Call the dental agency first and ask what's going on, especially since a letter from a law firm would in no way constitute harassment.

[Barry Jobber 81]

Inquire about the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. It limits how much debt collectors can harrass you over a debt, especially in your case, you're making monthly payments on your dental bill.

[OldDirtyBernie]

Sept 26, 2020 10:25:15 GMT -5 Barry Jobber 81 said:

Inquire about the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. It limits how much debt collectors can harrass you over a debt, especially in your case, you're making monthly payments on your dental bill.

Based on when I was trained on it, the FDCPA deals mainly with calls and, now, e-mail. The letter described in the OP sounds like the letter that's supposed to be sent to outline the details, but the post was a bit vague.
I'm a bit rusty, but regarding calls and the FDCPA, agencies are allowed to attempt contact 3 times per day if no contact is made. If a message is left either through voice-mail or another person(keep in mind, they're not allowed to discuss and generally say a "personal business matter,") they have to cease calling for either 2 or 3 days.

This may be helpful as well -
www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/debt-validation-letter

[bob]

joke response I'm kind of surprised no one made yet:

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}hire Clearance Mason

justice will be served

[ToyfareMark]

Sept 26, 2020 7:46:20 GMT -5 OldDirtyBernie said:

Sept 25, 2020 6:11:07 GMT -5 MC Blowfish said:

Did you work out the payment process with the dentist?

Yeah, this is important because if you just decided to make payments but didn't set up a payment plan through the dentist or billing agency then they're well within their rights to send the account to try and collect the debt. Call the dental agency first and ask what's going on, especially since a letter from a law firm would in no way constitute harassment.

This was all worked out before I even had the surgery. So there is a payment plan.

[Glitch]

Those collection jerks don't know who they're messing with.

[Big BosskMan]

If this ends up in court, just be sure to tell the tooth, the whole tooth, and nothing but the tooth.