My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: CA
Hi,
I apologize for this long post….
I hope someone can help me with this problem. In 10/2011, I had an ER visit and was admitted for a hospital stay. On Saturday 8/11/2012, I was reviewing my Experian credit report and noticed a debt in collection from collection agency Grant & Weber in Calabasas, CA (the hospital is also in CA), for $100, apparently the co-pay amount that my insurance didn’t cover. I didn’t recall ever receiving a bill from the hospital or any notification from the collection agency about this amount. According to the Experian credit report (TransUnion and Equifax don’t show any collection records)
I immediately contacted the hospital that same day, but was told the billing department was closed until Monday, 8/13. I called the billing department the morning of 8/13 (today) and found out that the hospital had the correct street number and name for me, but the incorrect city name and zip code, thus explaining why I didn’t receive a bill.
I don’t understand why the hospital simply didn’t call me, though, and a hospital financial advisor couldn’t explain that, either. Instead, I was told hospital policy is that when mail is returned as undeliverable, the account is sent to a collection agency. My credit report shows that the collection had been on my credit report since 5/2012. It also shows my correct address and my phone number, so I’m at a loss why Grant & Weber didn’t contact me about the debt.
To make things worse, I had another ER visit to the same hospital in 5/2012. Although the first person I spoke with in patient accounting said that bill hadn’t been sent to the collection agency (despite a new account number with the same wrong address) and allowed me to pay it over the phone, another person claims the bill was sent to the collection agency on 8/11 or 8/12. My credit report shows a soft credit inquiry from Grant & Weber on 01/18/2012 and 8/12/2012.
I’m more than willing to pay the $100 co-pay from the 10/2011 hospital stay, but I need to have that collection debt removed from my credit report. I've left a message with the Hospital Billing Manager, but haven't had a return call yet.
I’d like to know both my legal rights in this situation (if any) and how to get that collection record removed from my credit report. Please let me know. Thanks!

