My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: California
This may seem a simple question, but there are some sticky points. I noticed a collections record on my credit report and started researching. I found that my x-wife (we have been divorced for 10+ years) had taken my daughter (who was 17 at the time) to a medical clinic and did not pay the bill. The clinic sent the debt to collections and the collections company is now coming after me. The sticky parts are as follows:
1). X wife has physical custody of the then minor child and is the custodial parent.
2). My children are under my medical insurance as per our divorce settlement and have been for many years.
3). X wife consented to medical services that apparently my insurance plan did not cover, as such she was billed for the costs.
4). X wife did not pay the bill and it was subsequently sent to collections.
The collections company's position is that because the costs are related to my minor children and as such I am responsible for them. My position is that because I had no knowledge of the services rendered, did not consent to the services and was not a party in any agreement with the medical office, I should not be accountable for this debt.
Is my position valid and could my position be upheld if this becomes a bigger deal. The $ involved are not that substantial (about $400), but the impact on my credit rating is. The collection company is dinging me on a monthly basis and my credit score has gone from the high 700s to 683. So the indirect costs of the collection company's actions are quite high.
Thanks for your advice.

