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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2014
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    3

    Angry Medical Debt Collection and Reporting

    My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Oregon & Washington

    I was reviewing my credit report yesterday (5/1/14) and saw a collection account, dating in 2011, on there for a medical office I never went to. I first called the dr's office and was told that they only had my name and dob, but my wife was the patient. The service occurred in March of 2010. At that time, my wife was on my insurance and we were living in Oregon which is a non community property state. The medical office said I was responsible, even though I didn't sign anything with them and they never attempted to contact me regarding the debt. They said they couldn't help me because the debt had been turned over to the collection agency. I then contacted the collection agency who also didn't have my info. I asked them how could they report and say I owed a debt when they never tried to contact me. They said they send out 1 letter (which may have gone to my wife, but I dont know). They also said I was resposnsible for the debt. It occured while we lived in Oregon. We now live in Washington.

    Am I really responsible for this debt and can they report it against me even though they never contacted me?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Default Re: Medical Debt Collection and Reporting

    Under ORS Sec. 108.040, "The expenses of the family and the education of the minor children are chargeable upon the property of both husband and wife, or either of them, and in relation thereto they may be sued jointly or separately." Your spouse falls under the definition of "family". I expect that they're relying on that statute.

    If you and your wife are living together, why wouldn't she have told you about the bill and letter?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: Medical Debt Collection and Reporting

    My only guess is that she did not think it would tie to me. When letters come to her, I don't open them and any of the bills or correspondence regarding this debt only went to her. Also, I did ask of the medical office and the collection agency, why they did not contact me, and neither had an answer. I am not concerned so much as if the debt is owed. My bigger concern is why they can report it against me, giving future creditors the impression that I defaulted on a debt, when they made no effort to collect it from me or contact me prior to collection status. that seems unfair.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Default Re: Medical Debt Collection and Reporting

    When you live with your spouse, it would be pretty absurd to expect every care provider to send two statements to your home every time your spouse receives a service.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: Medical Debt Collection and Reporting

    That point has some justification, however I don't see how debt can be reported on a person when there has been no effort to contact that person. If they sent letters to my wife, and not me, does the federal law of opening someone else's mail no longer apply, or does the legal system assume that all husbands and wives are completely transparent to all incurred expenses? Would the care provider not have a responsibility to at least include my name any correspondence sent to our address requesting payment of the debt? It may all be legal, but with the high rate of domestic violence, I would think some amendments should be made to prevent this ability of service providers to blindside spouses.

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