When Is Enough Enough?

A reader of my blog, a copy of which appeared on Open Salon commented as follows:
"I received a call back in June about a medical bill that I had not paid to Toledo Hospital for services provided. The person that called me could barely speak English, so I asked them if they were outside the US. I was surprised when the representative, John, told me he was calling from Costa Rica. The collector worked for a company called United Collection Bureau and told me they are contracted by ProMedica Health System to collect for Toledo Hospital.

I asked John to tell me what procedure the bill was for. I was placed on hold and then was amazed to find that they actually had the information. I am in shock that my medical records are being handled in a 3rd world country. I believe this is a violation of the law, but I'm not certain. I was also told that the collection agency, regardless of where they are, should not have access to the actual procedure.

I went online and found a website for United Collection Bureau. There is a list of offices that does not include Costa Rica. I called and asked if they has an office there and was passed around until someone said no. I called back to John's extension and asked him to confirm. He confirmed that he is in Costa Rica and receives his pay from United Collection Bureau. John knew the president of the company’s name, that the company is based in Ohio, and said that he was willing to cooperate because he understood my anger. I was transferred to an American, I believe in Costa Rica, that basically told me to pay my bill or they would send me to legal.

I asked the American woman to give me her name and she hung up. I called John back the next day and he told me he could no longer speak with me; that they had threatened to fire him and he really needs the job.

I'm not out to get a young man working hard in another country fired, so I stopped calling. I did call ProMedica, who claims they had no idea and would investigate. That was back in June. Since then I have received over 20 more calls from people obviously not in America, but unwilling to tell me where they are.

Is this legal?

Deb Webber
August 17,2009"

My question to you Deb would be why are you allowing the phone calls? If this is your debt have they properly validated that fact? Did you ask them in writing by certified mail to validate the debt? If these people are calling you and refusing to properly identify themselves you should serve them with a cease and desist letter my certified mail.

It is a violation of the FDCPA for debt collectors to call you and not properly identify themselves or falsify their identities. Is also a violation for them to refuse to tell you where they are calling from. If you can document any of what you are saying I would suggest contacting the National Association of Consumer Advocates and getting a recommendation for an attorney.

Debt collectors are not permitted to repeatedly call you during any one day. This is also a violation of the FDCPA. For starters I would opt in on the upper right side of this web page and download my validation letter and the audio instructions.