Keep receiving calls from collection agency

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
I have received several call the last few days from a number I didn't recognize. If I don't know the number, I don't answer. I did an online search and could only find one vague reference to it as being a collection agency for a health provider I patronized back in September. I am not aware that I owe them anything. I would assume I would have received a bill in the mail if there was a co-pay. Do you think this call is a scammer? Should I answer the next time?
 

Sounds fishy to me. We've received a couple of scam calls in the past couple of weeks. We never answer them, as it only gives them incentive to continue calling. I suppose you could call the health provider directly if you have any doubt. My advice is to ignore the call.
 
The best thing to do is to look at the explanation of benefits from your health insurance carrier as it will show your responsibility. If it shows you owe something then call them and see why they have turned you over for collection. Evidently you did not pay your part of the bill. When I worked collections I did not turn patients over until I spoke with the patient and could not get payment from them.
 
debodun said:
I have received several call the last few days from a number I didn't recognize. If I don't know the number, I don't answer. I did an online search and could only find one vague reference to it as being a collection agency for a health provider I patronized back in September. I am not aware that I owe them anything. I would assume I would have received a bill in the mail if there was a co-pay. Do you think this call is a scammer? Should I answer the next time?
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Block the call. Don't answer. If you owe anything they will send you a bill in the mail.
 
debodun said:
I have received several call the last few days from a number I didn't recognize. If I don't know the number, I don't answer. I did an online search and could only find one vague reference to it as being a collection agency for a health provider I patronized back in September. I am not aware that I owe them anything. I would assume I would have received a bill in the mail if there was a co-pay. Do you think this call is a scammer? Should I answer the next time?
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Yes, you should answer. Find out what's going on. Don't give any personal information, however.
 
hearlady said:
I disagree Big Horn. If it's legit they'll leave a message and or send a letter. Scammers are getting more clever everyday.
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They're not going to shoot a poisoned needle through the phone line. Common sense dictates that we answer every call. If the call isn't important, it's easy enough to terminate it. Reading this thread, I get the impression that there are too many deadbeats and fugitives in the forum.
 
I called the medical provider and they said I had an outstanding balance of $58 and they had mailed me a bill 6 weeks ago. I never received it, so I asked them to what address they had for me. Well, not only was it not my MAILING address, they had the wrong home address. I told them where to send the bill and to update my info in their files. Makes me wonder who is entering the data in their system. Also, why do people assume I get mail at my physical address? Many here have a PO box address and they will not put mail in a box that has a home address on it.
 
debodun said:
I have received several call the last few days from a number I didn't recognize. If I don't know the number, I don't answer. I did an online search and could only find one vague reference to it as being a collection agency for a health provider I patronized back in September. I am not aware that I owe them anything. I would assume I would have received a bill in the mail if there was a co-pay. Do you think this call is a scammer? Should I answer the next time?
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If it was area code 855-xxx-xxxx ignore it!!!
 
debodun said:
I called the medical provider and they said I had an outstanding balance of $58 and they had mailed me a bill 6 weeks ago. I never received it, so I asked them to what address they had for me. Well, not only was it not my MAILING address, they had the wrong home address. I told them where to send the bill and to update my info in their files. Makes me wonder who is entering the data in their system. Also, why do people assume I get mail at my physical address? Many here have a PO box address and they will not put mail in a box that has a home address on it.
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Im amazed that the sent it to a collection agency. Why didn't they phone instead?

I dont answer calls I don't recognize.
 
debodun said:
I called the medical provider and they said I had an outstanding balance of $58 and they had mailed me a bill 6 weeks ago. I never received it, so I asked them to what address they had for me. Well, not only was it not my MAILING address, they had the wrong home address. I told them where to send the bill and to update my info in their files. Makes me wonder who is entering the data in their system. Also, why do people assume I get mail at my physical address? Many here have a PO box address and they will not put mail in a box that has a home address on it.
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I call someone like you a responsible person. If you had ignored the call, it would likely have hurt your credit score. However, if you had picked up the phone, you would have avoided a great amount of anxiety and worry.
 
Big Horn said:
You have admitted that you have nothing to lose. You don't own a home; you don't even own a washer and dryer.
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Nevertheless I was scammed out of 1200 dollars taken out of my bank account. Not through a phone call. I got it back. Unlike you I'm not naive and I don't trust everybody . Seniors are being scammed every day. They pick up the phone and give out all kinds of information because they believe it is the government calling. You can do whatever you like. It's an international problem.
 
Big Horn said:
They're not going to shoot a poisoned needle through the phone line. Common sense dictates that we answer every call. If the call isn't important, it's easy enough to terminate it. Reading this thread, I get the impression that there are too many deadbeats and fugitives in the forum.
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Sir, that is only a fugitive wannabe and a deadbeat in name only.
 
Big Horn said:
They're not going to shoot a poisoned needle through the phone line. Common sense dictates that we answer every call. If the call isn't important, it's easy enough to terminate it. Reading this thread, I get the impression that there are too many deadbeats and fugitives in the forum.
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I disagree and if that makes me a deadbeat or a fugitive then so be it.

I maintain a telephone for my convenience and only answer it when it's convenient for me. I agree with others that if it is important to the caller they will leave a message so that I can decide if and when I will call them back.
 
Aunt Bea said:
I disagree and if that makes me a deadbeat or a fugitive then so be it.

I maintain a telephone for my convenience and only answer it when it's convenient for me. I agree with others that if it is important to the caller they will leave a message so that I can decide if and when I will call them back.
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There are many things that I don't like, but they are necessary. I don't like to pay income tax. I don't like to deal with the tax assessor. I don't like to go through the nuisance of vehicle maintenance. I didn't enjoy my last colonoscopy. I don't like it when my porch is icy. I don't enjoy sitting stopped for up to twenty minutes each way when I drive to town because of a major road project. I don't like it when the store is out of my favorite brand of butter. I really hate it when I feed my cat and after eating just a little bit, he meows for more. I don't like not being a billionaire. I could mention a hundred more.

However, I must deal with all of these problems. So must you and everyone else except billionaires, although I have sometimes seen one lady billionaire in Walmart.
 
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Big Horn said:
There are many things that I don't like, but they are necessary. I don't like to pay income tax. I don't like to deal with the tax assessor. I don't like to go through the nuisance of vehicle maintenance. I didn't enjoy my last colonoscopy. I don't like it when my porch is icy. I don't enjoy sitting stopped for up to twenty minutes each when I drive to town because of a major road project. I don't like it when the store is out of my favorite brand of butter. I really hate it when I feed my cat and after eating just a little bit, he meows for more. I don't like not being a billionaire. I could mention a hundred more.

However, I must deal with all of these problems. So must you and everyone else except billionaires, although I have sometimes seen one lady billionaire in Walmart.
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I'm not a billionaire but I refuse to let my telephone run my life.
 
Aunt Bea said:
I disagree and if that makes me a deadbeat or a fugitive then so be it.

I maintain a telephone for my convenience and only answer it when it's convenient for me. I agree with others that if it is important to the caller they will leave a message so that I can decide if and when I will call them back.
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Just because someone can dial 7 or 11 numbers doesn't mean I am required to talk to him or her. I bought and paid for my telephone as a convenience to me, not anyone I don't want to talk to.

I don't have a Pavlovian response to a ringing phone, must answer, must answer, pant pant.
 
I'm in business and I know a lot of people screen their calls. If I don't get an answer I always leave a message so they know I'm not a telemarketer.
I think most businesses do the same thing which is why I'm still a bit skeptical of the whole thing. Wrong addresses, etc
You've all heard of the scam where all they need is a "yes" from you to a simple question.
My house phone is mainly for screening calls and as a backup to my cell.
 
hearlady said:
I'm in business and I know a lot of people screen their calls. If I don't get an answer I always leave a message so they know I'm not a telemarketer.
I think most businesses do the same thing which is why I'm still a bit skeptical of the whole thing. Wrong addresses, etc
You've all heard of the scam where all they need is a "yes" from you to a simple question.
My house phone is mainly for screening calls and as a backup to my cell.
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I always assume that when a caller asks me to confirm information or correct information that they are just phishing to get my information. If it is a business that I have a relationship with I hang up and call back at a number I know is legitimate.
 
Smiling Jane said:
Just because someone can dial 7 or 11 numbers doesn't mean I am required to talk to him or her. I bought and paid for my telephone as a convenience to me, not anyone I don't want to talk to.

I don't have a Pavlovian response to a ringing phone, must answer, must answer, pant pant.
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I agree. I answer my phone only when I want to. There are a few numbers I always pick up on -- my sister, my next door neighbor, etc. Otherwise, I do not pick up on numbers I do not recognize, or of people I don't want to talk to, or when I am in the middle of something.
 

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