Merchants' Credit Guide Company

2019-12-05

Bolingbrook, IL

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: Medical debt

Didn't receive notice of right to dispute
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-11-27

Fitchburg, WI

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: Medical debt

Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company Response: Company can't verify or dispute the facts in the complaint Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-11-21

Chicago, IL

Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem

Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports: Credit reporting

Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Complaint: I am trying to avoid having to use an attorney and bringing action against them in the spirit of not complicating things for everyone. There is an easy fix to my issue. What has transpired here is really unfair and it is a classic example of why collection companies have such bad reputations. I owe quite a bit in medical bills, I had major health issues within my family and I had an XXXX in XXXX XXXX I have never experienced something like this before and it was a very difficult and stresful situation to say the least. Allow me to elaborate on my situation. As I stated, I owe quite a bit in medical bills and Ive never run away from my obligations. I made a decision to start the process of resolving my medical bills. I had so many medical bills and multiple accounts reporting to my credit reports that I sent over a request to Merchants Credit Guide to validate all of them. I wanted a proper accounting of all of my medical bills so I can get around to how much was owed. The medical billing industry is a mess, it is a very confusing and hard to understand. That is why I took the action that I did. After that, I reached out and spoke with Mr. XXXX and explained my situation. I am a XXXX XXXX XXXX and I work about 65-75 hours per week. My business is doing well but I need to expand and I need a commercial loan to take the next step. The issue I'm running into is my credit score has been significantly affected by all of my medical collections. I relayed all of this information to Mr. XXXX and he was very helpful. We agreed to have him to tally up the total amount that I owed and we came to a deal. I would make a payment of {$12000.00} which I did and the rest of what is owed would be taken care of in monthly payments to the tune of {$300.00} per month. Mr. XXXX was very happy to get this size of a one time payment from me and was happy that we were able to work out a deal. His end of the deal would be to make sure that any collection account that is reporting to my credit reports would be deleted and that I would have no collection accounts from Merchants Credit Guide. I made the payment of {$12000.00} and we were on our way or so I thought. I kept monitoring my credit and saw that some collections were deleted but then to my surprise, I saw that 2 additional and new collections from Merchants Credit Guide were added to my credit report. 1 for {$23000.00} and another for {$6000.00}. I had no idea what was going on. I placed a call to Mr. XXXX to follow up and he assured me that the requests to remove the collection accounts from my credit reports were processed and that it was just a matter of time until the system updates. I waited another two weeks and those collections were still there. I reached out back again and that is when he looked further into it and then stated to me that those were medical bills that he did not see in the past when he looked it up. He stated that there was a name variation and that my former last name XXXX was what he hadnt searched under. There is a serious problem with this and he is not being truthful. 1. I have not received treatment under the last name XXXX in a very long time. 2 .He used my social security number to look up my unpaid medical bills. ( That should have given him access to everything as that number has always been the same ). 3. Merchants Credit Guide violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act when they reported these two new collection accounts to my credit reports because they never sent me the initial Dunning Letter that they are obligated to do so under law. This is a clear violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act and I am prepared to take legal action against them. Its disgraceful that I have been treated this way. Mr. XXXX knew how important it was for me to have a clean credit report and I made a significant payment ( {$12000.00} ) to start the process. We had an agreement and they did not honor their end. He was extremely negligent or deliberately deceptive in his dealings with me. I do not believe that he missed those medical collections. Something happened with the higher ups within this company and they made a decision to add those to my credit report since they already received a {$12000.00} payment from me. I agreed to make payments until all of my medical bills have been paid. I do not understand why they did this but it is absurd. I am asking that they do what is right and submit a request to delete the two new collection accounts and honor their part of the agreement that we have made. I will fulfill all of my obligations as promised.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-11-18

TX

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Medical debt

Debt is not yours
Complaint: Merchants Credit Guide - Opened XX/XX/2018 XXXX XXXX XXXX {$580.00} I recently received a call from this debt collector. They asked me if I'd like to make a payment on this. I told her i havent ever been to an XXXX Hospital to the best of my knowledge and she laughed and said " okay '' and hung up. 1st.. this was inappropriate. 2ns she didnt even give me a chance to ask any question about the charges. Im positive this isnt for me. It just recently hit my credit and i havent been to a hospital in i dont even know how long. I would like proof of this charge and to have someone explain whats going on. Or how they allowed someone else to use my identification to get medical treatment. I feel like i could have got the information i needed from the debt collector to try and help clear this up but like i said.. they laughed and hung up instead of trying to explain what the charges were for and where they came from. Please remove this from my credit ASAP.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-11-15

Bolingbrook, IL

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: Medical debt

Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-11-06

Grand Prairie, TX

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Medical debt

Debt is not yours
Company Response: Company can't verify or dispute the facts in the complaint Closed with non-monetary relief

Timely Response

2019-11-05

Bedford, TX

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: I do not know

Debt is not yours
Complaint: I have disputed this item with the credit reporting agency and they reported you confirmed the account as valid. I honestly do not believe to ever have any relationship with this collection agency or original creditor. Also there are several inaccuracies with this account the way it's reporting and that's a total violation of FCRA and FDCPA laws and regulations. In a good faith effort to resolve the matter amicably, I must demand proof of this debt, specifically the alleged contract or other instrument bearing my signature, as well as proof of your authority in this matter. Absent such proof, you must correct any erroneous reports of this past debt as mine. I am writing to request that you please provide the following information : 1. Please evidence your authorization under 15 USC 1692 ( e ) and 15 USC 1692 ( f ) in this alleged matter. 2. What is your authorization of law for your collection of information? 3. What is your authorization of law for your collection of this alleged debt? 4. Please evidence your authorization to do business or operate in this state. 5. Please evidence proof of the alleged debt, including the alleged contract or other instrument bearing my signature. 6. Please provide a complete account history, including any charges added for collection activity.
Company Response: Company can't verify or dispute the facts in the complaint Closed with non-monetary relief

Timely Response

2019-11-04

TX

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: Medical debt

Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Complaint: My complaint is regarding Merchants Credit Guide Collection Company listed on my credit report also under XXXX XXXX XXXX for {$280.00} and {$750.00} I have sent several letters disputing this debt and It was removed however it keeps popping up and the documentation they allegedly sent to the Credit Bureaus is a direct violation of my HIPPA rights. I would like for this debt and any additional debts from this company removed from my credit report immediately. It was removed and added back to my credit report and I was not notified with any documentation from the Bureaus or Creditors.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-11-02

Grand Prairie, TX

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Medical debt

Debt is not yours
Company Response: Company can't verify or dispute the facts in the complaint Closed with non-monetary relief

Timely Response

2019-10-30

Glen Ellyn, IL

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: I do not know

Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-10-27

IL

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Medical debt

Debt was result of identity theft
Complaint: This kind of account is placed as a charged off account, be sure to inform me precisely why there's a balance indicating on the document whether it's a charge off? The balance is, in fact, wrong, please make sure to reverse it to XXXX or remove the item fully. Please also produce documentation to verify all the charges and credits in this supposed account that caused the extremely high credit figure you might have displaying on my account. My demand to present this records is a standard information demand in accordance with my rights honored within the fair credit billing act. If you fail to give these details per my civil rights petition, please make sure you quickly remove this specific wrong posting.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-10-24

Arlington, TX

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: I do not know

Debt is not yours
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-10-23

Ashburn Park, IL

Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem

Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports: Credit reporting

Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-10-18

Bryn Mawr, WA

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: I do not know

Debt is not yours
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-10-11

Indianapolis, IN

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: Private student loan debt

Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Complaint: On XX/XX/2019, I mailed a certified letter to Merchants Credit Guide Co to request additional information for verification of debt, including an indication of my responsibility to the said debt ( signed contract and/or promissory note ) amongst other personally identifiable information and my relationship with the said creditor. On XX/XX/19, I received a printed itemized statement of charges ; none of which identified my responsibility to pay. I do not owe this debt and I have not received anything from the collection agency that would convince me that the debt is valid or belongs to me.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-10-05

Beach Park, IL

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: Medical debt

Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with non-monetary relief

Timely Response

2019-10-01

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Medical debt

Debt was paid
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-09-27

Chicago, IL

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Medical debt

Debt was paid
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-09-14

Bellwood, IL

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: I do not know

Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-09-11

Naperville, IL

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: Medical debt

Didn't receive notice of right to dispute
Complaint: XX/XX/2019 From : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, IL XXXX To : MERCHANTS CREDIT GUIDE XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, IL XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX Subj : Please Verify Debt Below Account Number : XXXX Original Creditor : XXXX XXXX Balance : {$150.00} Dear MERCHANTS CREDIT GUIDE, This is to inform you that I've recently pulled my credit report and noticed that there's a collection from your agency on my credit report. I have never been notified of this collection. However, this letter does not imply that I refuse to pay this debt. Rather, I would like to dispute your claim. As per the FDCPA, I have the right to request a validation of this debt. I request you to prove that I am indeed the party who is by contract obligated to pay off this debt. I hope you are aware of the fact that reporting any invalidated information to major credit bureaus may constitute defamation of character, as negative listing on credit report does not allow me to enjoy the benefits of good credit. In addition, you must also be aware that until you validate this debt, you can neither continue collection activities nor report this information on my credit report. I'm sure your legal staff will agree that non-compliance with this request is likely to put your company in serious legal trouble with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) and other state/federal agencies. Please attach copies of the following documents : 1. Agreement with your client that authorizes you to collect on this alleged debt. 2. Agreement that bears signature of the alleged debtor wherein he promises to pay the creditor. 3. Complete payment history on this account so as to prove that the debt amount you wish to collect is correct. Thank you for your time, XXXX XXXX
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-09-03

Boulevard, NC

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: Medical debt

Didn't receive notice of right to dispute
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-08-20

Chicago, IL

Incorrect information on your report

Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports: Credit reporting

Account status incorrect
Complaint: XX/XX/2019 Regarding false collection activity from - Merchant 's Credit Guide XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX, IL XXXX I'm filing this complaint today, to bring to your attention, the actions of Merchant 's Credit Guide. This company is a XXXX-based collection agency that has placed TWO collection account actions on my XXXX and XXXX credit reportsts. As a result, my credit scores have dropped almost 80/50 points, respectively. After further investigating these reports, specifically speaking to the company that Merchant 's Credit Guide claims I owe ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) I've learned from from them there is NO RECORD IF ME/SERVICES RENDERED TO ME/BALANCE OWED BY ME on file. XXXX XXXX XXXX Billing - XXXX, XXXX I've also spoken to the insurance company that paid all of the workman 's comp claim from last XXXX XXXX injury and they stated that they have - NEVER BEEN INVOICED BY XXXX XXXX XXXX and that every claim was paid in full. This collection company is clearly COMMITTING FRAUD. Not only are they misrepresenting an organization in an effort to try and steal money from me, but they're refusing to correct this matter until a payment arrangement is made. I'm asking that you take action against them immediately. I'm also interested in learning what recourse I may have, as a result of what happened to my credit score. I can be reached XXXX XXXX. / XXXX XXXX. Central Time, Monday through Friday. XXXX
Company Response: Company believes complaint caused principally by actions of third party outside the control or direction of the company Closed with non-monetary relief

Timely Response

2019-08-17

Maumee, OH

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: Medical debt

Notification didn't disclose it was an attempt to collect a debt
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-08-12

Chicago, IL

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: Medical debt

Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Complaint: As of XX/XX/2019 I learned that Merchant Credit Guide filed derogatory information against my credit report regarding a debt that they were attempting to collect. I never received communication about this agency trying to collect a debt. I did not receive a telephone call nor any mailing from this company. If I had properly been notified of Merchant Credit Guide attempting to collect a debt from me, I would have surely contacted them immediately. The original owner of this debt is a pain clinic known as XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX located at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX IL. I used my insurance to handle this procedure. They did not tell me my insurance wouldnt cover the procedure. I did not learn of this until two years after the procedure and I received a bill of charges that were grossly over what should have been expected for this type of treatment and I was charged for treatment I did not even receive. I tried multiple times to contact someone in the billing department to resolve any monies that would be owed, I NEVER received any communication from them regarding payment arrangements, in fact the telephone numbers for the office no longer worked and when I went to the office physically it looked as if they were no longer in business. I plan to contact the Attorney General regarding the fraudulent practices of this institute.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-08-12

Bedford, TX

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Medical debt

Debt was result of identity theft
Complaint: Hi, My email and password was found on the blackweb and I have 19 data breaches dating from XXXX - XX/XX/XXXX. I have taken the appropriate measures to pay for credit monitoring services. In XXXX, a medical collection was added to my credit report that was inaccurate and unverifiable as it does not belong to me. After some research, I found out the original debt came from XXXX XXXX XXXX and was sold to Merchant Credit Guide Co. Unfortunately, XXXX XXXX XXXX was unable to give me any information about the debt over the phone and when I spoke to the records department because the debt head been sold. So, I started to dispute this information through the credit bureaus and Merchant Credit Guide Company by certified mail on XXXX XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, and XX/XX/XXXX. There was only two responses received on XX/XX/XXXX stating, " Dear Customer, This notice is to confirm that we are in receipt of your request for validation of the above mentioned account. We will send your request for the documentation to the creditor. Upon a receipt, we will for it on to you. If we are unable to obtain the documentation a a timely manner, we will close the account, cease any further collection activity and return the account to the creditor Sincerely, Compliance Department Merchant 's Credit Guide Company - This communication is from a debt collector and is an attempt to collect a debt,. Any information obtained we will be used for that purpose. '' The last correspondence was to the debt validation letter which was received by Merchant Credit Guide on XX/XX/XXXX, which stated there was an XXXX XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX, with no signature of the individual who actually signed or filled out the the emergency form. I have called Merchant Credit Guide Company on a number of occasions and the phone either rings continuous or makes a high pitch beep sound. And I have explained to the collector in numerous certified letters that my email address and passwords had been compromised and that I did not create this bill.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response