Debt collection -- False statements or representation -- Complaint #5291084
Complaint Overview
Complaint ID: 5291084
Company: Merchants' Credit Guide Company
Product: Debt collection
Sub-Product: Medical debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-Issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount
State: Virginia
ZIP Code: 236XX
Date Received: 2022-03-06T12:00:00-05:00
Date Sent to Company: 2022-03-06T12:00:00-05:00
Company Response: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Submitted Via: Web
Tags: Servicemember
Consumer Narrative
Disputes have been filed with the credit bureaus and recorded phonecalls have been made. Additionally there was a conflicting statement sent. I called to ask for an itemized statement to explain the {$390.00} collection sent to Merchant Credit Guide by getting the bill from the source of the debt, XXXX XXXX. XXXX was bought out by XXXX XXXX and here is where things get complicated. Instead of getting the itemized bill for the {$390.00} in collections I was sent a completely different bill totalling {$930.00}. When I asked which department could explain the line-items, why my bill was suddenly almost 3 times higher, and who had responsibility for disputing incorrect or fraudulently added line items I was transferred between departments on a near endless loop. When someone finally took the time to explain the new items the explanations didn't make any sense. {$630.00} for XXXX XXXX Type A Level 3 was explained as " to cover costs for nurses because the ER is expensive. '' That's not a proper explanation for an itemized bill. They never explained the exact service ( s ) or item ( s ) I would have recieved. They later tried back tracking and explained the new charges as " because your insurance was denied, '' which might have made sense if the bill sent to collections was for the newer, higher amount. The part they failed to explain to me was how and why the charges increased *after* I filed disputes and asked for a correct, itemized statement to explain the {$390.00} owed. When a form of resolution was proposed, it was that they would remove the old account in collections so they could validate the newer bill instead of resolving the disputed {$390.00} properly. Again, making it seem as though the new amount was a retaliation for trying to exercise my rights to know why and how I am being billed the way that I am. My issues arent with Merchant 's Credit Guide, but with XXXX XXXX for trying to alter a bill well after it was sent to collections. I have went ahead to call my insurance and try to reach a resolution on that end as a courtesy, however the dates in question are too far back for them to have any ability to extend coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Complaint #5291084 about?
Complaint #5291084 was filed against Merchants' Credit Guide Company regarding Debt collection specifically about False statements or representation. It was received by the CFPB on 2022-03-06T12:00:00-05:00.
How did Merchants' Credit Guide Company respond to this complaint?
The company responded with: "Closed with non-monetary relief". The response was timely.
What is the risk level of this complaint?
See the risk assessment section for details on this complaint's risk profile.
How do I file a similar complaint?
You can file a complaint with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Select the appropriate product category (Debt collection) and describe your issue in detail.
Can I see other complaints against Merchants' Credit Guide Company?
Yes, visit the Merchants' Credit Guide Company company profile at readthecomplaint.com/company/merchants-credit-guide-company to see all complaints, risk scores, and analysis.
Disclaimer
This analysis is AI-generated based on publicly available CFPB complaint data. It does not constitute financial or legal advice.