Merchants' Credit Guide Company

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2014/06/17) */
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to Mr. [redacted]'s concerns. We have investigated the history of the account with our client. Understanding that the funds may not have been returned by the ** directly to [redacted] but instead to Mr....

[redacted], the bottom line remains Mr. [redacted] received and is in possession of the funds that were intended to address the debt to [redacted]. Due to the circumstances, we are certainly willing to work with Mr. [redacted] regarding the credit reporting of the debt assuming we can work out a manageable repayment schedule, should he need one. As for the finance charge that has been added, I believe we can get it waived. Again, it lies with Mr. [redacted]. Like it or not, Mr. [redacted] received the funds that were to address this debt. The most expeditious way to get this resolved would be for Mr. [redacted] to pay this off directly.
[redacted]
President
Merchants' Credit Guide Co.
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 7, 2014/06/17) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
My issue is that I was a ** employee and a patient who was retaliated against by the ** by blowing a whistle on misconduct by ** employees. I was threatened and even had people access my records who shouldn't have who also also collaborated stories to try to get me arrested. You would be doing this country and our veterans a disservice by your actions. If [redacted] and your company are unhappy with the fact that the ** took something from you, than take a number like the rest of us. If I agree to your terms, than I take responsibility for what the ** has done just so things are more convenient for you. I will not take responsibility for organization that is corrupt and I would expect that [redacted] would stand up for their Veterans and tell the ** that the people who protected them should be treated better than this. If I submit to your request, what about the next veteran? The ** and [redacted] created debt letters out no-where to harass me and then caused the issue. I am sure you are aware that [redacted] is a Graduate School that teaches people to be CPA's but yet they agreed to give the ** money that they didn't owe? That does not speak well for the school who is educating our future leaders. I understand people make mistakes, but the ** offers the ability for me to waive the full amount that is owed if they make a mistake. Your request is more of a convenience for you and the school than a concern about my well being. I am not going to relinquish my rights to file a complaint against the ** because you see me as an easy target. Ethically I cannot pay you because this is a ** issue and if I don't stand up to this non-sense, than it will keep a culture going that abuses veterans. Why don't your company and [redacted] support Veterans and help us fight our battle with being real change to the ** instead of attacking the people who defended your Freedom. I do not owe you the money. The Fact remains that the ** stole it from you and you agreed to it. The Fact that the ** put the money in my account is irrelevant to you.

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2015/09/24) */
Thank you for the opportunity to address Ms. [redacted]'s complaint. Upon receipt of the complaint I immediately checked with our client to see if they ever received any money from a personal injury lawsuit. As of 9/22/15, they have not received...

any money towards these now self-pay balances. I will send a copy of the statement we received from our client to Ms. [redacted]. If Ms. [redacted] can provide me with her attorney's name and number, I will be happy to make a call to confirm the status of the lawsuit.
For the record, we are Business Associates with our client and therefore are able to receive and use for the purpose of payment of the account. We are in complete compliance with HIPAA XXX-XXX.
At this point, we are unable to delete the trade lines from Ms [redacted]'s credit bureau reports. However, if she can show that she won her personal injury case, we will delete our trade lines immediately.
Dan [redacted]
President
Merchants' Credit Guide Company

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory  to me. I am upset with the fact that it took 2 years for thos tp be removed and the amout of time I spent calling back and forth and finally having to take time out of my schedule to file this complaint against Merchants Credit with the [redacted].
Sincerely,[redacted] C. [redacted], Jr.
[redacted]

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to Mr. [redacted] complaint.  Unfortunately, Mr. [redacted] understanding of the FDCPA and the FCRA is inaccurate.  We have not violated Mr. [redacted] rights.  We have provided Mr. [redacted] with the documentation required to...

validate the debt.  He knows what the debt is for and he knows he is responsible for paying it.  Due to the age of the debt, it is due to drop off of Mr. [redacted] credit report anyway, we have sent the deletion of the collection item to the credit bureaus to remove our trade line from his credit report.  A letter confirming this deletion will be sent to Mr. [redacted].

Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because:payment was made through flexible spending account administered by [redacted]. Possibly healthcare provider did not track correctly but I have twice previously provided proof of payment and this should immediately be removed from credit bureaus.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

I suggest you go to the Federal Trade Commission web site, www.IDtheft.gov.  Fill out the Affidavit of Identity theft.  Get it notarized.  Got to your local police station and file a police report indicating someone stole your identity when they went to the hospital's emergency room for treatment.  Send us a copy of the Affidavit, a copy of the police report, and a copy of a picture ID.  Upon receipt we will investigate the identity theft with our client.

Thank you for bringing this to my attention.  Merchants' Credit Guide Company is a third-party debt collector.  On 4/6/15, we received an account placed for collection from one of our medical provider clients.  We mailed two letters to Ms. [redacted] to her address listed here.  Ms...

[redacted] states that she was told this would not be reported to the credit bureaus.  We have no record of ever speaking with Ms. [redacted].  Ms. [redacted] states that she has paid this claim.  We have checked with our client today, 7/14/17.  They do not have any record of payment.  I am more than happy to help Ms. [redacted] in any way to get this resolved.  If she could provide me with some kind of proof of payment, I will investigate where this money may have been applied.  Perhaps there was some miscommunication.  If so, we can help, Ms [redacted].  If she would like, she can email me directly, she can reach me at [redacted]@collectmcg.com.  Thank you.   [redacted], PresidentMerchants' Credit Guide Company

In response to Mr. [redacted] rejection, our client did not ignore the law.  But in light of Mr. [redacted] circumstances, I asked our client to reconsider the charges to Mr [redacted] accounts.  Our client has agreed to write off the balances and close the accounts.  In turn, we have closed the accounts in our system from any further collection activity.  These accounts were not reported to Mr. [redacted] credit reports.

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to Mr. [redacted] concerns.  We received accounts placed for collection from two of our clients back in 2013.  After we received these accounts we were notified of insurance payments and adjustments applied to these accounts.  There were small...

self-pay balances remaining after insurance.  Upon receipt of Mr. [redacted] complaint we contacted our clients and they agreed to write off the remaining balances.  Today, we will be sending deletions to all credit bureaus previously reported to.  In addition, we will send Mr. [redacted] a letter confirming these deletions.   [redacted], President

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2015/03/26) */
Thank you for the opportunity to address Mr. [redacted]'s complaint. First, I would like to set the record straight. I have reviewed the telephone calls with Mr. [redacted] and the letters that were sent to him. Never was he offered or...

promised to have the trade line deleted or removed from his credit report upon payment. He was told it would be updated as paid in full. Mr. [redacted] paid the account on 10/28/14 and it was updated as paid in full with the credit bureaus on 11/17/14. When Mr. [redacted] called us on 3/24/15, he demanded the trade line be deleted. The call was escalated to a supervisor whom Mr. [redacted] was yelling at and speaking to in a way no one should, so she ended the call. The supervisor escalated the complaint to the manager who later called Mr. [redacted] to explain the situation. Mr. [redacted] answered the call and responded yelling and using inappropriate language and hung up on the manager. The manager called that one time, and not again.
Mr. [redacted] apparently does not understand that when an account goes to collection, a separate "collection" trade line can be reported.
Nevertheless, in the interest of consumer relations, we have deleted the trade line and sent Mr. [redacted] a letter confirming the deletion.
[redacted]
President
Merchants' Credit Guide Company

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2014/10/13) */
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to Mr [redacted]'s concerns. There is nothing fraudulent about the account we reported to the credit bureaus. It is for the [redacted] group that saw Mr. [redacted] on 8/22/13 and...

8/23/13. Mr. [redacted] made two payments on the account before it was written off to bad debt and referred to collection. Today, 10/13/14, I mailed a copy of the account documentation from our client, showing the dates of service, the providers names, the description of services, the amount of the charges and the payments applied to his account. We are happy to work with Mr. [redacted] to come to a mutually agreeable payment schedule to resolve this account.
[redacted]
President
Merchants' Credit Guide Co.
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 7, 2014/10/21) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
Merchants' Credit Guide is a fraud! Its a scam to collect money from innocent individuals and ruin their credit! Its company should be shut down immediately and legal action brought against those involved. Anyone that is employed by this fraudulent company should be ashamed. Cheating, swindling, and deceiving people is UNACCEPTABLE in Gods eyes and one day you will be punished for your actions. Until then......BEWARE of MERCHANTS' CREDIT GUIDE Co.

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2015/08/17) */
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to Mr.[redacted] concerns. I apologize for the delay in getting these accounts removed as promised. I have spoken to the manager that should have taken care of this so it doesn't happen again. ...

The removal of these accounts has been requested today. It may take a few days for the credit bureaus to update their data bases. If Mr. [redacted] has any further problem, he may contact me directly.
[redacted]
President
Merchants' Credit Guide Co.

Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because: "If an eligible individual is entitled to medical assistance with respect to a service for which a third party is liable for payment, the provider furnishing the service may not seek to collect from the individual payment for that service if the total liability of the third party for that service is at least equal to the amount payable for that service by the Department;" (Illinois Administrative Code, Title 89 Chapter I Section140.12 (d)) Your client is completely ignoring the law. Your client has failed to respond to communication from my attorney in regards to how they may settle this matter.
Sincerely,
Jeremy [redacted]

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to Ms. [redacted] concerns.  There are three accounts.  One for the date of service 8/28/12 for $279.00, another for date of service 9/3/12 for $279.00, and one for date of service 4/16/13 for $362.00.  Though the provider did not receive the...

insurance information at the time of service, they have verified that she was eligible for coverage for the two accounts for $279.00 each.  The provider verified the third account for $362.00 was denied for lack of coverage, resulting in the account becoming a self-pay obligation.  We have taken steps to delete the two accounts for $279.00 and will send Ms. [redacted] letters of confirmation of these deletions.  The account for $362.00 remains due.  We are sending Ms. [redacted] the account statement for her review.  We suggest Ms. [redacted] contact the insurance company to have this reviewed.  They may reconsider it.  If the provider tries to re-bill the claim, the insurance will deny it again.[redacted]PresidentMerchants' Credit Guide Company

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to Ms. [redacted]'s concerns.  Ms. [redacted] is correct in that we do not own this debt.  We work on behalf of our client, the original creditor.  We received this account from our client on 10/13/14.  Since that time, we have notified Ms. [redacted]...

by mail at her current address and tried several times to contact her by phone at her current phone number.  We've never received a response from her until now.  We are actually the second collection agency to try and collect this account for our client.  Upon receipt of Ms. [redacted]'s complaint, we called our client to make sure they still showed the same balance of $900 outstanding.  They confirmed the balance of $900 and said they have not received any payments from Ms. [redacted].  We have obtained a copy of the account statement and signed agreement to send to Ms. [redacted].  I suspect she may be confusing this account with some other account she may be paying.  We stand ready to work with Ms. [redacted] to come to a manageable resolution. Dan [redacted], PresidentMerchants' Credit Guide Company

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. I have verified this has been removed from the credit reporting.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

I'm afraid Ms. [redacted] has been misinformed.  She has received services from one of our clients for which she agreed to pay.  She has not paid the total amount that is due our client.  On August 24th, I mailed her copies of the agreement she signed with our client.  We are an...

agent for our client.  We do not have nor need an agreement with our clients' customers to collect the money that is due our client.  We stand ready to work with Ms. [redacted] when she is ready to resolve her delinquent accounts with our client.  We look forward to hearing from her. [redacted]PresidentMerchants' Credit Guide Company

In response to Ms. [redacted] 10/3/16 request for validation of the accounts in question, we ordered the documentation from our clients.  The client for account [redacted] responded with the account information requested and we forwarded that information to Ms. [redacted] on 10/31/16, within the 30...

days required.  The other client for account [redacted] did not respond in time.  They sent us the documentation after the 30 days had expired.  On 11/21/16, the account number [redacted] was deleted from Ms. [redacted] credit reports.  A letter confirming this deletion was sent to her on 11/23/16.  In the interest of consumer relations, today, 11/28/16, we sent the deletion for the account [redacted] to the credit bureaus.  Again, we will send written confirmation of this deletion to Ms. [redacted] as well.  So you know, it generally takes the credit bureaus a few days to update their databases.

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to Mr. [redacted] concerns.  Upon receipt of Mr. [redacted] complaint we asked our client to review the history of the accounts.  The subject medical claims were filed with the third-party's insurance company by our client.  The insurance company did...

not pay the claims.  Upon investigation of Mr. [redacted] claims, we were informed by both the insurance company and his attorney representing him in his personal injury case that the case had settled, the funds were received on June 3, 2016, and is now closed.  Therefore, the responsibility now falls to Mr. [redacted] to pay for the medical treatment he received from our client.