ComplaintsforKansas Counselors, Inc. (KCI)

• Initial Complaint

  06/15/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  KCI is reporting four accounts to my credit report. They have duplicated these accounts. The totals are 1144, 1144, 56,56. These are emergency room bills that are over 7 years old. KCI is fraudulently claiming these accounts are only 1 year 11 months old, and 2 years old. I have disputes with ********** against these duplicated charges that are OLDER than they are claiming these accounts are. I am not able, and will never pay this debt. I have never spoken a word with anyone from kansas counselors. This account is older than seven years old and needs to stop being reported per the FCRA, at a minimum, the duplicated charges need to stop being reported.

  

  Business response

  06/21/2022

  Dear Mr. **********:
  
  This letter is in response to your correspondence submitted to the Better Business Bureau (“BBB”). 
  
  Your statement indicates you allege that Kansas Counselors, Inc. placed duplicate account balances on your trade line and that the accounts in question are more than seven (7) years old.  I want to take a moment to address your concern.
  
  First, as is required by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), and is strictly followed by KCI, an initial notice is sent to all legal guarantors on delinquent accounts placed with our agency. This notice contains our agency name, the name of the original creditor, your account number, the date of service, the exact amount owed, the full mini-Miranda, and the full statement of your rights to dispute and to request validation of the debt(s) in writing within thirty (30) days of receiving the notice. 
  
  KCI mailed you dunning notices on 10/18/19, 10/18/19, 07/07/20, 07/07/20, respectively. The letters sent to your address were not returned via the US Postal Service.  You did not exercise your rights within the time frame prescribed by law.
  
  Until receiving your complaint via the Better Business Bureau Complaint Portal, KCI has never received any written correspondence from you claiming to dispute this debt, nor requesting validation. Nor have we ever directly received any verbal or written FCRA dispute.
  
  My records do, however, indicate that we’ve received two (2) disputes from you regarding your account (*******) submitted directly through the credit reporting agencies (CRAs).  These Automated Consumer Dispute Verifications (ACDVs) are forwarded to our agency through the Online Solution for Complete and Accurate Reporting (e-OSCAR) system. With each dispute, our agency performs a “reasonable investigation”, as is required by law, and after coordinating with our client, found that the disputed information was accurate and the debt to be valid and still unpaid.  These actions were completed, in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), most recently on 06/09/22.  At that time, we marked the account as disputed, and provided the results of our query to the CRAs via e-OSCAR.
  
  Please understand, after completing our “reasonable investigation” in compliance with the FCRA and responding back to the CRAs via e-OSCAR, KCI is not under any obligation to send any additional materials to you.
  
  Nevertheless, as a courtesy to you, I am mailing you a copy of the itemized bills for your debts. These documents are directly from the original creditor and serve as validation of the services rendered to you by the emergency room physicians at *** ****** ********* ******** * ***** **** on 07/08/19 and 03/09/20, respectively.   I do not wish to attach them here so as to safeguard your rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act HIPAA). You may keep these for your records.
  
  More importantly, despite the confusion you may have experienced because the amounts are the same, they are, in fact, four separate charges stemming from two emergency room visits at *** ****** ********* ******** * ***** **** on 07/08/19 and 03/09/20, respectively.  Our investigations have revealed that you are the responsible party, that the balances and creditors are correct, and that you have not paid the balances **** *** claims you owe.
  
  Additionally, as you can discern from the dates of service during which these charges were incurred, that the debts are clearly not seven years old.
  
  Unfortunately, we cannot, at this time, agree to your desired resolution on your account based on the fact that KCI has complied with federal law regarding notice requirements and our verification efforts indicate you are the responsible party in this case, and that you have failed to pay the delinquent balance.  In the event you should decide to resolve this debt, please feel free to contact my office to speak with a helpful representative who will gladly assist you.
  
  I wish to personally thank you for your correspondence and appreciate the opportunity to alleviate your concerns. KCI has now responded and considers this matter closed. 
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  
  ***** ***** *****
  Director of Compliance
  
  
  This communication is from a debt collector.  This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

• Initial Complaint

  05/16/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I checked my credit report and noticed I had 2 allege collections from KANSAS COUNSELORS INC. that was opened in 12/27/2019 and 03/20/2020balance are $776.00 and $217.00 with account numbers starting in **************** *** ***************** I do not recognize having any agreement with KANSAS COUNSELORS INC., and I am not liable for these accounts. This alleged debt is not mine I never entered into a signed agreement or completed an original contract with KANSAS COUNSELORS INC.,These inaccurate collections are NOT MINE. I never provided any written consent or permissible purpose for this allege creditor KANSAS COUNSELORS INC. to report on my consumer report. I AM THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR and THE ONLY ONE who can extend credit or permission to report to my consumer report. This is a violation of U.S. Code 1681b permissible purposes of consumer reports. Pursuant to 15 U.S. CODE 1681b(a)(2)- Permissible purpose, of consumer reports. (A) in general Subject to subsection (c) any consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report under the following circumstances and no other (2) In accordance with the written instructions of the consumer to whom it relates. This is a violation and also identity theft! 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2- Block of information resulting from identity theft. You have no right under the law to send me any type of communication what so ever. Cease and Desist all communication immediately. Further More You Are attempting to collect an alleged debt where the so called original creditor has falsely represent the character other Violations under 15 USC 1692 e that you are implementing your self. Violation: 15 USC 1692b(5), 15 USC 1692(2)(A), 15 USC 1692e(3), 15 USC 1692(6)(B), 15 USC 1692(9), 15 USC 1692(10), 15 USC 1692(11) If your office fails to respond to this validation request within 10 days from the date of your receipt, all references to this account must be deleted and completely removed from my consumer report!

  

  Business response

  05/17/2022

  Dear Mr. *******
  
  This letter is in response to your correspondence submitted to the Better Business Bureau (“BBB”). 
  
  Your statement indicates you allege that Kansas Counselors, Inc. (KCI) has violated 15 U.S. CODE 1681b(a)(2) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) by listing the above-referenced dents on your credit reporting trade line.  I want to take a moment to address your concern.
  
  First, the statute you have cited regarding Permissible Purposes of Consumer Reports pertains primarily to credit reporting agencies.  KCI is not a consumer reporting agency.  Secondly, this statute pertains to inquiries into a consumer’s credit report.  KCI has made no such inquiry.
  
  Instead, KCI is defined as a Data Furnisher and as such, subscribes to the credit reporting agencies as a Data Furnisher and has the responsibility of furnishing correct and accurate data to them in accordance with the FCRA.
  
  Additionally, KCI maintains a Services Agreement with the creditor in question (MEP, LLC.) to furnish such data on accounts written off to bad debt and referred to us for collection.  In compliance with the National Consumer Assistance Plan, KCI waits an additional 180-days to report unpaid medical debt to the CRAs.
  
  The creditor in question for both of your accounts is MEP, LLC. or Metro Emergency Physicians, LLC.   MEP, LLC. is the emergency room physician’s billing service for St. Luke’s East Hospital, which is the facility you visited for emergency room services on 09/22/19 and 11/15/19, respectively.
  
  As is required by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), and is strictly followed by KCI, an initial notice is sent to all legal guarantors on delinquent accounts placed with our agency. This notice contains our agency name, the name of the original creditor, your account number, the date of service, the exact amount owed, the full mini-Miranda, and the full statement of your rights to dispute and to request validation of the debt(s) in writing within thirty (30) days of receiving the notice. 
  
  KCI mailed you dunning notices on 12/27/19 and 03/20/20 for the accounts listed above to the address you provided at the time of your visit(s). The letters sent to your address were not returned via the US Postal Service.  You did not exercise your rights within the time frame prescribed by law.
  
  Until receiving your complaint via the Better Business Bureau Complaint Portal, KCI has never received any written correspondence from you claiming to dispute these debts, nor requesting validation. Nor have we ever directly received any verbal or written FCRA disputes.
  
  My records do, however, indicate that we’ve received disputes from you regarding the two accounts listed above, submitted directly through the credit reporting agencies (CRAs).  These Automated Consumer Dispute Verifications (ACDVs) are forwarded to our agency through the Online Solution for Complete and Accurate Reporting (e-OSCAR) system. With each dispute, our agency performs a “reasonable investigation”, as is required by law, and after coordinating with our client, found that the disputed information was accurate and the debt to be valid and still unpaid.  These actions were completed, in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), most recently on 05/03/22.  At that time, we marked the accounts as disputed, and provided the results of our query to the CRAs via e-OSCAR.
  
  Please understand, after completing our “reasonable investigation” in compliance with the FCRA and responding back to the CRAs via e-OSCAR, KCI is not under any obligation to send any additional materials to you. 
  
  Nevertheless, as a courtesy to you, I am mailing you a copy of the itemized bills for your debts. These documents are directly from the original creditor and serve as validation of the services rendered to you by the emergency room physicians at St. Luke’s East Hospital on 09/22/19 and 11/15/19, respectively. I do not wish to attach them here so as to safeguard your rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act HIPAA). You may keep these for your records.
  
  Unfortunately, we cannot, at this time, agree to your desired resolution on your account based on the fact that KCI has complied with federal law regarding notice requirements and our verification efforts indicate you are the responsible party in this case, and that you have failed to pay the delinquent balances.  In the event you should decide to resolve these debts, please feel free to contact my office to speak with a helpful representative who will gladly assist you.  Until such time, KCI will duly note your request to cease and desist from further communication with you.
  
  I wish to personally thank you for your correspondence and appreciate the opportunity to alleviate your concerns. KCI has now responded and considers this matter closed. 
  
  
  ********** ***** ***** ***** ******** ** ********** **** ************* ** **** * **** **********  **** ** ** ******* ** ******* * **** *** *** *********** ******** **** ** **** *** **** ********
  

• Initial Complaint

  05/02/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I checked my credit report and noticed I had 3 allege collections from (KS COUNSLRS,) that was opened in (04/01/2020 and 09/01/2021, 09/01/2021) balance is ($1845.00, $776.00 and $776.00) with account number starting in (**************** and ****************, and *****************) I do not recognize having any agreement with KS COUNSLRS., and I am not liable for these accounts. This alleged debt is not mine I never entered into a signed agreement or completed an original contract with (KS COUNSLRS.),These inaccurate collections are NOT MINE. I never provided any written consent or permissible purpose for this allege creditor (KS COUNSLRS) to report on my consumer report. I AM THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR and THE ONLY ONE who can extend credit or permission to report to my consumer report. This is a violation of U.S. Code 1681b permissible purposes of consumer reports. Pursuant to 15 U.S. CODE 1681b(a)(2)- Permissible purpose, of consumer reports. (A) in general Subject to subsection (c) any consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report under the following circumstances and no other (2) In accordance with the written instructions of the consumer to whom it relates. This is a violation and also identity theft! 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2- Block of information resulting from identity theft. You have no right under the law to send me any type of communication what so ever. Cease and Desist all communication immediately. Further More You Are attempting to collect an alleged debt where the so called original creditor has falsely represent the character other Violations under 15 USC 1692 e that you are implementing your self. Violation: 15 USC 1692b(5), 15 USC 1692(2)(A), 15 USC 1692e(3), 15 USC 1692(6)(B), 15 USC 1692(9), 15 USC 1692(10), 15 USC 1692(11) If your office fails to respond to this validation request within 10 days from the date of your receipt, all references to this account must be deleted and completely removed from my consumer report!

  

  Business response

  05/03/2022

  Dear Ms. ******:
  
  This letter is in response to your correspondence submitted to the Better Business Bureau (“BBB”). 
  
  Your statement indicates you allege that Kansas Counselors, Inc. (KCI) has violated 15 U.S. CODE 1681b(a)(2) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) by listing the above-referenced dents on your credit reporting trade line.  I want to take a moment to address your concern.
  
  First, the statute you have cited regarding Permissible Purposes of Consumer Reports pertains primarily to credit reporting agencies.  KCI is not a consumer reporting agency.  Secondly, this statute pertains to inquiries into a consumer’s credit report.  KCI has made no such inquiry.
  
  Instead, KCI is defined as a Data Furnisher and as such, subscribes to the credit reporting agencies as a Data Furnisher and has the responsibility of furnishing correct and accurate data to them in accordance with the FCRA.
  
  Additionally, KCI maintains a Services Agreement with the creditor in question (**** ***.) to furnish such data on accounts written off to bad debt and referred to us for collection.  In compliance with the National Consumer Assistance Plan, KCI waits an additional 180-days to report unpaid medical debt to the CRAs.
  
  The creditor in question for all three of your accounts is **** ***. or ***** ********* *********** ***.   **** ***. is the emergency room physician’s billing service for *** ****** Hospital of Kansas City, which is the facility you visited for emergency room services on 12/25/19, 06/07/21, and 06/07/21, respectively.
  
  As is required by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), and is strictly followed by KCI, an initial notice is sent to all legal guarantors on delinquent accounts placed with our agency. This notice contains our agency name, the name of the original creditor, your account number, the date of service, the exact amount owed, the full mini-Miranda, and the full statement of your rights to dispute and to request validation of the debt(s) in writing within thirty (30) days of receiving the notice. 
  
  KCI mailed you dunning notices on 04/03/20, 09/17/21, and 09/17/21 for the accounts listed above to the address you provided at the time of your visit(s). The letters sent to your address were not returned via the US Postal Service.  You did not exercise your rights within the time frame prescribed by law.
  
  Until receiving your complaint via the Better Business Bureau Complaint Portal, KCI has never received any written correspondence from you claiming to dispute these debts, nor requesting validation. Nor have we ever directly received any verbal or written FCRA disputes.
  
  My records do, however, indicate that we’ve received a dispute from you regarding the first account listed above, submitted directly through the credit reporting agencies (CRAs).  These Automated Consumer Dispute Verifications (ACDVs) are forwarded to our agency through the Online Solution for Complete and Accurate Reporting (e-OSCAR) system. With each dispute, our agency performs a “reasonable investigation”, as is required by law, and after coordinating with our client, found that the disputed information was accurate and the debt to be valid and still unpaid.  These actions were completed, in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), most recently on 02/02/21.  At that time, we marked the account as disputed, and provided the results of our query to the CRAs via e-OSCAR.
  
  Please understand, after completing our “reasonable investigation” in compliance with the FCRA and responding back to the CRAs via e-OSCAR, KCI is not under any obligation to send any additional materials to you. 
  
  Nevertheless, as a courtesy to you, I am mailing you a copy of the itemized bills for your debts. These documents are directly from the original creditor and serve as validation of the services rendered to you by the emergency room physicians at *** ****** Hospital of Kansas City on 12/25/19, 06/07/21, and 06/07/21, respectively. I do not wish to attach them here so as to safeguard your rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act HIPAA). You may keep these for your records.
  
  Unfortunately, we cannot, at this time, agree to your desired resolution on your account based on the fact that KCI has complied with federal law regarding notice requirements and our verification efforts indicate you are the responsible party in this case, and that you have failed to pay the delinquent balances.  In the event you should decide to resolve these debts, please feel free to contact my office to speak with a helpful representative who will gladly assist you.  Until such time, KCI will duly note your request to cease and desist from further communication with you.
  
  I wish to personally thank you for your correspondence and appreciate the opportunity to alleviate your concerns. KCI has now responded and considers this matter closed. 
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  
  ***** ***** *****
  Director of Compliance
  
  
  This communication is from a debt collector.  This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

• Initial Complaint

  03/24/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I went to the emergency room on 11/09/2021. I provided my insurance card during the visit. I was treated and left. The hospital transmitted my insurance information to the pharmacy for a prescription without issue. About a month later I get something in the mail stating the insurance carrier was unable to locate me with the information provided. Very odd considering two other providers from the same visit, as well as the pharmacy, submitted claims with no issue. I returned the form they requested the insurance information on, filled out with the same information from the card they have a copy of. I heard nothing back. Today I get a letter in the mail from a collection agency for $809. I logged on the my ****** healthcare and discovered several providers from that visit had submitted claims but not ******** ********* ********. Why was this sent to a collection agency without ever submitting it to my insurance carrier? I have no problem paying the bill but this needs to be submitted to my insurance carrier. Please send the back the the original creditor so they can fix this error.

  

  Business response

  03/25/2022

  Mr. ********:

  Your complaint focuses on the provider in this case regarding billing for your charges with your health insurance carrier.  I am unable to ascertain any actions that KCI has taken upon which your complaint could focus.  KCI is neither the medical provider in this case, and is not a biller for insurance purposes.  We have acted according to the law in this case.

  That said, with the knowledge you have provided, I have marked your account as disputed, per compliance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).

  Additionally, I welcome you to provide copies of the front and back of your insurance carrier card so that I may forward them to the original provider for potential rebilling.

  These copies may be e-mailed to:  [email protected].

  Barring that, I can only suggest that you review your complaint and relist it citing ** ********* ********.

   

  Customer response

  04/01/2022

  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed as Assumed Answered]
  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: Respectfully, your response to this complaint is a bit cavalier. I've just informed you of a glaring deficiency with a debt you're attempting to collect and you're response is basically to deflect responsibility and proclaim to have done nothing wrong. I understand that the billing issue needs to be resolved by the original creditor, which is why I stated my desired response was for you to send this account back to them. Take yourselves out of the picture entirely. I appreciate your offer to help get the insurance information to the original creditor, but this never should have been sent to you in the first place. An insured person's medical bill should not be with a collection agency prior to ever having been submitted to their insurance carrier. The debt you are attempting to collect is not valid, proper procedures were not followed, and I very likely do not owe the amount of money you're attempting to collect. Again, please send this account back to the original creditor, I will be in contact with them. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
  
  Regards,
  
  *********** ********

  

  Business response

  04/04/2022

  Mr. ********:

   

  I apologize if I gave you any impression that we treated your complaint with a lack of concern.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

  Your comments to the contrary, KCI has, in fact, acted entirely in compliance with federal law; from providing the initial dunning letter with notice of your rights, to marking your account as disputed.  We even followed up with the provider and made certain to respond to your complaint in a timely fashion via the BBB portal.

  All efforts for verification of your debt with the provider indicate that you are the legally responsible party and that the current balance is accurate.  Their records do not indicate that you presented a health insurance carrier card on your visit to the ER at ***** *** **** on 11/09/21.  Instead, the charges were listed as Self-Pay.

  We have offered to assist you in forwarding your carrier information to the provider for potential rebilling but you seem unwilling to comply.  You may also provide this information directly to their office if you would prefer, but to date, you have not communicated with their office either.

  Unfortunately, we do not generally return bad debt accounts which have been referred to us for collection under circumstances like this.

  We will, however, still be happy to assist you in resolving the outstanding debt in the manner we have outlined.

  I appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns.

  Customer response

  04/05/2022

  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed as Assumed Answered]
  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: This is complete and total nonsense. Every other provider from the same E.R. visit presented their claim to my insurance company and has been paid. Why your client did not do this is beyond me. Again, you just repeat the same mantra and take no action to resolve this. I will escalate this claim to whoever I need to. I filed a Better Business Bureau complaint against your client previously as well, so your claim that I haven't contacted them is quite easily refuted. This is not a valid debt and your claims to the contrary are false. Clearly you have no interest in the truth of the matter, just collecting money. I am not destitute and have the ability to pay this, I am more than willing to pay this once it has been properly submitted to my insurance carrier, but that needs to happen first. I understand this is an often made but rarely acted upon threat, but I say this with 100% honesty, I will retain an attorney before I pay you a dime. This is wrong and anyone can see that. This claim does not belong with your agency.

  Regards,
  
  *********** ********

• Initial Complaint

  03/14/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This collection agency put a debt I wasn't responsible for BACK ONTO COLLECTIONS after taking it off. The other charges put into collection from the hospital were deemed not my responsibility during the dispute and the other collection agencies took it off my report. This agency refuses to acknowledge I don't owe this debt. It was COVERED BY INSURANCE and was never a debt I owed in the first place. It needs to be taken off my credit report but they're basically trying to still steal from me.

  

  Business response

  03/15/2022

  Dear Ms. *****:
  
  This letter is in response to your correspondence submitted to the Better Business Bureau (“BBB”). 
  
  Your statement indicates you allege that Kansas Counselors, Inc. placed a debt back onto your trade line after removing it.  Also, you claim other agencies took the debt off your report.  I want to take a moment to address your concern.
  
  First, as is required by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), and is strictly followed by KCI, an initial notice is sent to all legal guarantors on delinquent accounts placed with our agency. This notice contains our agency name, the name of the original creditor, your account number, the date of service, the exact amount owed, the full mini-Miranda, and the full statement of your rights to dispute and to request validation of the debt(s) in writing within thirty (30) days of receiving the notice. 
  
  KCI mailed you a dunning notice on 01/28/20 for the account listed above to the address you provided at the emergency room on 10/26/19. The letter sent to your address was not returned via the ** ****** *******.  You did not exercise your rights within the time frame prescribed by law.
  
  Until receiving your complaint via the Better Business Bureau Complaint Portal, KCI has never received any written correspondence from you claiming to dispute this debt, nor requesting validation. Nor have we ever directly received any verbal or written FCRA dispute.
  
  My records do, however, indicate that we’ve received a dispute from you regarding your account submitted directly through the credit reporting agencies (CRAs).  These Automated Consumer Dispute Verifications (ACDVs) are forwarded to our agency through the Online Solution for Complete and Accurate Reporting (e-OSCAR) system. With each dispute, our agency performs a “reasonable investigation”, as is required by law, and after coordinating with our client, found that the disputed information was accurate and the debt to be valid and still unpaid.  These actions were completed, in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), most recently on 10/21/21.  At that time, we marked the account as disputed, and provided the results of our query to the CRAs via e-OSCAR.
  
  Please understand, after completing our “reasonable investigation” in compliance with the FCRA and responding back to the CRAs via e-OSCAR, KCI is not under any obligation to send any additional materials to you.  Nevertheless, as a courtesy to you, I will request the document from the original provider and mail it to you upon receipt.  
  
  More importantly, KCI has never removed nor deleted this item from your trade line since it was initially reported on 07/27/20.  Our investigations have revealed that you are the responsible party, that the balance and creditor are correct, and that you have not paid the balance they claim you owe.
  
  I cannot answer for the results of other agency’s investigations on other debts you may owe.  I have no information regarding your other debts nor the facts surrounding the subsequent investigations.  I can, however, assure you that the account in our office has not been referred to any other agency, so the results of their investigations have no bearing on the account in question.  The creditor in this case, which is the Emergency Room Physician that treated you (****** ** ********, Nurse Practioner) at ************ ******* *******, is still requesting payment for her services rendered on 10/26/19.
  
  Additionally, I do not dispute the fact that you may have had coverage through health insurance carrier on the date of service.  Unfortunately, you have provided KCI no documentation of this nor made any request to the provider to rebill your carrier.  What is certain at this time is that any policy you may have had did not submit payment on your behalf.
  
  Unfortunately, we cannot, at this time, agree to your desired resolution on your account based on the fact that KCI has complied with federal law regarding notice requirements and our verification efforts indicate you are the responsible party in this case, and that you have failed to pay the delinquent balance.  In the event you should decide to resolve this debt, please feel free to contact my office to speak with a helpful representative who will gladly assist you.
  
  I wish to personally thank you for your correspondence and appreciate the opportunity to alleviate your concerns. KCI has now responded and considers this matter closed. 
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***** ***** *****
  Director of Compliance
  
  
  This communication is from a debt collector.  This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

• Initial Complaint

  11/16/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am a victim of identity- theft, I am writing to request that you block all accounts disputed as fraudulent on my credit reports with Transunion, Equifax, and Experian. This information does not relate to any transactions I have made. I did not give anyone authorization or consent to use my personal information. I hereby exercise my legal rights enacted by Congress and The Federal Trade Commission, which explicitly states when a victim of identity-theft dispute a fraudulent account on his/her credit report it shall be honored by all credit bureaus and all fraudulent information should be blocked within 4 days and proper notification shall be given to all data furnishers pursuant to section 605b of The Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. 1. KS COUNSLRS bal. $331.00 Acct # 626166000107****

  

  Business response

  11/17/2021

  Kansas Counselors, Inc. has requested a full deletion of this item from your trade line with all three major credit reporting agencies.

  We appreciate the opportunity to assist you.

• Initial Complaint

  10/01/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This company has been reporting 3 collection accounts on my credit report. I have no idea who this company is or what this debt they are reporting is. I had filed for bankruptcy and all debt was discharged 09/2020. I have had no delinquent accounts since. This has caused me to be denied credit and if these accounts are not removed I will be contacting an attorney and seeking damages.

  

  Business response

  10/04/2021

  ******* ** **** ********* *******  ******** ******* *********** *** ******* **********  ******** ******** ******** ******* ******* *********  ******** ******* ******* ****** ******** ************  ******** ********* ********* **** **** *** *********
  
  This letter is in response to your correspondence submitted to the Better Business Bureau (“BBB”). 
  
  Your statement indicates you allege that Kansas Counselors, Inc. failed to report your debts as included in your Chapter 7 bankruptcy case filed in 2020.  I want to take a moment to address your concern.
  
  First, my records do, in fact, indicate that we received your bankruptcy filing information and that we coded your accounts with the appropriate status to be reported to the credit reporting agencies (CRAs).  Unfortunately, there are some instances where the information takes longer than normal to be updated and/or the credit reporting agencies fail to update the information furnished.
  
  For this reason, I am resending the information today with our monthly full file.  This should remedy the situation.  In fact, I have requested a full deletion as a courtesy to you, instead of reporting the bankruptcy information.
  
  Please allow up to forty-five (45) days for the information to be updated (although it will likely be completed by the CRAs much sooner).
  
  Please notify me if you have not seen this rectified within the time frame I have provided.
  
  I wish to personally thank you for your correspondence and appreciate the opportunity to alleviate your concerns. KCI has now responded and considers this matter closed. 
  
  
  ********** ***** ***** ***** ******** ** ********** **** ************* ** **** * **** **********
  

• Initial Complaint

  09/24/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I was checking my credit score today on September 24, 2021. Saw that I had an outstanding account for $776.00. This was due to an emergency room visit I believe in February of 2020. I got multiple medical mail some from insurance company saying how much was owed and some from multiple medical "teams" though I only went to one hospital. So it took a while to get it figured out, but got to two companies and paid them both with check on June second 2020. KCI was one for $56.00 dollars account number 2491357. I did not receive another bill from this company after this payment. If there was another account I was not aware of it. If I did have two accounts, I would also like to know why would I have two accounts from one company for the one procedure at one hospital? If more information is needed I can get them and uploaded if needed.

  

  Business response

  09/27/2021

  Dear Ms* ********
  
  This letter is in response to your correspondence submitted to the Better Business Bureau (“BBB”). 
  
  Your statement indicates that you were not made aware of your debt and are confused by having two separate bills for your single date of service with the provider.  I want to take a moment to address your concern.
  
  First, as is required by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), and is strictly followed by KCI, an initial notice is sent to all legal guarantors on delinquent accounts placed with our agency. This notice contains our agency name, the name of the original creditor, your account number, the date of service, the exact amount owed, the full mini-******** and the full statement of your rights to dispute and to request validation of the debt(s) in writing within thirty (30) days of receiving the notice. 
  
  KCI mailed you a dunning notice on 04/17/20 for the account listed above to the address you provided at the emergency room on 12/21/19. The letter sent to your address was not returned via the US Postal Service.  You did not exercise your rights within the time frame prescribed by law.
  
  Until receiving your complaint via the Better Business Bureau Complaint Portal, KCI has never received any written correspondence from you claiming to dispute this debt, nor requesting validation. Nor have we ever directly received any verbal or written FCRA dispute.
  
  My records also do not indicate that we’ve ever received disputes from you submitted directly through the credit reporting agencies (CRAs) for the debt in question.  In fact, KCI has never received any correspondence from you regarding this debt at any time since its referral to our office.
  
  Please understand, KCI is not under any obligation to send any additional materials to you at this late date. Nonetheless, as a courtesy to you, I am attaching a copy of the itemized bill for your debt. This document is directly from the original creditor and serves as validation of the services rendered to you by the emergency room physicians during your visit to the St. Luke’s Northland Hospital East ER on 12/21/19.  You may keep this for your records.
  
  Unfortunately, I am not privy to nor responsible for the manner in which the medical provider generates bills for the services received in the emergency room.  This would be a question better directed to the provider’s office itself, but it generally appears that the charges were separated based on procedure type.  As such, you had charges for the $776.00, which are currently pertinent to this complaint, as well as charges for $56.00, which you paid in full on 06/05/20.
  
  Unfortunately, we cannot, at this time, agree to your desired resolution on your account based on the fact that our verification efforts indicate you are the responsible party, and that you have failed to pay the delinquent balance.  In short, this debt has been validated, yet remains unpaid.  In the event you should decide to resolve this debt, please feel free to contact my office to speak with a helpful representative who will gladly assist you.  They have been instructed to request a full deletion from the credit reporting agencies upon receipt of payment.
  
  I wish to personally thank you for your correspondence and appreciate the opportunity to alleviate your concerns. KCI has now responded and considers this matter closed. 
  
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*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩