Q: Doctor's office applied payments incorrectly; debt predates my 18th birthday. Steps to resolve?
I am facing an issue with my doctor's office regarding payment allocation. I have $1,047 in medical debt in collections, all incurred before I turned 18, which I understand is my parents' responsibility. However, I've been paying for my current medical bills as they come in, instructing the office over recorded phone calls to apply my payments to recent visits. Instead, the office applied these payments toward the collections debt. Now, I owe the doctor's office $371 for current bills, having unknowingly paid off a debt I believe isn't mine. I have notified the office of this misapplication, but they haven't resolved it, and my written payment intentions aren't formalized. I contacted the collections agency about the age-related responsibility of the debt, and they said they would request a removal, but there has been no follow-up. What steps can I take to address this misallocation of my payments for a debt that shouldn’t be my responsibility?
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A:
You should begin by formally documenting your concern with the doctor's office in writing, including a detailed explanation of the payment misallocation. Reference any recorded phone calls where you instructed the office to apply payments to your current bills. Request that they apply your payments correctly to the intended charges and correct the application toward the collections debt.
Since the debt in question predates your 18th birthday and is likely your parents' responsibility, you may want to send a written dispute to the collections agency as well. In your dispute, clearly state that the debt was incurred before you were 18 and that it should not be your responsibility. Ask the collections agency to confirm the removal of the debt from your account if they agreed to do so.
If these steps do not result in a resolution, you may consider filing a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or your state’s attorney general's office. They can investigate the issue and may assist in ensuring the doctor's office and collections agency correct their actions. You might also consider seeking legal advice to further protect your rights and ensure that your payments are properly applied.
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