Complaint Review: Wakefield & Associates Inc.

     Back in 2013 my wife went to seed a dr.  At the time we had a PPO.  They tried to bill us an obsorbant amount but we contacted the insurance company and they told us to have them rebill.  The hospital instead sent it to collections.  (St. Joseph Medical Center in Orange, CA)  The collection company gets a hold of us and tells us the debt is from 2014.  During this time we had a different insurance company and they stated we had no claims that were unpaid and they saw no unpaid balance in the system from St. Joeseph medical center.  We contacted Wakefield & Associates and the only thing they could provide was an invoice with no information on it.  Stating it was Dr. / Patient privacy and they were not pervy to the details.  They started reporting it on my wifes credit.  

     We just went to buy a second home and it is still showing up.  I contacted them and told them we already disputed this and if they could give us more information we would be able to research it further.  Finally I was able to get someone at St. Joseph Medical Center to hunt down the bill based on my wifes social.  It turns out the debt is valid.  So she said if I pay the hospital they would not charge interest or penalties but they would not remove it from my credit.  So I decided to call Wakefield & Associates.  I got a level 1 collection person and decided to ask for a supervisor.  That is when David Pena comes on the line.  I explain the situation and he states "If you pay your bill in full today, we will report it paid within 1 week and then we will delete it off the credit report shortly after.  It can take up to 90 days." I ask him to send me an email with that information and he said thats not the way they do business.  I have to pay first, then they will send the email.  I tried to explain that I would have no proof and he stated they record their conversations and he doesnt lie.  I said I did not want to pay unless I got the letter.  He said he could ask his manager but he doubts he would do it.  So I ask to speak to the manager.

     The manager comes on and I miss his name.  Thinking there may be some resolution I dont ask for it again.  I explain what I want in order to pay it in full and he asks why I think it should be deleted.  I told him that we were never given enough information to properly investigate the issue and he says we sent you the bill.  Thats all we have.  I tell him the David Pena said you would delete it and he said No, we dont do that.  I said why did he say that.  He said I must have misunderstood him.  I told him that he speaks good english and I understand it perfectly.  There was no miscommunication.  He states that he will not delete it because they are reporting it correctly.  Come to find out, the service date was in 2013 and they are reporting it in 2014.  He stated that is the date they are allowed to put on the credit file but Transunion, Equifax and Esperian all told me otherwise.

     The debt is only $461 at the hospital but I feel like we are getting taken advantage of.  Plus I dont like to be lied to in order to get the payment.  David Pena never had any intention on removing it from the report he just wanted to get our money.  Be careful with these guys.  They will tell you whatever you want to get your $$.