Have an issue with Medical Data Systems? Need help?
Are you being harassed by a debt collector? Is someone from Medical Data Systems contacting you every day, or multiple times per day, by phone, mail, email, or Facebook? Are they threatening to sue? We explain all about Medical Data Systems and whether they are legitimate and what to do if they contact you.
Medical Data Systems is a debt collector. The company was founded in 1985. Today they continue to integrate automation and technology into their debt collection processes.
If you owe legitimate debt, you should pay them. They are a legitimate company and they will try to collect on that debt. However, even legitimate companies have been known to sometimes act unfairly and violate things like the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). So if you have been harassed or treated unfairly, consider filing a complaint or working with an attorney.
Yes, Medical Data Systems is a legitimate company.
Medical Data Systems collects medical debt.
Don’t assume you can ignore Medical Data Systems. If you just ignore them because you think there was a mistake or you don’t think the debt is legitimate, they can file a judgement against you or sue you in court to get the money back. Of course even though they are a legitimate company, Medical Data Systems sometimes makes mistakes or violates the most recent FDCPA regulations about when and how they contact you. If this happens, you can share your complaints with outside attorneys, or file complaints with the government. You can get legal help to sue the collection agency if that is insufficient.
Medical Data Systems collects for themselves. They purchase debt from credit card companies on medical providers, and then they try to recover that debt for a profit.
Mistakes happen. Sometimes companies call you when you don’t actually have any debt. This is usually a mistake involving information that is associated with an old account. People who change their phone numbers might get phone calls or text messages from collections agencies about debt that isn’t in their name. If Medical Data Systems is calling you and you don’t think you have debt, you need to send them a request for validation. This forces them to stop any collection activity and confirm the legitimacy of the account. If they can’t do that, then you can send them a letter for insufficient validation.
If you think Medical Data Systems is calling about debt you’ve already paid, check your records. There might be a mistake on your credit report and this could be why the company is calling you. At the same time send a request for validation letter to Medical Data Systems. Do this within 30 days of receiving your first contact, send it via certified mail, and keep copies for your records.
As a debt collector, some of the laws that Medical Data Systems must follow include the FCRA, the FDCPA, and the TCPA.
That alphabet soup stands for the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which gives you rights to help ensure your credit report remains accurate; the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which protects you from being abused and deceived by debt collectors; and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which limits robocalls and other telephone spam.
If you think any of these consumer protection laws may apply to your situation, tell us about it.
If you believe the debt Medical Data Systems is calling about has expired, check your records to confirm that the debt has legitimately expired. Make sure you also reach out to the company by sending a request for a validation letter within 30 days.
The people who call you from Medical Data Systems are just regular employees and treating them as such, not yelling at them or blaming them because they work for a big corporation can go a long way toward helping you settle for less. These same individuals get a bonus when they settle or close your account so they are financially incentivized to help you especially if you are coming up on a pay day. You can also settle for less if you are struggling financially. If you can prove that you are facing financial hardship, they are more likely to settle for whatever percentage you are legitimately able to afford.
If you owe a legitimate debt, the best way to get rid of them is to settle with them. If you don’t think you owe any money, you can ask Medical Data Systems for a validation letter to legally point out their mistake. Send them a cease communications notice if they can’t prove the debt is yours.
Yes, they can go to a court and file a judgment against you. With a default judgement against you they can sue you for the debt you owe. However, debt collectors like Medical Data Systems are prohibited from suing or threatening to sue consumers for payment on a debt that is past the statute of limitations.
G. David Miller owns Medical Data Systems.
The current CEO is Rick Masterson.
Medical Data Systems is headquartered in Vero Beach, Florida.
Medical Data Systems buys debt from medical providers, primarily.
The company gets paid whenever it closes an account. Employees who call you, however, work at a phone bank so they get paid an hourly wage in exchange for being yelled at by consumers all day, and if they close your account and reach a settlement, they usually get a bonus.
If you looked at your credit report and saw the name “Medical Data Systems”, it means an account associated with your name or your social security number was sent to collections.
You don’t need a lawyer, but many people find it reassuring to have a third-party as their representation. The laws around credit and debt collection can seem very complicated but with an attorney you don’t have to worry about any of that. You can find a qualified professional who handles all of the communication for you, ensures Medical Data Systems follows the law and doesn’t harass you, and helps negotiate on your behalf.
The FDCPA uses the word “verify,” but some other organizations use the word “validate.” No matter which word is used, it can mean two things. First, You “validate” a debt by sending a letter to Medical Data Systems officially asking them for information that would confirm the validity of the debt. You or an attorney must do this within 30 days from the first time they contact you.Second, Medical Data Systems then “validates” the debt on their end by providing you with this information. They do this within 30 days. Once they get your letter they have to legally stop any attempts to collect on the debt until they have verified the debt. If they don’t follow the law or they are unable to verify it, they have to stop trying to collect.
The length of time it takes to settle with Medical Data Systems is contingent upon things like how quickly you respond to their initial communication, whether there are mistakes or errors in the debt or account you need to fix, whether you hire an attorney or not, among other things.
How much you offer Medical Data Systems as a settlement is up to you. If you decide to work with an attorney this is something you can review with them taking into account your financial situation.
Yes, companies like Medical Data Systems can sue you especially if you ignore their attempts to collect. If you think there’s a problem, send them a request for validation or hire an attorney to do it for you. It can be frightening to deal with debt collectors especially if they don’t abide by the law and they use inappropriate techniques to harass you. But you have rights and they can’t just take all the money in your bank account without warning. They have to get a default judgement against you with permission from a judge and this takes time. You also have to be notified so it won’t be a surprise.
You can ignore Medical Data Systems, but you shouldn’t. It’s easy to avoid the phone calls especially if you are feeling overwhelmed or facing financial strain. However, you might find that the sooner you respond, the easier it is to negotiate for a more reasonable settlement. Many debt collectors and debt buyers are happy to accept something rather than nothing. What’s more, the longer you wait, the more likely it is that they pursue other actions against you like suing you.
When debt buyers and debt collectors like Medical Data Systems take on a new account they also get all of the contact information.
They do accept credit cards, but sometimes they charge you a fee for using a credit card.
Yes, it will improve your credit score long-term. It can take a while for debt you have paid in full or reached a settlement for to be removed from your credit score. Don’t expect your score to go up the very next week. If you negotiated with Medical Data Systems, consider adding a tradeline deletion into your negotiations. A tradeline deletion is where Medical Data Systems removes the account from your credit report entirely. If you don’t do this, once you settle your account it remains on your credit report with a zero balance for 7 years. This won’t hurt you nearly as much as having an open balance, but getting it off there sooner rather than later will help you.
Any type of debt you have doesn’t just go away after 7 years. Almost all types of that will go away at some point because they expire. The expiration date is based on the type of debt and the state in which you live.
When you file for bankruptcy your debt doesn’t just go away. This is a common misconception. There are different types of bankruptcy for which you can file. They are referred to by their chapter number. As an individual you will most likely file chapter 13 which is a repayment or restructuring option. For this you come to an agreement with your creditors about how much you can legitimately repay over the next five years. Once you complete your monthly payment for five years without any problems, any remaining debt goes away. However, if you miss even a single payment or are late at all, you are responsible for the entirety of your debt.
If you have any type of debt that was sent to collections, even after you paid off it remains on your credit report designated as settled with a zero balance for 7 years. It doesn’t hurt you nearly as much as having an unpaid account, but it’s still in your best interest to get it removed from your credit score as soon as you can. One way to do that is to negotiate for what is called a tradeline deletion. With a tradeline deletion, Medical Data Systems has the credit reporting agencies remove it from your account entirely.If you are trying to remove debt that you paid off a long time ago, debt that is expired or inaccurate, contact the credit reporting agencies yourself and have them fix the issue.
The Ultimate Guide to Consumer Complaints
Learn More
