Expert: Apex Credit Services, LLC - 5/13/2008

Question
QUESTION: I was contacted by a collection agency yesterday in regard of
medicinal bill for my daughter-in-law.
she was on my medical insurance two years ago before I got divorce from her mother.
she was 19 years old when she had this Dental work done.
I believe she should be paying this money not me because she was not
minor at the time she had the dental work.
the collection agency asking me to pay 2000$
any advice will be appreciated.
Thank you so  much.

ANSWER: Jack:

   You're correct.  Your stepdaughter is responsible for the charges incurred insofar as she was an adult at the time of service.

         Apex Credit Services, LLC
         http://www.apexcreditservices.com
         1-888-727-4818

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much for your fast replay. I really do appreciate you help. if you do not mind I have some more questions.
why the collection agency had inquiry on my credit report two day ago?
could they affect my credit report in regard to this matter?
Do you think if i give them my Ex - wife address and phone number they might leave me alone?
Thank you so much for your help and support.

Jack


ANSWER: Jack:

  Technically, they could argue that they had a permissible purpose under the FCRA necessary to access your reports.  I don't necessarily agree but, I don't think it's worth suing them either.  I don't feel they had a permissible purpose since this isn't your obligation insofar as the debtor was an adult who just happened to be covered by you, the insured.

  In any event, the debt collector was likely snooping around your report to see if the matter was worth pursing.  In other words, they wanted to see if you paid your other bills or had other issues as well.

  It is plausible that they could insert a collection tradeline on your report.  This would affect your scores negatively and moreso if you have decent to good credit.  In actuality, the inquiry in of itself may have cost you a few points if it was a hard pull and if you had relatively few inquiries on the particular credit reporting agency.

  You could give them this information and I would suggest you do.  More importantly, send them a demand for validation in writing.  Debt collectors all too often hit male consumer reports with medical collections that aren't theirs because they believe the doctrine of necessaries applies.  It usually doesn't and certainly doesn't in your case.

         Apex Credit Services, LLC
         http://www.apexcreditservices.com

P.S., I think some feedback is warranted here.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: How much will cast me if you represent me in this matter?
thank you so much.


Answer
Jack:

   If you're seeking "legal" representation, we don't offer attorney-c;ient representation.  If you live in Tennessee, our managing member may consider it but, it would not be through Apex Credit Services, LLC.

   If you want help dealing with this entity, our services are avaliable. However, they're most applicable when the item is present on your credit reports.  We would need to review your reports in order to determine if we could help.  The general fee is $500.00.  Please visit our website in order to obtain the information needed to forward your reports.  I would suggest you fill out on application as well.

         Apex Credit Services, LLC
         http://www.apexcreditservices.com