Comments | infopractical: Unfair credit practices of CMRE Financial Services, Inc.

infopractical

Unfair credit practices of CMRE Financial Services, Inc.

Jul 16, 2007 11:26

This is the first post I've made public in a while, and I'm doing so because I want to publicly shame everyone involved.

Just over two years ago, I was treated in the emergency room at Grossmont Hospital. I received several bills for my treatment, and paid them all within a few weeks, in a pretty normal way.

Last month, I received a call from ( Read more... )

Comments 80

hober July 16 2007, 20:00:14 UTC

Readers: please vote this up on reddit.

infopractical July 16 2007, 20:05:48 UTC

Sweet idea! I've never used reddit...before now.

CMRE hober January 2 2008, 19:40:29 UTC

Hell, I was trying to find CMRE's phone number when I ran accross your article. I'm in the same identical shit. Very little money owed and can't even find out who is owed. I never heard of CMRE before I went for a refi on my home. One thing's for sure with me, CRME provides no proof of dept. Nobody get's a dime. If I discover CMRE has posted a negative to my credit in error, litagation may follow.

Re: CMRE hober May 2 2008, 22:20:40 UTC

HEY I AM TRYING TO GET A HOLD OF CMRE ALSO- HAVE YOU FOUND THEM?
IF SO SHARE THEIR NUMBER WITH ME-
THEY WILL POST NEGATIVE SH.. ON YOUR CREDIT, AND WHEN DISPUTED THE BUREAUS WILL SAY THAT IT HAS TO STAY ON YOUR CREDIT FOR 10 YEARS. BE READY! I WILL CONTACT MY LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE
THANKS
R

Thread 10

(The comment has been removed)

infopractical July 16 2007, 20:16:40 UTC

That's not a bad idea, though I may then edit my blog post and remove the part about PACs and legislators, heh. Perhaps my Rep will lend a serious ear, perhaps not, but the only way I'll know is if I try.

If I do this, it will have to be tomorrow because right now I need to shower and head to work. But it's still a time suck that isn't worth the amount of money. But I guess I'm going down the road of holding somebody responsible, so I might as well try to make the call.

Advice from someone who's been where you now. anonymous July 16 2007, 20:23:10 UTC

http://reddit.com/info/26v7c/comments/c26vgs... )

Re: Advice from someone who's been where you now. infopractical July 16 2007, 20:29:23 UTC

Thank you for all your advice. Much of it I have been following, though after I talked to Ruby's supervisor (whose name I didn't post only because I can't find the notebook at this moment), Lauren Somethingorother, would not refer me to anyone higher up, stating that even if she did, I would be told all the same statements.

Also, they haven't threatened me in the ways you mention, though to me it is absolutely a threat when they keep parroting, "as soon as you pay us, we will take this off your credit," which clearly underscores, "you will pay us this interest, or your credit and therefore well-being suffers!"

*sigh*

Re: Advice from someone who's been where you now. infopractical July 16 2007, 20:47:37 UTC

Don't expect any kind of public shaming or humiliation to affect debt collectors. They don't care. They're soulless.

That may be, but hospitals and medical groups need to maintain credibility, and so I do think that I am accomplishing something, however small.

You're pretty much screwed and going to have to pay, but you might be able to beat the interest and save your credit.

Hey, if all I had to pay was the original bill, with no knock on my credit, I'd be perfectly happy -- not screwed at all. Oh, except all the time, which is worth more.

kaileyfaxyp July 17 2008, 01:59:12 UTC

I do what I say I am going to do and if you don't trust me. If you don't want to give me information then don't do it.

Thread 5

My quick take - Apathy neoteny July 16 2007, 21:24:32 UTC

While I more or less agree that the collection agencies are soulless and uncaring, I believe it's more a matter of apathy (at all levels) than lack of ethics that comes into play here. If you look at the economics of the collection agency, it's not their job and it's not worthwhile for them to investigate the merits of any given claim. They don't know if it's a valid claim, and they don't want to know - they just have to assume it is. Given the percentage of deadbeats they probably have to deal with, it makes sense that they're entirely script-driven.

I hope you can get some positive resolution out of this, but you will be going up against the apathy of the collection agency, the apathy of the people at the hospital (they'd have to figure out how to go around the standard procedures), and likely the apathy of the tv and newspapers ( ... )

Re: My quick take - Apathy infopractical July 16 2007, 23:53:52 UTC

Unfortunately, the Grossmont ER medical group I contacted seemed to have no interest in my case at all. The probably "sold it" for some number of cents on the dollar, and washed their hands of it.

You're probably right that apathy is a large part of it, and I'm sure combative deadbeats are as well. But I was, at the outset, very polite and willing to settle for the original cost. Frankly, I'm shocked they think dealing with me for longer is worth their time.

nebyoolae July 16 2007, 21:47:08 UTC

/grabs_popcorn

OoooooOOoooo. The Anti-Christ!