MEDCAH, Inc. (MEDCAH) is a third-party collection agency based in Hawaii. MEDCAH has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), such as attempting to collect debts not owed and failing to verify debts. If MEDCAH has contacted you about past due collection items,make sure you understand your rights before you take action.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), MEDCAH, Inc. is a legitimate collection agency, founded and incorporated in 1974. The BBB established a profile page for MEDCAH in 1992, and MEDCAH has been a BBB-accredited business since then. The BBB lists MEDCAH as a collection agency. Buzzfile estimates MEDCAH’s annual revenue at $2.2 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 25 employees.
According to its website, MEDCAH“is a full-service debt collection agency serving Hawaii creditors.” MEDCAH “consistently and successfully implements and adheres to the highest of professional practices in the collection industry.” In addition, “MEDCAH collectors, staff and management are professional and effective.” MEDCAH “employs local residents who know the islands, its people, and culture.”
MEDCAH provides collection services for a variety of businesses and industries, including anesthesia services; laboratory and diagnostic services; private dental and medical practices; rehabilitation facilities; hospitals and medical centers; emergency medical service providers; radiology and imaging services; state and city government agencies; utility service providers; and telecommunication companies.
MEDCAH is a full-service collection agency that offers online account access; client debt analysis; collection within state boundaries and worldwide; early collections; collection letters and calls; and skip tracing. MEDCAH collection staff “‘work the accounts’ as they are scheduled based on prescribed conditions…to ensure… that all accounts will be given proper and thorough attention.”
MEDCAH employs a high-tech system that “tracks work load and measures collector productivity…and automatically routes accounts to appropriate support areas.” MEDCAH utilizes a “collection system that is considered to be among the most sophisticated in the nation, as it is specifically designed for the needs of a collection agency. MEDCAH also uses “automatic call processing… handled through a predictive dialing system.”
MEDCAH states that it is “an active member with ACA International and Hawaiian Collectors Association.” MEDCAH’s “collectors and support personnel are regularly and professionally trained to ensure compliance with federal and state collection laws, privacy regulations, and ethical business practices.” However, MEDCAH’s website is client-facing and does not include a page with links and references to consumer protection resources, laws, or enforcement agencies.
Who are we? We are Lemberg Law, a Consumer Law Firm
Lemberg Law is a consumer law firm helping victims of collection harassment and abuse. We are ranked A+ by the BBB. We’ve helped more than 15,000 consumers stop harassment and recover money from debt collectors. Harassed? Abused? Misled by a collector? Call our Helpline today! There is no charge unless we win.
As of April 2019, the BBB has closed 14 complaints against MEDCAH in the past 3 years, with 2 complaints closed in the previous 12 months. Almost all of those complaints alleged problems with billing and collections.Since November 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 9 complaints involving MEDCAH. Justia lists at least 2 cases of civil litigation involving MEDCAH.
MEDCAH, Inc.
P.O. Box 1187
Kailua, HI 96734
Telephone:(808) 266-2020
Website: http://www.medcah.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely MEDCAH would sue you for a debt you may not owe or they cannot validate. However, debt collection agencies are known to have summoned debtors to court and garnish wages after a default judgement. Contacting an attorney BEFORE this could possibly happen would be a smart move. We’ve helped thousands of consumers fight back against unscrupulous debt collection harassers. Find out if we can help you too today!
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Absolutely. Here are some Sample Complaints
Complaints against MEDCAHcite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of debts and the accuracy of information reported to the credit reporting agencies. In May 2018, a complainant stated that he was unaware of a bill for service “because of the time frame.” Allegedly, he “was moving out of Hawaii the same week he was billed…for ambulance” service. The complainant stated that he has insurance coverage with 2 different companies, so he “was really surprised when the bill was submitted to collections.” The complainant “called MEDCAH a couple of weeks earlier to clear the air, but he was told they submitted the bill to a different agency since he was no longer in Hawaii.” At the time of the complaint, the delinquency had been reported to the credit reporting agencies by MEDCAH, but the complainant “had already paid” a different collection agency at “MEDCAH’s request.” The complainant “wanted to clear this off his credit report because the bill was paid by his insurance, but they had to go through him… because it was a third party.” In response, MEDCAH stated that once “payment is confirmed, they will properly credit the consumer’s account and advise…the creditor…of the payment. In the meantime, MEDCAH…requested that the account be deleted from the credit bureau.”
In July 2017, a complainant accused MEDCAH of “fraudulent reporting to credit reporting bureaus and failure to verify the alleged liability.” The complainant stated that he had been “taken to hospital… about 1 mile from…his home by ambulance during an acute stroke.” The complainant also stated that he had medical insurance, so “any ambulance charges shall be charged to the medical insurance plan, …as they are fully covered under the medical plan.” He stated that any “failure to file the proper insurance claim is NOT his responsibility but the hospital/ambulance service” provider’s responsibility. He also stated that he had “never received any billing…and…was never notified that an insurance claim had not been filed.” In response, MEDCAH stated that “it appears that the original creditor had a bad address for this account, which would explain why the consumer did not receive the ambulance bill.” MEDCAH “advised the ambulance provider that this account is being closed as noncollectable, as it is past the filing deadline for insurance.” MEDCAH stated that the “account…has been closed and is no…longer active.” In addition, the “credit bureau has been advised and…MEDCAH requested that it be deleted from the consumer’s file.”
Federal laws protect you. The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) regulates the behavior of collection agencies by prohibiting actions such as the use of abusive or threatening language; harassment; or the use of false or misleading information to collect a debt. The FCRA regulates how collection agencies and creditors report delinquent debts to credit reporting agencies. Additional consumer protection laws include the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA).
But here’s the rub: If you want to enforce your rights, or recover money for violations — you need to sue. These laws provide individuals like you with a means to seek monetary damages in court. For example, the FDCPA allows consumers who have been violated to recover damages of up to $1,000, plus attorney fees and court costs.
You may have a case, if…
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Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
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