Since we specialize in healthcare collections, we have expert medical collectors assigned to these accounts. TSC medical collectors understand the nature of the debt they are collecting and are trained how to handle patients and their concerns. Many of our physician clients may want to see these patients again and want them handled professionally. All TSC collectors are trained on proper and respectful collection techniques and compliance with state and federal collection laws is monitored and compliance is maintained.Every TSC collector must sign the American Collectors Association Collector’s Pledge. The following is this pledge:
- I believe every person has worth as an individual.
- I believe every person should be treated with dignity and respect.
- I will make it my responsibility to help consumers find ways to pay their debts.
- I will be professional and ethical.
- I will commit to honoring this pledge.
In most cases you have probably billed the patient numerous times before you ever sent their account to TSC. Generally you are under no obligation to bill this new insurance for them. However, you can choose to do so, but be aware of filing deadlines. Regardless of good intentions and legitimate reasons for the non-timely filing of a claim, insurance companies may still deny payment and prohibit you from billing the patient.
If the claim is still timely and you believe it should be billed, then let TSC know and we will place the account on hold and prevent it from being reported to the credit bureaus. We will not contact the patient during this period. Simply e-mail our customer service representative at support@tscarsolutions.com, or call our office at 760-444-5526, to place the account on hold.
You can also make this type of request through our Online Portal. Please contact your sales representative for instructions and training.
If timely filing is potentially an issue, our experience has shown that the best procedure is to tell your customer that their account is now in collections and it is out of your hands. Tell them they need to contact TSC and speak with their account representative.
Because of timely filing concerns, we will explain to them that once they pay their balance in full, we will be happy to see that their new insurance is billed. We will further explain that when and if their insurance pays our client, they will get a refund of the principal balance they paid to TSC.
Our experience has shown that the best procedure is to keep the collection efforts consistent and in one place. Therefore, we recommend that you tell your customer that their account is now in collections and it is out of your hands. Tell them they need to contact TSC and speak with their account representative about their account and any issue they may have. Remember, many times the debtor will call you only after they have heard from us. Our first demand was probably for the balance in full, so they may be trying to work out a “better deal”, which will undermine our efforts to collect the account. Please refer these debtors back to TSC. The direct line for debtors to call is 760-444-5526. They can also pay online if they do not want to speak to a person by going to www.paytsc.com.
You should report the payment to TSC as soon as possible. It is very important that we update the balance in our system, especially if the account is paid in full. This will stop any further communication with the debtor, allow us to update their credit report with the credit bureaus and possibly even prevent the account from being reported against their credit report. To report a payment, either e-mail our customer service representative at support@tscarsolutions.com, or call our office at 760-444-5526. You can also post or report payments and adjustments through our client online portal. Please contact your sales representative for instructions and training.
This is false. When we report an account to the credit bureaus, regardless of the nature of the debt, it’s listed on the consumer’s credit report as an unpaid collection account. This essentially lowers the consumer’s credit score.This may not prevent the consumer from obtaining credit, but may pay a higher interest rate or could be denied employment, insurance and mortgage loans.
We do not report new accounts to the credit bureaus right away. This allows the consumer time to respond to our first collection notice and for us to validate the debt if requested by the consumer. We also try to collect the debt before it is reported against the consumer’s credit record.
Accounts can remain on a consumer’s credit record for up to seven (7) years from the date of delinquency.
We do not normally delete accounts when they are paid. We are required under the FCRA to update accounts when any payment activity occurs. However, we are required to delete accounts that are paid by a consumer’s health insurance.
It is required that we obtain a valid date of birth on all consumer accounts. This will enable us to positively identify the consumer and allow to confirm that the consumer is an adult. The credit bureaus do not accept accounts without a valid date of birth.
Here are a few reasons why it is important for you to obtain a patient’s Social Security number and in turn, furnish that information to TSC. With identity theft being a major concern in today’s times, many consumers are apprehensive about providing their Social Security number. Though this concern exists, Social Security numbers are in the same category as other identification information; such as the individual’s name, address, and date of birth. In an effort to curb identity theft, and realizing that health insurance information is a big target for identity thieves, the Federal Trade Commission, in 2007, unveiled what they call the “Red Flags Rule”. The Red Flags Rule requires all creditors, including certain health care entities, to collect Social Security numbers as proof the patient is the person he or she says they are. If patients do not have the required documentation, that raises a red flag. By collecting and furnishing this information to TSC, this will enable us to positively identify the consumer, collect the debt and help curb identity theft.
If your account is for services provided to a minor then you will need to send us complete demographic information on the parent or legal guardian, including the social security number and / or the date of birth for this person.
One of the biggest obstacles encountered in collections is contacting the debtor. Therefore, the more information you can give us, the more successful we will be.Below is the information we are requesting from you when you send us an account for collections, and we require the bolded items before we can accept an account for collections:
- Debtor name
- Debtor address (if bad, then the last known address)
- Date of delinquency (last date of service)
- Amount owed
- Your account or reference number
- Patient name (for healthcare debts)
- Contact telephone numbers for debtor and spouse (all known numbers)
- Date of birth for debtor and spouse (if available)
- Social Security Number for debtor and spouse (if available)
- Places of employment for debtor and spouse (if available)
- Account history (ledger)
- Pertinent notes (balance due to deductible, insurance denied, insurance no longer in effect, etc.)
- Debtor e-mail address