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Can A Debt Collector do this?

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    Can A Debt Collector do this?

    OK. I opened a letter addressed to me yesterday. The envelop was a generic business envelop with addressee and return address clear windows.

    When I opened it, on first glance it appeared to be a letter from the Florida Department of Children and Families looking for information regarding my eligibility. The top of the letter said "Notice of Case Action. They asked for proof of income and paystubs. The letter does not mention what I am eligible or not eligible for. There is no caseworker name.

    The last paragraph said:
    "If you do not contact us and provide the requested information, we will be unable to determine your eligibility. We will deny your application or your benefits may end."

    The second page was a copy of the DCF's actual Verification of Employment/Loss of Income form, that you can download and print from The DCF website. The first page was not a form identifiable from the DCF's website. You can search their forms here:

    (pretty cool, huh?)

    If my kids didn't actually have Florida Healthy Kids/Kidcare for insurance, AND just 10 days ago I sent the normal renewal info including proof of income, I wouldn't have given it a second glance. Kidcare/Healthykids is available to ALL Florida children who don't have access to insurance through their parents, or their parent's employer-sponsored plans cost more than 5% of the families gross monthly income. You can even "buy in" at regular premiums if you make more than the income guidelines. My kids have had Kidcare for the last 3 years, and last year, due to my divorce, we became eligible for no cost/low cost coverage.

    In fact, a caseworker called me last week to say they received the renewal info, and because my son has some ongoing medical issues she wanted to make sure that he was enrolled in the appropriate Kidcare plan.

    I am sure this letter I received yesterday is from a debt collector, posing as DCF/Kidcare.

    The account #'s and phone #s are incorrect, they don't match the account #'s and phone numbers I have used to communicate with them in the past.

    What irks me, is they not only use the DCF's official trademark and address in Tallahassee (with a couple of almost unnoticeable changes, like leaving out a "-" for instance in the street address), they somehow knew my kids were up for renewal. There may be an open renewal time of year, I'm not sure.

    Of course, I get this on a Saturday, and I am pretty sure it is illegal to pose as a government agency to collect a debt. I am tempted to call the #'s on the letter, but I don't want the phone to start ringing nonstop, or to give any evidence I received this until I know what it is.

    What would you all do?

    Oh yes, and above the return address on the first page is the name
    CYDEON TRUEBLOOD. I googled it and the phone #'s on the letter and got nothing.

    #2
    Make a copy of it and send it to your case worker and tell her that you think this is a spoof from a collection agency and if it is, they may get in some trouble for doing this to you.

    This is the beginning of open enrollment for Arizona's medicaid program, too, so I imagine it is like this all over the country at this time of year, and debt collectors know that, too, and are probably trying to phish for some information about your financial condition.
    The world's simplest C & D Letter:
    "I demand that you cease and desist from any communication with me."
    Notice that I never actually mention or acknowledge the debt in my letter.

    Comment


      #3
      Wouldn't be surprised if this collection illegally manufactured/printed out officially looking state forms.

      Comment


        #4
        All I can say is WOW! Don't ever provide any information to anyone that you don't know. And don't provide it to those you are doing business with when you are in a downward spiral (because they are just looking for current assets to attach, like bank accounts).

        I hope you do provide a copy to your current case worker and they come down on who ever has done this with both feet.
        Filed CH 7 9/30/2008
        Discharged Jan 5, 2009! Closed Jan 18, 2009

        I am not an attorney. None of my advice is legal advice in any way..

        Comment


          #5
          Was there an address listed to mail the form back to? Google the address or do a reverse address look up on whitepages.com You can at least find out where they are receiving the information and maybe there will be a name or company name attached.

          Comment


            #6
            In response to this posting...I am Cydeon Trueblood and I am a Kidcare/Medicaid Eligibility Specialist for the Dept of Children and Families. We do receive referrals from Florida Healthy Kids and letter's entitled "Notice of Case Actions" are sent out. Income verification is generally requested to see if children are qualified for Medicaid. If you received this notice, it is best to contact the worker (in this case, me) at the phone number provided (a toll free call) and discuss the information the is being requested. Hopefully this answers your question regarding that letter.

            (I came accross this post when I was googling myself to see what information is out there attached to my name)





            Originally posted by 2Bshinyandnew View Post
            OK. I opened a letter addressed to me yesterday. The envelop was a generic business envelop with addressee and return address clear windows.

            When I opened it, on first glance it appeared to be a letter from the Florida Department of Children and Families looking for information regarding my eligibility. The top of the letter said "Notice of Case Action. They asked for proof of income and paystubs. The letter does not mention what I am eligible or not eligible for. There is no caseworker name.

            The last paragraph said:
            "If you do not contact us and provide the requested information, we will be unable to determine your eligibility. We will deny your application or your benefits may end."

            The second page was a copy of the DCF's actual Verification of Employment/Loss of Income form, that you can download and print from The DCF website. The first page was not a form identifiable from the DCF's website. You can search their forms here:

            (pretty cool, huh?)

            If my kids didn't actually have Florida Healthy Kids/Kidcare for insurance, AND just 10 days ago I sent the normal renewal info including proof of income, I wouldn't have given it a second glance. Kidcare/Healthykids is available to ALL Florida children who don't have access to insurance through their parents, or their parent's employer-sponsored plans cost more than 5% of the families gross monthly income. You can even "buy in" at regular premiums if you make more than the income guidelines. My kids have had Kidcare for the last 3 years, and last year, due to my divorce, we became eligible for no cost/low cost coverage.

            In fact, a caseworker called me last week to say they received the renewal info, and because my son has some ongoing medical issues she wanted to make sure that he was enrolled in the appropriate Kidcare plan.

            I am sure this letter I received yesterday is from a debt collector, posing as DCF/Kidcare.

            The account #'s and phone #s are incorrect, they don't match the account #'s and phone numbers I have used to communicate with them in the past.

            What irks me, is they not only use the DCF's official trademark and address in Tallahassee (with a couple of almost unnoticeable changes, like leaving out a "-" for instance in the street address), they somehow knew my kids were up for renewal. There may be an open renewal time of year, I'm not sure.

            Of course, I get this on a Saturday, and I am pretty sure it is illegal to pose as a government agency to collect a debt. I am tempted to call the #'s on the letter, but I don't want the phone to start ringing nonstop, or to give any evidence I received this until I know what it is.

            What would you all do?

            Oh yes, and above the return address on the first page is the name
            CYDEON TRUEBLOOD. I googled it and the phone #'s on the letter and got nothing.

            Comment

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