A debt collector is after my 9-year-old son for a $3K medical test. How do I fix it and get them off our back?

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Fourteen million adults owe more than $1,000, and about three million carry medical debt over $10,000 [1].Surveys show that nearly 79 million Americans have struggled with medical billing problems or are paying down medical debt [2]. And errors are common, and disputes happen frequently: Medical debt in collections is challenged almost three times more often than credit card debt [3].Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's howDave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake — here’s what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAPI'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast)These disputes can start with something as small as a clerical error.In one mother’s case, her 9‑year‑old son ended up with a $3,000 bill after a specialist’s office completed testing and her insurance denied the claim. She qualified for financial assistance that would have reduced the bill to $450, but the application required the responsible party to be over 18. She tried getting herself listed as the responsible party, but three months later the debt was sold to a collection agency, still in her son’s name.This kind of situation happens more often than many realize. Federal law under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits collectors from pursuing debts without proper verification, misrepresenting amounts owed or attempting to collect for services not actually provided.The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has also warned against double‑billing and inflated charges in medical debt collection. Collectors are required to have documentation that supports the debt and to stop collection efforts if the consumer disputes it in writing within 30 days.Yet, many people find themselves facing collection efforts even when the bill is clearly wrong. Sometimes providers submit outdated or incomplete records to collectors. In other cases, debt buyers try to collect the full face amount even if the underlying bill should have been adjusted for financial assistance or insurance coverage. 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