Sued by MBA Law? How to Respond and Settle Your Medical Debt

MBA Law, also known as Capio Partners, collects medical debts. Their representatives call repeatedly, send letters, threaten legal action, and file lawsuits when you don’t pay. You might want to ignore their calls and letters. But that strategy will likely make things worse for you. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, around 15% of consumers contacted about debt in collections face lawsuits in civil court.

Unless you arrive at a settlement that satisfies the collector, MBA Law will sue you. Our partner Solo can help you respond to a lawsuit and settle it if you’re sued.

What Is MBA Law?

MBA Law, formally known as the Law Offices of Mitchell D. Bluhm and Associates, is a debt collection law firm. The company operates from Sherman, Texas.

Who Does MBA Law Collect For?

MBA Law has been collecting medical debt since 2008. They generally collect debts for hospitals, surgical centers, medical professionals, and other medical facilities.

Mitchell D. Bluhm & Associates (MBA) and Capio Partners, LLC make up the joint venture. MBA Law’s debt collection department is also known as Sherman Debt Collection Office.

If both MBA Law Offices and Capio are working together on your debt, you may receive correspondence from both companies. If your provider becomes convinced you won’t pay your debt, they may sell it to MBA Law Offices. MBA works for the debt buyer CF Medical, LLC.

Below is MBA Law’s contact information:

• Address: 3400 Texoma Parkway, Suite 100, Sherman, Texas 75090
• Phone Number: (903) 813-3805
• Website: www.law-mba.com

Read MBA Law Reviews Online

Want to learn what other people have said about MBA Law? Take a moment to read reviews from consumers like you. You can find MBA Law reviews on Google, the Better Business Bureau, and the CFPB consumer database.

While MBA Law online reviews are pretty mixed, some reviews indicate positive experiences. Some borrowers report pleasant communication with MBA Law collectors to resolve debt.

One reviewer named Ishmeal shared his experience: “Kamelle was one of the best professional caring representatives I have ever spoken with. She made me feel safe giving my card information over the phone. She waited patiently and told me I could pull my account up. I want to thank her. She was very kind caring and polite. Excellent customer service. I give her 5 stars.”

MBA Law debt collectors are open to working with you. They will help you resolve concerns and get your debt paid. Communication is the key to success.

If calling a debt collector doesn’t sound appealing, try using our partner Solo to negotiate online. You can resolve your debt through the digital settlement platform.

You Have Rights Under the FDCPA

If MBA Law hasn’t already done so, ask them to send verification. You do this by sending a Debt Validation Letter to MBA Law. The letter should detail the debt they’re collecting.

It’s illegal for MBA Law to threaten court action without intent. But you should still take their threats seriously if they say they’ll sue.

Under the FDCPA, a debt collection agency cannot call you before 8:00 am. They also cannot call you after 9:00 pm your time. They cannot call you over and over again in an abusive manner. It is also illegal for debt collectors to use threatening or abusive language. They cannot contact your employer once notified that your employer prohibits such calls.

Consider Negotiating a Debt Settlement With MBA Law

If you received a Summons and Complaint from MBA Law, you can still negotiate. You still have the option to try and negotiate a debt settlement. It is important to proactively respond to the lawsuit. You need sufficient time to engage in productive settlement negotiations.

Here are recommended steps to settle a debt with MBA Law:

1. File an Answer to the debt collection lawsuit filed by MBA Law. You want to avoid getting hit with a default judgment.
2. Calculate how much you can actually afford to pay. Use this formula: Amount available to settle = (monthly income – monthly costs) + savings
3. Make a reasonable settlement offer that is less than your maximum amount.
4. Be ready to engage in multiple rounds of negotiating.
5. When you reach a debt settlement agreement, get the terms in writing.

Medical Debt and Your Credit Report

Medical debt can negatively impact your credit score. But it does less harm than other types of debt. The Biden Administration has continued to push for changes in medical debt reporting.

On July 1, 2022, all three major credit reporting bureaus introduced changes. Effective on that date, all paid medical collection debt no longer appears on credit reports.

In 2023, medical collection debt of less than $500 was removed from credit reports. Currently, medical debt does not have the same impact as other types of debt. These additional measures offer consumers more relief from burdensome healthcare costs.

Respond to an MBA Law Lawsuit

A debt lawsuit is initiated when you receive court documents. The Summons notifies you of the lawsuit. The Complaint lists the specific allegations against you.

In court, you can protect your rights and avoid costly fees. You have more control over how you pay back the debt by responding. Your Answer helps you avoid default judgment. A default judgment would give MBA Law the right to garnish your wages. They could also seize your property.

If MBA Law sues you, follow these three steps:

1. Answer each claim from the Complaint.
2. Assert your affirmative defenses.
3. File your Answer with the court, and send a copy to MBA Law.

Step 1: Answer Each Claim From the Complaint

A Complaint form contains a list of allegations MBA Law made against you. The court requires you to respond to every claim to protect your rights. Without an Answer, the court will assume you admitted responsibility.

There are several ways to respond to each claim:

• Admit: like saying, “this is true.”
• Deny: like saying, “prove it.”
• Deny due to lack of knowledge: like saying, “I don’t know.”

Most attorneys recommend that you deny as many claims as possible. You force MBA Law to prove each claim. If they can’t, there is a good chance the case will be dismissed.

Step 2: Assert Your Affirmative Defenses

You can win the case with affirmative defenses. They give new information to the court on why MBA should lose. Ensure the affirmative defense you assert is strong enough to work in your favor.

Here are the most common defenses you can use:

• Statutes of Limitations: Claim that the lawsuit was filed after the statute of limitations expired.
• Lack of Privity: In your defense, you argue that you have no contract with MBA Law. In many cases, this defense works against collection agencies.
• Invalid or fraudulent assignment of debt: Claim that the debt obligations were improperly transferred.

Step 3: File Your Answer With the Court

It’s time to file after responding to each complaint. Make sure to file before your state’s deadline. The deadline could be anywhere from 14 to 35 days, depending on your location.

Here are the steps to file your Answer in court:

• Make two copies of the Answer.
• Mail your Answer to the courthouse or file it in person.
• Mail a copy to MBA Law attorneys.
• Make sure you keep a copy for yourself.

Some courts may require e-filing or have other special requirements. Our partner Solo can handle the filing research for you. They can file your Answer in all 50 states.

Resolve Your Debt Issue With MBA Law

Finding an attorney can be stressful and expensive. But with Solo’s help, you can defend yourself against debt collectors like MBA Law.

Here’s an example of how Solo can help you:

Example: Jenna had an emergency operation when her appendix ruptured. Her insurance paid for most of the expenses. But Jenna continued to receive bills and phone calls from a laboratory. The laboratory charged more than her insurance would allow for those services. Jenna was being harassed over a $350 medical bill. Because she had missed time from work, there was no extra room in the budget. Soon, she was contacted by MBA Law. Jenna used our partner Solo to respond to the lawsuit to avoid a default judgment. Next, she sent an offer to settle the debt for $200. Knowing that they had little leverage on a balance below $500, MBA Law accepted. Jenna saved $150, and it only took a few minutes of her time.

You can settle or defend yourself against MBA Law/Capio with the right tools. You need the right strategy to protect your rights and resolve your debt.