MCA Management Company: What You Need to Know Before Paying
MCA Management Company is a medical debt collector. Demand validation before paying, check your state's statute of limitations, and negotiate hard if you decide to settle.
File Your AnswerA letter from MCA Management Company landed in your mailbox. Or their name just appeared on your credit report. You want this handled now. But slow down. Paying immediately could be a mistake.
Federal law gives you the right to demand proof you owe this debt. In some cases, MCA cannot provide that proof. In others, the debt is too old to sue over. You need to know what you're dealing with before you hand over a dime.
Who Is MCA Management Company?
MCA Management Company is a third-party debt collector founded in 1950 in St. Louis, Missouri. The company's full legal name is Medical-Commercial Audit, Inc., though it operates under several variations: MCA Collection Agency, MCA Management Company, or simply MCA. They focus almost exclusively on medical debt collections.
Their contact information:
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 480, High Ridge, MO 63049
- Phone: 636-677-3000
Unlike many debt collectors, MCA lists a P.O. Box rather than a physical street address. If you need to send legal correspondence, this is the address to use.
MCA's Complaint Record
The Better Business Bureau gives MCA an A+ rating. The company has fielded about 30 complaints in the past three years. That's significantly fewer than most collection agencies we track, some of which rack up hundreds of complaints annually.
Google reviews show a 3.8 out of 5 star average. That's unusually high for a debt collector. Most hover around 1 or 2 stars.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau lists 129 complaints against MCA (filed under its legal name, Medical-Commercial Audit, Inc.) between December 2011 and October 2023. Common issues include:
- Debts remaining on credit reports after settlement
- Refusal to validate debts when consumers requested proof
- Removing items from credit reports, then re-reporting them later
- Excessive texting and calling
MCA appears more reputable than many collection agencies. That doesn't mean you should trust everything they say or pay without verifying the debt first.
Your Rights When MCA Contacts You
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) gives you specific protections. MCA must follow these rules. If they don't, you can sue them.
Debt Validation
Within five days of first contacting you, MCA must send a written validation notice. This notice must include:
- The amount they claim you owe
- The name of the original creditor (usually a hospital or medical provider)
- A statement that you have 30 days to dispute the debt in writing
- A statement that if you dispute the debt, they must provide verification
If you send a written dispute within 30 days, MCA must stop collection activity until they mail you proof of the debt. "Proof" means documents showing you received the medical service and that the amount is correct. A printout from their internal database is not enough.
Send your dispute letter via certified mail with return receipt. Keep copies of everything.
When MCA Can (and Cannot) Contact You
MCA cannot call you before 8 a.m. Or after 9 p.m. Your local time. They cannot contact you at work if you tell them your employer prohibits personal calls. They cannot harass, threaten, or use profane language.
If you send a written request telling MCA to stop contacting you, they must comply. The only exceptions: they can confirm they received your letter and notify you if they plan to sue.
If MCA violates the FDCPA, you can sue them for up to $1,000 in damages plus attorney fees. Document every violation.
Should You Pay MCA Management Company?
Not yet. First, answer three questions:
1. Do You Actually Owe This Debt?
Medical billing errors are common. A 2022 study found that 42% of Americans have been billed incorrectly for medical services. Common errors include:
- Duplicate charges
- Services never received
- Amounts not adjusted for insurance coverage
- Bills already paid
Demand validation. If MCA cannot prove you owe the debt, do not pay it.
2. Is the Debt Beyond the Statute of Limitations?
Every state has a deadline for suing over unpaid debts. In most states, medical debt has a statute of limitations between three and six years. Once that time passes, MCA cannot sue you.
Check your state's statute of limitations here. The clock starts from the date of your last payment or the date you last used the account (whichever is later).
If the debt is time-barred, you still legally owe it. But MCA has no leverage. Paying even $1 can restart the statute of limitations in some states. Do not pay without understanding the consequences.
3. Can You Negotiate a Settlement?
Debt collectors buy old debts for pennies on the dollar. MCA likely paid 3-10% of the debt's face value. They have room to negotiate.
If you decide to settle, follow these rules:
- Get the settlement agreement in writing before you pay anything
- Confirm they will report the debt as "paid in full" or delete it from your credit report
- Never give MCA electronic access to your bank account
- Pay by check or money order, never by debit card
- Keep records of every payment and all correspondence
Start with an offer of 30-40% of the balance. If they refuse, walk away. They will call back.
MCA Sued You: What Happens Next
If MCA files a lawsuit, you typically have 20-30 days to respond (depending on your state). Missing this deadline almost guarantees MCA wins by default.
Your response is called an "Answer." It must address every claim in MCA's complaint. Common defenses include:
- The debt is beyond the statute of limitations
- MCA cannot prove you owe the debt
- The amount claimed is incorrect
- You already paid the debt
- The debt belongs to someone else (identity theft)
Many people respond without a lawyer. If MCA's lawsuit is for less than $5,000, hiring an attorney might cost more than the debt itself. You can file an Answer yourself.
If MCA Wins a Judgment
If you lose (or fail to respond), MCA gets a court judgment. That judgment allows them to:
- Garnish up to 25% of your wages in most states
- Freeze and withdraw money from your bank accounts
- Place liens on property you own
Some income is protected from garnishment by federal law: Social Security benefits, SSI, VA benefits, and most pensions. If MCA tries to garnish protected income, you can file an objection with the court.
A judgment renews the statute of limitations. In many states, judgments last 10-20 years and can be renewed indefinitely.
How MCA Affects Your Credit Report
MCA can report the debt to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Medical collections stay on your credit report for seven years from the date the original account became delinquent.
New rules from the credit bureaus (effective July 2022) removed certain medical debts from credit reports:
- All medical collections under $500
- All paid medical collections, regardless of amount
If MCA is reporting a debt under $500, dispute it with the credit bureaus. If you paid the debt in full, it should come off your report within 30 days.
Check your credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. You get one free report from each bureau every year.
If You Cannot Pay Medical Debt
If MCA's debt is part of a larger pile of medical bills you cannot afford, consider these options:
Negotiate Directly with the Hospital
Some hospitals will recall debts from collection agencies if you contact them. Many have financial assistance programs that reduce or eliminate bills for low-income patients. Call the hospital's billing department. Ask if they have a charity care policy.
Consider Bankruptcy
Medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcy in the United States. If you owe more than $10,000 and cannot pay it within two years, bankruptcy might make sense.
Chapter 7 bankruptcy wipes out medical debt entirely. You keep your home, car, and most personal belongings in most cases. The process takes about four months.
Bankruptcy damages your credit score, but so does unpaid debt. And bankruptcy gives you a clear endpoint. Our bankruptcy screener takes three minutes and shows you what filing would look like in your situation.
How to Contact MCA Management Company
If you need to reach MCA, use these methods:
- Phone: 636-677-3000 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. To 5 p.m. Central Time)
- Mail: P.O. Box 480, High Ridge, MO 63049
Always send important correspondence (disputes, cease contact letters, settlement agreements) via certified mail. Keep copies of everything you send and receive.
If MCA calls from a different number, let it go to voicemail. Do not give them information over the phone. Handle everything in writing.
What to Do Right Now
Start here:
- Request debt validation if MCA has not already provided it. Send your request via certified mail within 30 days of their first contact.
- Check your state's statute of limitations on medical debt. If the debt is too old to sue over, do not pay it.
- Pull your credit reports. See what MCA is reporting and check for errors.
- If MCA sued you, respond within the deadline. Do not ignore the lawsuit.
If you're juggling multiple debts and MCA is one of many problems, you need a plan. Talk About Debt's free screener takes three minutes. It will show you whether bankruptcy makes sense or if there are better options. You're not asking for anything. You're just looking at the numbers.