Sued by Rawlings Company? Here's What You Need to Do Today

Rawlings Company isn't your typical debt collector. This Kentucky-based firm specializes in medical subrogation, which means they go after patients to recover costs that insurance companies already paid. If you got a letter or lawsuit from them, here's what you're dealing with and what to do next.

What Rawlings Company Actually Does

Rawlings operates as a subrogation specialist for health insurers and medical providers. When your insurance pays for treatment after an accident or injury, Rawlings steps in to determine if someone else (a driver, property owner, or another party) should have covered those costs instead. If they think so, they'll pursue you to recover the money, even if you weren't at fault.

The company calls itself an "integrity management services" provider. What that means in practice: they audit medical claims, identify potential third-party liability, and then aggressively collect on those determinations.

Contact details if you need them:

• Phone: 502-587-1279
• Address: 1 Eden Parkway, La Grange, KY 40031
• They also have a website contact form, though calling often gets faster responses

Why Rawlings Contacted You

Most people hear from Rawlings for one of three reasons:

Subrogation claims. Your insurance paid your medical bills after an accident. Rawlings believes another party (like an at-fault driver) should have paid instead. Now they want reimbursement from any settlement or judgment you received.

Unpaid medical balances. Your healthcare provider hired Rawlings to collect what you still owe after insurance adjustments.

Coordination of benefits disputes. You had multiple insurance policies, and Rawlings claims the wrong one paid first. They're trying to shift the cost to the correct insurer, which may leave you with an unexpected bill.

The tricky part: Rawlings often contacts patients months or even years after treatment. You might have thought the bill was settled. Now you're facing a claim you didn't see coming.

Your Rights When Rawlings Calls or Writes

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) applies when Rawlings acts as a debt collector. That gives you concrete protections:

• They cannot call you before 8 a.m. Or after 9 p.m. In your time zone
• They cannot contact you multiple times per day to harass you
• They cannot discuss your debt with family, friends, or coworkers
• They cannot threaten arrest, wage garnishment, or legal action they don't actually intend to take
• They must stop calling if you send a written cease communication request
• They must provide debt validation if you request it within 30 days of their first contact

Rawlings also claims HIPAA compliance since they handle medical information. That means they should safeguard your health data. But compliance doesn't mean they won't aggressively pursue payment.

If Rawlings violates the FDCPA, report them to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov/complaint or call 855-411-2372. You can also sue them directly for damages up to $1,000 plus attorney fees.

Better Business Bureau Complaints

Rawlings has accumulated multiple BBB complaints from consumers who say the company pursued them for debts they didn't owe or couldn't verify. Common issues include demands for payment on accidents where liability wasn't established, bills that were already settled, and aggressive collection tactics.

This pattern makes debt validation critical. Don't assume Rawlings has their facts straight just because they sound official.

Validate the Debt Before You Pay a Dime

Within 30 days of Rawlings' first contact, send a written debt validation request. Use certified mail with return receipt. Your letter should say:

"I dispute this debt and request validation under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Provide documentation showing: (1) the original creditor's name, (2) the original amount owed, (3) itemized billing records for the medical services, (4) proof of your authority to collect this debt, and (5) the legal basis for any subrogation claim. Do not contact me further until you provide this validation."

Once Rawlings receives your validation request, they must stop collection efforts until they send you the documents. If they can't prove the debt is valid and belongs to you, they're required to drop the matter.

Check their response carefully. Look for:

• Your name, address, and account details matching your records
• Itemized bills showing the exact services and dates
• Documentation of insurance payments and adjustments
• Assignment paperwork showing Rawlings has legal standing to collect
• Explanation of the subrogation theory if that's their claim

If anything looks wrong—wrong dates, services you didn't receive, amounts that don't match your insurance explanation of benefits,dispute those specific items in writing.

What to Do If Rawlings Sues You

Medical debt lawsuits move fast. You typically have 21 to 30 days to respond after being served, depending on your state. Miss that deadline and Rawlings gets a default judgment. That means automatic wage garnishment or bank levies without you ever presenting your side.

File an Answer Immediately

Your Answer is a legal document responding to each claim in the lawsuit. You'll need to:

• Admit, deny, or state you lack sufficient information for each numbered allegation
• Raise affirmative defenses (statute of limitations, lack of standing, failure to provide proper notice)
• File with the court and serve a copy on Rawlings' attorney

If this sounds complicated, that's because it is. You can check if bankruptcy might stop the lawsuit entirely, or work with a consumer attorney who handles debt defense. Many offer free consultations.

Common Defenses Against Rawlings

Statute of limitations. Most states limit how long creditors can sue on medical debt, usually 3 to 6 years from the date of service or last payment. If Rawlings waited too long, the debt may be time-barred.

Lack of standing. Rawlings must prove they have the legal right to collect. That requires showing the original creditor assigned them the debt or that they're authorized to pursue subrogation on behalf of an insurer. Missing or improper documentation defeats their claim.

Disputed liability. In subrogation cases, Rawlings often assumes you received a settlement or judgment from a third party. If you didn't, or if liability wasn't established, their entire case falls apart.

Insurance coordination errors. If Rawlings claims the wrong insurance paid, you can challenge their interpretation of your policy terms or the sequence of payments.

Negotiating a Settlement With Rawlings

Rawlings will often settle for less than the full amount, especially if you raise valid defenses. Start by calculating what you can realistically pay. Then make a lump-sum offer at 40-60% of the claimed debt.

Put your offer in writing. Include these terms:

• The exact settlement amount
• Payment deadline
• Rawlings agrees to dismiss any lawsuit with prejudice (meaning they can't refile)
• Rawlings reports the debt as "paid in full" or deletes it from your credit reports
• You receive a signed settlement agreement before making payment

Never pay before getting the agreement in writing. Debt collectors sometimes take your money and then claim it was a partial payment, not a settlement.

If Rawlings rejects your first offer, counter at 60-75%. They're motivated to settle once you show you're serious about disputing the debt and defending any lawsuit.

What Happens If You Ignore Rawlings

Ignoring Rawlings doesn't make the debt disappear. Here's the likely progression:

Months 0-3: Repeated phone calls and letters. Rawlings will attempt to reach you at home, work, and through relatives (which violates the FDCPA if they disclose the debt).

Months 3-6: Escalation to legal demand letters threatening lawsuit if you don't pay or settle.

Months 6-12: Lawsuit filing. Once served, you have 21-30 days to respond.

After default judgment: Wage garnishment (up to 25% of your disposable income), bank account levies, and liens on property. Judgments last 10-20 years in most states and can be renewed.

The cost of defending a lawsuit later exceeds the cost of validating the debt now. Respond early.

Should You Consider Bankruptcy?

Medical debt is dischargeable in both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. If Rawlings is one of several creditors pursuing you, bankruptcy might resolve all your debts at once.

Chapter 7 wipes out medical debt in 3-4 months. You'll need to pass a means test showing your income is below your state's median or that your disposable income after expenses is minimal.

Chapter 13 sets up a 3-5 year repayment plan. You pay what you can afford, and the rest of your medical debt gets discharged when you complete the plan.

Filing bankruptcy triggers an automatic stay. That immediately stops Rawlings from calling, suing, or garnishing wages. Even if they already have a judgment, the stay halts enforcement.

Bankruptcy affects your credit for 7-10 years, but medical debt already dragging down your score might make that a worthwhile tradeoff. Many people see their credit scores improve within 12-18 months after discharge because they've eliminated the debt burden.

How to Stop Rawlings From Calling

Send a cease communication letter via certified mail:

"Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, I request that you cease all communication with me regarding the alleged debt referenced in your letter dated [date]. This is a formal request to stop all phone calls, letters, and other contacts. Future communication must be limited to notifying me of specific legal actions you intend to pursue."

Once Rawlings receives this letter, they must stop calling. They can still sue you, but they cannot continue collection calls or letters.

If they contact you after receiving your cease letter, document every violation. You can sue them under the FDCPA for up to $1,000 plus attorney fees.

Protecting Your Credit

Rawlings may report the debt to credit bureaus. Medical debt under $500 no longer appears on credit reports as of 2023, and paid medical debt must be removed. But unpaid medical debt over $500 can still damage your score.

Dispute any inaccurate reporting through Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Credit bureaus have 30 days to investigate. If Rawlings can't verify the debt, it must be removed from your report.

After settling, confirm Rawlings reports the account as "paid" or deletes it entirely. Get this in writing as part of your settlement terms.

When to Hire a Consumer Attorney

Consider legal help if:

• Rawlings sued you and your deadline to respond is approaching
• The debt exceeds $5,000 and you can't afford to settle
• Rawlings violated the FDCPA through harassment, threats, or disclosure to third parties
• You believe the subrogation claim is legally invalid
• You're facing wage garnishment or bank levies

Many consumer protection attorneys work on contingency for FDCPA violations. That means they only get paid if you win. For debt defense, expect to pay $500-$2,000 depending on case complexity.