Latest Posts • Latest Episodes • Free Tools

Medicredit: Who Are They and Why Are They Calling You?

Part of the Medical Debt Complete Guide: This article is one piece of a larger guide. For the full picture — including how to negotiate, apply for charity care, protect your credit score, and when bankruptcy is the right answer — see the Medical Debt: Your Complete Guide to Fighting, Negotiating, and Eliminating It.

Quick Answer: Medicredit, Inc. is a medical debt collection agency based in St. Louis, Missouri. They collect exclusively for hospitals and healthcare providers. Their most commonly reported phone numbers are (800) 823-2318 and (800) 888-2238. The CFPB has received 298 complaints about Medicredit — the top issue is attempting to collect debts consumers say they don’t owe. Medicredit has been named in 31 federal FDCPA lawsuits, including two circuit court appeals.

If Medicredit is in your call log: That call means a hospital or medical provider hired them to collect on a balance they believe you owe. You have specific federal rights before you pay anything — including the right to demand written proof the debt is valid and yours. This page gives you what you need to respond from a position of knowledge.

Company Detail Information
Company Name Medicredit, Inc.
Type Third-party medical debt collection agency
Headquartered St. Louis, Missouri
Primary Creditors Hospitals, healthcare systems, medical providers
Primary Phone (800) 823-2318
CFPB Complaints 298 filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Federal Court Cases 31 FDCPA lawsuits on record, including 2 circuit court appeals
Governed By Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)

Medicredit is a medical debt collection agency — if they’re calling you, a hospital or healthcare provider hired them to collect on a balance they believe you owe.

What makes Medicredit notable: they collect exclusively medical debt, and consumers consistently report two problems — Medicredit attempting to collect debts they say aren’t theirs, and failing to provide adequate validation when challenged. Multiple consumers report sending certified debt validation letters and receiving no response or only unsigned account statements that don’t prove the debt belongs to them.

What comes after the calls

You landed here because someone is chasing you for money. That part does end — and what happens next is the part almost nobody writes about.

In the latest issue (Oct 9): Does Financial Literacy Make Financial Sense?

Each weekday I send one short email: one money story that caught my attention, why it might matter to you, and one manageable thing you can do with it.

Free. I sell nothing. Unsubscribe any time.

Or read a few issues first

Who Is Medicredit, Inc.?

Medicredit, Inc. is a third-party debt collection agency headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, that specializes exclusively in medical debt recovery. They collect on behalf of hospitals and healthcare systems — not for credit card companies, utilities, or other creditors. Medicredit does not purchase your debt; they are hired by the original medical provider to recover the balance. That means the hospital still owns the account, and any negotiation ultimately goes through them. Ask Medicredit directly whether the original provider is still involved in decisions about your account.

Medicredit Phone Numbers

Medicredit uses multiple toll-free numbers when contacting consumers about medical debts. If you received a call from any of the numbers below, it was likely Medicredit — and the same legal rights apply regardless of which number appeared on your caller ID.

The Daily Money Brief — Free, at 10 AM

Money you may be owed, scams to dodge, and the fine print decoded — the consumer money news that affects your wallet, every weekday.

No spam. Your email stays private.

Phone Number Reported Use Consumer Reports
(800) 823-2318 Primary collections line Source: YouMail, Credit Saint, multiple consumer reports — HIGH confidence
(800) 888-2238 Primary collections line Source: 800notes, YouMail, Credit Saint — HIGH confidence
(877) 395-3125 Outbound collections Source: YouMail — MEDIUM confidence
(888) 213-9688 Outbound collections Source: YouMail — MEDIUM confidence
(888) 930-4297 Outbound collections Source: YouMail — MEDIUM confidence

Why Is Medicredit Calling You?

  • A hospital or medical provider sent your unpaid balance to Medicredit for collection — 86% of their CFPB complaints involve medical debt, because that is all they collect
  • Your insurance may not have processed the claim correctly — medical billing errors are common, and a balance can go to collections before you even know the insurance company denied or underpaid the claim
  • The debt may not be yours at all — the #1 CFPB complaint category against Medicredit is attempting to collect debts consumers say they don’t owe
  • You may have been treated at a facility that uses Medicredit as their collection vendor — the provider name on your bill may differ from the hospital system that hired Medicredit

A call from a debt collector is not proof you owe anything. It’s an opening position. Treat it like one.

Debt Coach

Do you have a consumer debt question you'd like help with?

Contact Damon Day →

What CFPB Complaints Reveal About Medicredit

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s complaint database contains 298 consumer complaints referencing Medicredit. The most common categories:

37Attempts to collect debt not owed
26Written notification about debt
12False statements or representation

Additional categories include communication tactics (10 complaints) and incorrect information on credit reports (7 complaints). A recurring theme in the narratives: consumers send certified debt validation letters and either receive no response or receive unsigned account statements that don’t prove responsibility for the debt.

Read Consumer Complaint Narratives (6 published accounts)
Debt collection
Attempts to collect debt not owed
Debt is not yours
Closed with explanation

“I started receiving phone calls and written notices from MediCredit. I contacted MediCredit to request proof the debt was mine, I even contacted the original creditor who said they have no record of the bill MediCredit is trying to collect for. I tried placing the debt in a dispute status with MediCredit three times, and each time requesting the information to prove the debt was mine. They have continued to harass me with phone calls and letters even though I have told them I want to dispute the account, and they have refused to place my account in a dispute status and stop collection efforts.”

Debt collection
Written notification about debt
Didn’t receive enough information to verify debt
Closed with explanation

“I sent collection agency MediCredit a certified letter requesting them to validate a debt they claimed I owe that was reporting on my credit report. I sent a follow up certified letter to MediCredit requesting debt validation. A third debt validation request was sent certified. MediCredit has neglected to properly validate the account (which included signed documents of me giving MediCredit permission to have access to my medical reports/history). This collection agency continues to verify with CRAs.”

Debt collection
Written notification about debt
Didn’t receive enough information to verify debt
Closed with explanation

“My complaint is regarding MediCredit, the debt collector for [hospital], where I received medical attention on [multiple] occasions last year. Initially, I started making payments directly to [the hospital], but they later transferred my debt to MediCredit. I did not receive any document from MediCredit explaining the amounts of the debt. They only called me, informing me that I owed money and that I needed to pay. They contacted me multiple times, and each time I requested that they send me a bill via email, but they refused, saying they were not allowed to send information via email or mail.”

Debt collection
False statements or representation
Attempted to collect wrong amount
Closed with explanation

“Medicredit mailed a collections notice for an alleged debt. Under the FDCPA, a debt validation was submitted to Medicredit within 30 days. Medicredit mailed back an unsigned account statement showing an alleged balance but provided no documentation proving responsibility for the alleged debt or any payments made by the alleged debtor’s insurance plan. I decline Medicredit’s form of validation and demand that proof of responsibility be provided for this account.”

Credit reporting
Incorrect information on your report
Account information incorrect
Closed with explanation

“After numerous failed attempts to discuss the matter with Medicredit I disputed the account by faxing a validation of debt notice pursuant to FDCRA as well as filing a complaint with CFPB. I also disputed the Medicredit account with [credit bureaus] with several supporting document follow ups citing numerous statutory reporting errors. Medicredit responded to my CFPB complaint stating that they directed [credit bureaus] to remove the account from my credit file and that they are no longer handling the account.”

Debt collection
Took or threatened negative action
Threatened or suggested credit would be damaged
Closed with explanation

“I received a demand letter from Medicredit Inc. Medicredit Inc. are debt collectors demanding a debt on behalf of [hospital]. I have not received any goods or services from Medicredit Inc., and I do not know how Medicredit Inc. received my private medical information. Medicredit Inc. does not have a permissible purpose to contact me for any reason. There are no contracts in place to support we have agreed to conduct any type of business and I have not agreed to pay anything to Medicredit Inc.”

Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Narratives published only when the consumer provides consent. Personal information redacted by the CFPB.

Free Tool — Debt Validation Letter Generator: Being contacted by a debt collector? The free Debt Validation Letter Generator creates a personalized FDCPA validation letter in seconds — forcing the collector to prove the debt is real before they can continue. Generate My Letter →

Medicredit in Federal Court

Medicredit has been named in 31 federal lawsuits alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act — a significant number that reflects the company’s scale and the complexity of medical debt collection.

Markakos v. Medicredit, Inc. (7th Circuit, 2021): A consumer sued Medicredit for listing inconsistent debt amounts and failing to clearly identify the original creditor in collection letters. The 7th Circuit ruled the plaintiff lacked standing because she suffered no concrete injury — she disputed the debt and never overpaid. The court noted it had ruled similarly eight times in five months, signaling a high bar for FDCPA standing in the 7th Circuit.

  • Flecha v. Medicredit, Inc. (5th Circuit, 2020) — A class action appeal involving collection letters for unpaid hospital debt. The 5th Circuit reversed class certification, finding the proposed class failed commonality and predominance requirements. The case highlights how medical debt cases vary widely by individual circumstances.

Court records are sourced from CourtListener, maintained by the Free Law Project.

What this means for you: These rulings don’t protect Medicredit from accountability — they mean that to successfully challenge their practices in court, you need to show a concrete harm (like paying a debt you didn’t owe or suffering credit damage). Document everything from the start.

What To Do If Medicredit Is Calling You

  1. Confirm your insurance processed the claim before assuming you owe anything. Medicredit collects exclusively for hospitals and medical providers. Medical billing errors are common — your insurance may have denied or underpaid a claim you never knew about. Contact your insurance company first and ask them to confirm the claim was processed correctly and what your actual patient responsibility is.
  2. Request an itemized bill from the original provider. Medicredit collects on behalf of hospitals, not for themselves. Ask them for the name of the original provider, then contact that provider’s billing department for a detailed, itemized statement. Compare it against your insurance explanation of benefits (EOB) — discrepancies are common and can change what you owe.
  3. Request a debt validation notice in writing. Medicredit is legally required to send you a written notice within 5 days of first contact. If they haven’t, demand one. You then have 30 days to dispute the debt in writing. The Debt Validation Letter Generator creates a free, personalized letter in seconds.
  4. Check your state’s statute of limitations. If the debt is old enough, they can no longer sue you to collect — though they can still ask you to pay. Check your state here.
  5. Send a cease-and-desist if you want calls to stop. A written request by certified mail legally requires them to stop contacting you (except to confirm receipt or advise of legal action).
  6. Document everything. Date, time, what they said, which number called. If they violate the FDCPA, each violation can be worth up to $1,000 plus attorney fees in federal court.

For the complete guide: Your Rights When a Debt Collector Calls.

Your FDCPA rights in brief: Medicredit must stop collection if you send a written cease request by certified mail. You can demand written debt verification within 30 days of first contact. FDCPA violations can be sued in federal court for up to $1,000 plus attorney fees. Full rights breakdown here.

Key Takeaways

  • Medicredit is a medical-only debt collector based in St. Louis, Missouri — they collect on behalf of hospitals, not for themselves
  • Their primary known phone numbers are (800) 823-2318 and (800) 888-2238
  • They collect exclusively medical debt for hospitals and healthcare systems
  • 298 CFPB complaints — the #1 issue is collecting debts consumers say aren’t theirs
  • 31 federal FDCPA lawsuits on record, including 7th Circuit and 5th Circuit appeals
  • Consumers report sending certified validation letters and receiving no adequate response
  • Always confirm your insurance processed the claim before paying anything to Medicredit

Free Tool — Debt Collector Rights Lookup: Being contacted by a debt collector? The free Debt Collector Rights Lookup shows your state-specific protections — statute of limitations, garnishment limits, and what collectors are legally prohibited from doing. Look Up Your Rights →

Frequently Asked Questions About Medicredit

Related Debt Collector Pages

If you are dealing with other debt collectors, these pages may help:

Free Newsletter

Your Money Actually

The unfiltered debt takes I can't fit on this site — for people making good money who are still drowning in debt.

Know Your Rights: If a debt collector is contacting you, you have legal protections. See the complete list of FDCPA violations collectors commit most often. Use the free Debt Validation Letter Generator to demand proof of the debt, or check this collector’s complaint history with the Scam-O-Meter.

Dealing With Debt? Before you pay a collector, understand all your debt relief options — including ones the collector won’t tell you about. If the debt feels unmanageable, take the 2-minute bankruptcy quiz to see if the math favors a fresh start. Federal Reserve research shows filers recover faster than those who don’t file.

author avatar
Steve Rhode The Get Out of Debt Guy | Consumer Debt Expert
Consumer debt expert & investigative writer. Personal bankruptcy survivor (1990). Washington Post award-winning author. Exposing debt scams since 1994.