Business ProfileforSouthern Financial Systems, Inc.

Timeline of Events:November 16, 2023: I received a summons to appear in court. This was the first and only attempt made by Southern Financial System to collect on my account.November 17, 2023 : I called asking what was the law suit in reference to and I was emailed a copy of list of test I receive. November 20, 2023: I learned that Southern Financial System received my account in May 2023, and it was held for six months without any attempts to collect.Violations and Concerns:Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) Violation: The initial communication I received was a summons to appear in court, a direct violation of the FDCPA.Hospital's Collection Procedure Violation: Southern Financial System's actions also contravene the hospital's collection procedure, which mandates attempts to collect in full or set up payment arrangements on the account. I was never given an opportunity to set up a payment arrangement.**** of Collaborative Approach: It is evident that the primary focus of Southern Financial System appears to be pursuing legal judgments rather than working collaboratively with patients to resolve accounts.Unprofessional Conduct : During my attempts to address these issues with, the owner, I encountered extreme rudeness and unprofessional behavior. She refused to provide a copy of the collection policy when requested, declined to answer questions, hung up on me twice, and took over calls when others attempted to convey information about their attempts to collect on my account. Her response was dismissive, stating, "It does not matter because you owe it."Potential Violation of Privacy Laws:My protected health information, which included a detailed list of tests, has been released to Southern Financial System, constituting a violation of the **************** Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy rule.