Keep Rape Kit Off My Credit History
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SHORT VERSION
I was raped 3 years ago, filed a police report, and had a rape kit done. The bill for said rape kit has gone to collections, which means if I don't pay it in the next month it will go on my credit history for the next 7 years. I'm asking for your help to pay the $4,119 owed for the cost of my rape kit, so I can move on with my life and not be reminded of what happened to me everytime my credit is checked for the next 7 years.
**You can view hospital bills, collections bills, and other documents in the "Updates" Section, or by clicking here.
LONG VERSION
In July of 2015, I flew home from Seattle for my bridal shower. My first night home, I went out for a drink alone, and ended up being drugged and sexually assaulted by two men at one of their homes in my hometown. I did not, and do not, know these men. The police were notified and a rape kit was performed at the local hospital. Despite all of this, I had a beautiful bridal shower, spent much needed time with my family, and flew back to Seattle seven days later.
Over the last three years, I've consistently received monthly hospital bills in the mail for the cost of my rape kit, which comes to a whopping $4,119.00. I had insurance at the time and was told to apply for Crime Victims Compensation, which I did. After a year of calling back and forth between the hospital, my insurance company, and Crime Victims Compensation, my patience was gone. I stopped opening any and all bills associated with the rape since receiving them only triggered me. I stopped receiving medical bills altogether about a year ago and assumed that the Crime Victims Compensation had finally kicked in.
This January, I received a letter from a collections agency stating that I owe the full amount of $4,119.00 for the cost of my hospital bill. I called and explained that this was for a rape kit and that I absolutely would not pay it since it wasn't my fault I was raped and this bill simply isn't my responsibility.
Cut to today, March 23, 2018. I've just gotten off the phone with the collection agency, who has informed me that if I do not pay the $4,119.00 for my rape kit in the next month, it will go on my credit history. Which means, that for the next seven years, in any instance where my credit is checked I will have to explain that the $4,119.00 "medical bill" on my credit history is actually from when I was drugged and date raped.
According to Crime Victims Compensation, the police department failed to send in their copy of the police report back in 2015, which is why their financial assistance never kicked in. Now that it has been over two years since the incident, I am most likely ineligible for assistance from CVC. I also learned from the woman at Crime Victims Compensation that they have "no record" that I ever received a rape kit. I'm not sure if she means it wasn't tested (sadly, not surprising) but I do know that I endured a rape kit which lasted around 8 hours and was almost as traumatic as the assault itself. I've included photos of the bills in the "Updates" section so you can see what all the charges are for, and how they break down.
My case was dropped by the local DA, due to insufficient evidence. The men who did this are free. The police department didn't hold up their end of the Crime Victims Compensation process. And now, because of all of this, I owe $4,119.00 for being sexually assaulted, or this bill is going on my credit history for seven years.
To be perfectly frank, I don't want to have to explain what happened to me anytime my credit is checked for the next seven years. And I don't think I should have to. For the last three years, I have been determined to NOT pay this bill. Paying this bill would be allowing this to happen to me without fighting for it. Paying this bill would mean giving in to the two men who assaulted me. But, the stress of this isn't worth it. The sad reality is, if I don't pay this bill, it's only going to hurt me. Crime Victims Compensation isn't going to pay the bill now. The police aren't going to own up to their shortcomings. The men who did this aren't going to ever be put in jail or stand trial for what they did to me. So, I'm asking for your help.
After a lot of soul-searching, I don't think I could handle it if this jeopardized me from leasing an apartment, buying a vehicle, or getting a mortgage in the future. Letting this bill go on my credit history would be even more of a win for the men who did this. Unfortunately, I'm not in a financial position to pay even a portion of this bill right now. Please help me reach my goal so I can move on with my life. You are more than welcome to share this page if you're so inclined.
ABOUT THE AMOUNT
GoFundMe charges a 2.9% processing fee and $0.30 per donation. I've added the 2.9% to the total ($120), as well as $30 for the cost of 100 donations.
I was raped 3 years ago, filed a police report, and had a rape kit done. The bill for said rape kit has gone to collections, which means if I don't pay it in the next month it will go on my credit history for the next 7 years. I'm asking for your help to pay the $4,119 owed for the cost of my rape kit, so I can move on with my life and not be reminded of what happened to me everytime my credit is checked for the next 7 years.
**You can view hospital bills, collections bills, and other documents in the "Updates" Section, or by clicking here.
LONG VERSION
In July of 2015, I flew home from Seattle for my bridal shower. My first night home, I went out for a drink alone, and ended up being drugged and sexually assaulted by two men at one of their homes in my hometown. I did not, and do not, know these men. The police were notified and a rape kit was performed at the local hospital. Despite all of this, I had a beautiful bridal shower, spent much needed time with my family, and flew back to Seattle seven days later.
Over the last three years, I've consistently received monthly hospital bills in the mail for the cost of my rape kit, which comes to a whopping $4,119.00. I had insurance at the time and was told to apply for Crime Victims Compensation, which I did. After a year of calling back and forth between the hospital, my insurance company, and Crime Victims Compensation, my patience was gone. I stopped opening any and all bills associated with the rape since receiving them only triggered me. I stopped receiving medical bills altogether about a year ago and assumed that the Crime Victims Compensation had finally kicked in.
This January, I received a letter from a collections agency stating that I owe the full amount of $4,119.00 for the cost of my hospital bill. I called and explained that this was for a rape kit and that I absolutely would not pay it since it wasn't my fault I was raped and this bill simply isn't my responsibility.
Cut to today, March 23, 2018. I've just gotten off the phone with the collection agency, who has informed me that if I do not pay the $4,119.00 for my rape kit in the next month, it will go on my credit history. Which means, that for the next seven years, in any instance where my credit is checked I will have to explain that the $4,119.00 "medical bill" on my credit history is actually from when I was drugged and date raped.
According to Crime Victims Compensation, the police department failed to send in their copy of the police report back in 2015, which is why their financial assistance never kicked in. Now that it has been over two years since the incident, I am most likely ineligible for assistance from CVC. I also learned from the woman at Crime Victims Compensation that they have "no record" that I ever received a rape kit. I'm not sure if she means it wasn't tested (sadly, not surprising) but I do know that I endured a rape kit which lasted around 8 hours and was almost as traumatic as the assault itself. I've included photos of the bills in the "Updates" section so you can see what all the charges are for, and how they break down.
My case was dropped by the local DA, due to insufficient evidence. The men who did this are free. The police department didn't hold up their end of the Crime Victims Compensation process. And now, because of all of this, I owe $4,119.00 for being sexually assaulted, or this bill is going on my credit history for seven years.
To be perfectly frank, I don't want to have to explain what happened to me anytime my credit is checked for the next seven years. And I don't think I should have to. For the last three years, I have been determined to NOT pay this bill. Paying this bill would be allowing this to happen to me without fighting for it. Paying this bill would mean giving in to the two men who assaulted me. But, the stress of this isn't worth it. The sad reality is, if I don't pay this bill, it's only going to hurt me. Crime Victims Compensation isn't going to pay the bill now. The police aren't going to own up to their shortcomings. The men who did this aren't going to ever be put in jail or stand trial for what they did to me. So, I'm asking for your help.
After a lot of soul-searching, I don't think I could handle it if this jeopardized me from leasing an apartment, buying a vehicle, or getting a mortgage in the future. Letting this bill go on my credit history would be even more of a win for the men who did this. Unfortunately, I'm not in a financial position to pay even a portion of this bill right now. Please help me reach my goal so I can move on with my life. You are more than welcome to share this page if you're so inclined.
ABOUT THE AMOUNT
GoFundMe charges a 2.9% processing fee and $0.30 per donation. I've added the 2.9% to the total ($120), as well as $30 for the cost of 100 donations.
Organiser
Rebekah Boroughs
Organiser
Atlanta, GA