If Wakefield & Associates has appeared on your credit report or sent you a collection letter, the debt is almost certainly medical. Wakefield is one of the largest specialized medical debt collectors in the country, and they’ve been in hot water recently over how they’ve calculated interest charges on some of those debts.
If you received a letter from Wakefield between April 2022 and September 2024 about a debt owed to Inphynet Contracting Services and the letter included interest charges, you may be eligible for a class action settlement payment of up to $1,000.
This guide walks through who Wakefield is, why you’re hearing from them, and how to respond.
Who Is Wakefield & Associates?
Wakefield & Associates, Inc. is a debt collection agency headquartered in Aurora, Colorado, at 10800 E Bethany Dr, Suite 450. The company was founded in 1946 and operates from multiple locations including Fort Morgan CO, Knoxville TN, Jefferson City MO, Eatontown NJ, Rock Springs WY, and Kingsport TN.
Wakefield specializes almost entirely in medical debt collection. Their primary clients include:
- Hospitals and health systems.
- Emergency room physician groups.
- Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs).
- Ground and air medical transport services.
- Behavioral health centers.
- Dental and orthodontic offices.
The company has accumulated significant CFPB complaint volume. A common complaint pattern involves accounts being reported to all three credit bureaus before consumers have received proper validation documentation.
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The 2024 Interest Charge Class Action
In 2024, a class action lawsuit was settled against Wakefield & Associates and Inphynet Contracting Services, LLC. The Hernandez v. Wakefield case alleged that Wakefield had been attempting to collect interest charges on medical debts without statutory or legal authority, violating both the FDCPA and the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act.
The settlement covers consumers who:
- Lived in Florida at the time of the debt.
- Received a Wakefield collection letter between April 12, 2022 and September 19, 2024.
- Had a debt owed to Inphynet Contracting Services (an emergency physician billing company).
- The letter included an interest charge in addition to the principal balance.
Eligible class members can receive up to $1,000. A sub-class of individuals who paid more than the original principal amount receives both an interest refund and a pro-rata cash payment. Settlement administration is handled by Atticus Administration at HernandezClassAction@atticusadmin.com or 1-800-479-0113.
Medical Debt Credit Reporting Rules Apply
Medical debt has credit reporting protections that don’t apply to other collection types. All three major credit bureaus voluntarily agreed to these changes in 2022 and 2023:
- Medical debts under $500 are not reported on credit reports.
- Paid medical collections are removed from credit reports entirely.
- Unpaid medical debt has a one-year waiting period before it can be reported.
If your Wakefield account falls into any of these categories and is still showing on your credit report, dispute it immediately with the credit bureaus. The bureaus are required to correct or remove these entries.
Your Rights When Wakefield Contacts You
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) applies to Wakefield. Under the FDCPA, Wakefield cannot:
- Threaten arrest or jail: Medical debt is not a criminal matter.
- Call at odd hours: Contact is only allowed between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in your time zone.
- Contact you at work after you say stop: Written cease-contact requests must be honored.
- Use harassing language: Profanity, repeated calls meant to annoy, and aggressive threats violate the law.
- Charge unauthorized interest: Wakefield has specifically been sued over this practice.
- Lie about what you owe: Misrepresenting amounts or consequences is prohibited.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you the right to dispute inaccurate information. If Wakefield violates either law, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov.
Verify the Debt Before Paying Anything
Don’t pay or admit the debt is yours until you’ve verified it. Given Wakefield’s history with interest charges, scrutinize your letter carefully for any amounts beyond the original principal.
Send a written debt validation request by certified mail within 30 days of first contact. Specifically ask for:
- The original medical provider and date of service.
- An itemized bill showing all charges.
- A detailed breakdown of any interest or fees added to the principal.
- Confirmation that your insurance was properly billed.
- A copy of any explanation of benefits (EOB) showing how the claim was processed.
If Wakefield is charging interest on a medical debt, ask for the specific statutory or contractual authority that permits those charges. Many medical debt contracts do not authorize collector-imposed interest.
Checking Your Insurance Records
Medical billing errors are one of the most common reasons accounts end up with Wakefield. Before paying, pull your explanation of benefits for the relevant dates and check:
- Was the claim submitted to your insurance?
- Did your insurance process and pay its portion correctly?
- Were you charged only for amounts your insurance didn’t cover?
- Are any charges for services you didn’t actually receive?
A significant portion of Wakefield accounts involve insurance processing errors that the provider never corrected before sending the balance to collections.
Your Options for Resolving the Account
Once you’ve verified the debt, consider these paths:
- Check settlement eligibility first: If you’re in the Florida class, file your claim through the settlement administrator before doing anything else.
- Go to the original medical provider: Many hospitals offer charity care or financial assistance that can forgive the underlying bill entirely.
- Pay the principal, dispute the interest: If interest charges look improper, offer to pay the original principal in exchange for removal of the collection.
- Negotiate a settlement: Wakefield often accepts 40 to 50 percent of the balance on medical debts. Get any agreement in writing.
- Dispute inaccurate reporting: Under medical debt reporting rules, many Wakefield accounts shouldn’t even appear on credit reports.
If Wakefield Sues You
Wakefield can sue on debts within the statute of limitations. State-by-state limits on medical debt typically run 3 to 6 years. If Wakefield wins a judgment, they may be able to garnish wages, levy bank accounts, or place liens.
If you’re sued, do not ignore the complaint. Respond within the deadline. Consult a consumer protection attorney. Many offer free consultations, and Wakefield’s documented interest charge issues may provide defenses depending on your state.
Reaching Wakefield & Associates
Handle all communication in writing whenever possible. Here’s how to reach them:
- Headquarters: Wakefield & Associates, Inc., 10800 E Bethany Dr, Ste 450, Aurora, CO 80014
- Phone: (866) 623-2069
- Other locations: Fort Morgan CO, Knoxville TN, Jefferson City MO, Eatontown NJ, Rock Springs WY, Kingsport TN
If you do need to speak by phone, take notes with the date, time, the name of the person you spoke with, and what was said.
Bottom Line
Wakefield is a major medical debt collector with a documented history of charging interest that may not be legally authorized. That history creates real leverage when you’re responding. Check the Florida class action eligibility, review your insurance records, verify any interest charges, and use the medical debt reporting rules to dispute accounts that shouldn’t even appear on your report.
Many Wakefield accounts have legitimate grounds for dispute that disappear the moment you pay without verifying.
Brooke Banks is a personal finance writer specializing in credit, debt, and smart money management. She helps readers understand their rights, build better credit, and make confident financial decisions with clear, practical advice.