I was recently served small claims papers by a collection agency. They state that on or about 11-5-08 I owed a debt to them. Their first letter to me was 1-26-09. The medical office wrote off the debt 12-31-08 and C.A. says they received the account 1-15-09. I wrote a letter of dispute 2-23-09 and they filled out court papers the next day for suit and filed them. Does the incorrect date on their papers have any relevance?
-LV

Not really. If you do owe this medical debt, you owe the debt and even if their case is dismissed against you, the collection agency will just refile the case with the correct date. It's just a stalling technique that will gain you more time but won't cancel out the debt.

That's why the papers say "on or about." There's a great deal of latitude.