How do we stop getting harassed about medical bills we don't owe?

First, in regard to being harassed by the collection agencies, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act outlaws a number of abusive, unfair and deceptive collection practices. And perhaps most important to you, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act provides you with the right to stop collection agencies from contacting you by merely informing them in writing that you do not wish them to contact you again. It is prudent to give them this notification in writing and by certified mail with a return receipt. This does not prevent the creditor from bringing a legal action against you, but will stop the harassment. If indeed the bills that they are attempting to collect are, as you characterize them, bogus, you should be in a good position to prove this if legal action is brought against you.

In regard to your credit being harmed by these collection agencies, you should first obtain free copies of your credit reports to make sure that indeed your credit has been adversely affected. If this is the case, you should contact the credit reporting agencies and contest the accuracy of the adverse information supplied by the collection agencies. You should also demand that the credit reporting agencies investigate these claims. Under the provisions of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, the credit reporting agencies then have 45 days to investigate the disputed information. Provide the credit reporting agencies with as much information and copies of documentation to support your allegations.