Ask Me Help Desk - Collection Agency

I was contacted by a collection agency a few months ago about a debt for an emergency room visit. I told them I had not received any bills, and that I would try to apply for charity care. Two months later they called back. I told the woman I was speaking to that I would like a copy of the bill so that I knew exactly what I was paying, and to make sure that I didn't have insurance at the time. She refused to send me a bill and said that she's not going to go back and forth, and just gave me a major attitude. I told her that I would gladly make payments and pay it off (it's only $650, but I don't have it all now) but that I need a bill, again she refused. Then I spoke with her supervisor who said that she will send me a copy of the bill, but because I was giving her problems (which I wasn't, I just wanted a bill) that I will have to pay the full amount in the next 10 days or she'll start an investigation. She was very rude, she was yelling at me, wouldn't let me get two words in, she would just talk over me. I think this is very rude and unprofessional. I would just like to know if I have to pay all of it in 10 days, or if I can just make payments. And if I do make payments can she still take me to court?

It they cannot provide a copy of the bill, than there is no bill. Tell them to put up or shut up. Have all contact with you done only in writing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jen8446

I was contacted by a collection agency a few months ago about a debt for an emergency room visit. I told them I had not received any bills, and that i would try to apply for charity care. Two months later they called back. I told the woman I was speaking to that I would like a copy of the bill so that I knew exactly what I was paying, and to make sure that I didn't have insurance at the time. She refused to send me a bill and said that she's not going to go back and forth, and just gave me a major attitude. I told her that I would gladly make payments and pay it off (it's only $650, but I don't have it all now) but that I need a bill, again she refused. Then I spoke with her supervisor who said that she will send me a copy of the bill, but because I was giving her problems (which I wasn't, I just wanted a bill) that I will have to pay the full amount in the next 10 days or she'll start an investigation. She was very rude, she was yelling at me, wouldn't let me get two words in, she would just talk over me. I think this is very rude and unprofessional. I would just like to know if I have to pay all of it in 10 days, or if I can just make payments. And if I do make payments can she still take me to court?

Don't deal with these people. Settle with the original debtor and send the collection agency a cease communication letter. I found a good copy of this letter on www.budhibbs.com Let me know if this helps.

Thanks, I'll send them the letter, but I need to know if I make payments even though she told me I have to pay it all in 10 days, can she take me to court. It's only $600, I could pay it off pretty fast, she's just being a nasty B****.

Don't talk to these type of people ever on the phone, always in writing,

They lie, "start an investigation" they don't investigate, that is a scare method, if they wanted to sue to get a judgement they would have already done that.

For most medical bills like at the hospital, most hosptials will settle for 1/2 the amount if you can pay it. ( not all)

Talk to the hospital, see if they will let you make payments to them,

If the collection people call back, hang up or tell them to write you only and then hang up. They have to send you the info in writing and have to provide proof of the bill.

If they have not sent you any bill in writing, I would place these up with a good level of crooked collections that harrass and lie and cheat to try and get the money.

*** as said before, deal with the hospital directly only, ingore these people, don't offer them anyting don't even admit you owe them money, deny you owe the money unless they send you proof, if you acknowledge you owe them money they will be worst than ever

The only problem with calling the hospital and making payments, is that the hopital closed down a couple years ago.

Who owns the debt, did the debt collector buy the debt, Do they have the original contract to verify the debt, no contract no debt.

Oh well. I took care of collection agency in one letter that I have found here:
http://www.awakeningblog.com/collection-agency.html

That is all what you need. They stopped bothering me and I told them in the letter that they can't resell the debt.

MAKE SURE YOU DON'T BLOW THE 30 DAY DISPUTE WINDOW... WHEN you dispute the debt, you put them on notice that you dispute part, or all of the ALLEGED DEBT. Which is true, because they are jacking you with interest, legal fees, handling their sack fees, etc. So you're disputing that until they prove their case.

So, if you send the right response letter, they are blocked and checkmated in most cases... (exception... state banks generally because they FOLLOW THE LAW).

Good luck. It worked for me every time. Peace, Love, Understanding :)