I have lots of doctor bills, I owe about 1,000.00 to one doctor but can only afford to pay about five dollars a month. Can they accept it or turn it down and ask me to pay more?

How much am I required to pay if I have a balance of 1000.00 at my doctors.

They can certainly ask whatever they want. The thing is that you can only pay what you can. Keep in mind that $5 on a balance of $1000 is not very much. My hospital bills were about $900 recently and they are accepting $25 per month. They know that if they don't take it they get nothing.

See if you can do just a wee little bit more but the MOST IMPORTANT thing is to call the billing office, explain the situation and ask them. Please don't wait and let the balance go to collections.

The legal answer is that any creditor does not HAVE to take less than what you owe - and that includes partial/monthly payments. The creditor can get a Judgment against you (if they can prove the debt) and take whatever means are available in your State to get paid.

If they want to work with you, that's fine - just get the arrangement IN WRITING and do not default on any payments.

They may very well take a Judgment against you (so that the statute doesn't run) and then not move to collect it as long as you are making an agreed-upon payment.

Maybe at this point you don't have the funds to pay. My feeling is that the creditor is gambling that before the Judgment runs out and is renewed (usually 10 years) you will be in a position to pay.