can some one please help me with collection agencys??

Question

I have no credit,but I've got about 6 collection agencys on my credit reports for medical bills,and I'm not sure how to clear it up?The doctor's I had do not except payments,so after so many months when i can't pay a thousand at 1 time they turn me over to a collections,this has been going on for 3 yrs. and I have terrible medical insurance,I can't seem to figure out how to get this paid for my life back and credit not shot!

Answer 1

Write letters to all the doctors etc..do it by certified mail.......Tell them you will start making payments to them and included a sizable payment with these letters (KEEP ALL RECEIPTS)...don't take no for an answer!.......then start making payments (make them large enough that the bill is paid off in less then 3-5 years.......after 6 months ask doctor(s) to take back collections and delete from credit report......the doctor WILL take the money and it WILL go towards getting the balances down regardless who you send payments to (doctor or collection). Either way you have nothing to lose. If the doctor has any kind of passion and I assure you 99.99% of doctors do....he/she will help you ......one more thing..get a credit card TOMORROW..make it secured or non secured but get one and always pay off the balance BEFORE accruing any interest which means paying it off before the 20 day grace period. If and when the doctor(s) take back the bills from the collection agency it doesn't mean that it will be off your credit report...here's what you do to fix that:

Get copies of Equifax, Experian and Transunion credit reports.

If they are on there and the doctors took them back from collection....dispute them using the dispute option afforded to you on each report....tell them they are to be deleted....if you talk nice nice to collection agency they can and will delete them from your reports(3 reports).......remember, actions speak way louder then words..........good luck and never miss a payment again anywhere....

Answer 2

The problem is once they turn it over to a collection agency the company (or doctor) has no interest in talking to you since they've already given up on the money and sold your account to the collection company (at some discounted rate).

But keep in mind that collection agencies are usually very willing to work with you on what you owe them. Figure out what you can afford to pay (monthly) and offer slightly below that - it's a negotiation- and see what happens. They will be rude and act all tough, but at the end of the day, they want anything they can get (and want to avoid going to court over it, too).

As far as credit agencies- you're stuck with that on your record for 5-7 years.

But you should go to a credit counselling service. They are usually free and/or are non-profits. See the link below (just an example). Or type in "consumer credit counseling" in Google and you'll see other options. They can often help arrange good payment plans for you, too.

Answer 3

If they are all medical bills then it's much better than say, failure to pay on a car or a cell phone or something. Most companies look on medical bills as something unfortunate that happened, rather than something you went out and bought that you couldn't afford. That's the good news.

The bad news is that they aren't going to leave you alone, and the sooner you get it straightened out, the better.
You should consider trying to find a credit repair agency that will help you contact these people and work out a deal. They will usually settle, and will always accept payments over a big handful of nothing, and are usually willing to work with you if you are sincere about settling up on what you owe.

There are several big agencies that you can find online, but probably some in the nearest big city to where you live, too.
I can't give you names as I'm not going to endorse a service that I haven't used...just do some research and good luck with it.

Answer 4

Medical bills really aren't that big of a deal on a credit report. There are agencies out there who will help pay your medical bills. You might try making payments to the Collection Agencies.

Answer 5

Once the account has been turned over to a Collection Agency, you have to deal with them and not the original party. You may be able to negotiate with the agency and pay less than the amount owed and have them forgive the remainder of the balance. If you pay the accounts in full, it will look better on your credit report, but without any satisfactory credit, you're score will be awfully low. The collection agency will accept payments, darn near anything you want to pay they'll accept.

Answer 6

Generally medical bills do not affect your credit. Take a look at your cuurent credit report and get in touch with the financial department for your doctor. They should be willing to work out a payment program, if they can't or won't go to your bank and talk to a loan officer.

Answer 7

Did you have your terrible medical insurance at the time you went to the doctor? I would dispute the trade lines with the credit bureaus. You dispute the trade lines saying that insurance should have paid for it.

Answer 8

i would say make a deal with the collection agency that if you pay the debt off that they will remove it form your credit report (pay for deletion letter). get this in writing before you pay them though. when you pay the debt it will stay on your credit report for another seven years after you pay it!

Answer 9

Even if you pay it off tomorrow they will reflect negatively on your credit for 7 years. Try starting a small savings and adding what you can to it every month, even if it's only $50. Eventually you will have them paid off, until then, theres not much you can do.

Answer 10

Make arrangements with credit agencies, if that does not work, attempt to search credit help online...goverment agency that helps with bad collection agencies.