2007-01-24 01:40:36 · 7 answers · asked by CHERYL B 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Personal Finance
Yes they are. But here's the trick. SOME collection agencies will actually take you to court and order you to pay. If you don't have the money that day to pay it, they WILL garnish your check. And SOME collection agencies don't ever take you to court. And they just stay on your record forever. Been there done that. And don't take thier crap when they call. They are getting really nasty these days. If they want to make payment arrangements with you, only make it like 5 dollars a month. They can't refuse an offer. If they do, they have to consider it paid. Don't let them tell you other wise! If they harrass you about the amount, ask them if they are refusing your offer? They will not answer because they know it is against the law to refuse an offer. I'v been there alot over medical bills. It's not because I don't want to pay them, I just don't have the money! They don't get it. And I do believe that is why "most" do not pay something. So anyways, you just have to figure out if they are ones that will actually take you to court. Usually, all out of town ones never do. And some in town ones will and some don't. If it's a lawyer one, they most likely will. Although it will be a long time before they do. Good luck to you my fellow broke citizen!
2007-01-24 01:56:56 · answer #1 · answered by Shari 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the situation of the person responsible for paying the bills. If that person is on Social Security and/or SSI or some other assistance program, or earns too little to have wages garnished and has no other asset worth attaching or seizing on execution, the debt is probably not collectable. In any event, unless the debt collector is a lawyer, nothing will happen if the responsible person just ignores the demand letters and calls. At some point, just before the statute of limitations in that state, the creditor might sue and get a judgment good for 10 or 20 years, just in case. That will definitely wind up on a credit report.
Unless that person files for bankruptcy relief, of course.
2007-01-24 09:53:34 · answer #2 · answered by thylawyer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes
2007-01-24 09:51:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes
2007-01-24 09:45:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Uh, yes. You owe money. You haven't paid. You are now turned over for collection. It doesn't matter that it is for medical services. Pay up.
2007-01-24 09:48:15 · answer #5 · answered by Enchanted 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yup, just like any other bill. And it will be on your creid treport eventually if it isn' t already (which i'm sure it is)
2007-01-24 09:43:29 · answer #6 · answered by CSUflyer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes they do
they can collect for up to 10yrs
2007-01-24 09:48:55 · answer #7 · answered by Type O' 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋