Credit Collections - Who Do I Pay? Collector Or Creditor?

Question

I was involved in a hit and run motorcycle accident, I was hit by another bike while riding mine. Now I have 2 collections medical bills that made it's way onto my credit report that I refused to pay but since nothing has been done I am stuck with the bill. Who do I pay the collection agency or the original creditor? I plan to pay the full amount so I have better chance of getting it removed from my credit report.

Answer 1

With medical accounts, you do have the right under HIPAA to bypass the collector and pay the medical provider.

When using HIPAA and paying the medical provider, the medical provider must recall the accounts from the collectors and demand that the collectors remove everything about you from their files and also remove any trade line they have placed on your credit reports.

Did you not have insurance?
If you did, the insurance should have paid. You might check with the insurance company and find out why the bill was not paid.

In the mean time, you might go to the last link that is listed in my profile and do some reading in the medical forum about HIPAA. Feel free to ask any questions you may have in that forum.

Answer 2

Once it goes to collections, the creditor isn't supposed to accept payments from you. If you sent them a payment, they will send it to the collection agency so you will be credited for payment. If you want to set up payments, contact the collection agency. They will probably work with you, but have a figure in mind that you can pay each month. They will try to get more, but stick with it and just tell them thats all you can afford.
The original creditor is under no obligation to have it removed from your credit report. Once it goes to collections, you are pretty well screwed. However, once it is paid, you can explain that it was because of an accident, and that it is fully paid off. The only time they will accept a lesser amount is if you intend to pay the entire amount at once.

Answer 3

I'd start with the creditor and ask about the bill. Some companies may not have your record anymore since they may have sent all of it to a collector or at least they claim to. If the initial person says that you have to talk with the collector, I'd recommend asking to speak with a supervisor first and if you get trouble there then you may want to try the collector. Good luck!

Answer 4

If it is on your credit report, the damage is done. If you pay with out removal, it will start the 7 year clock again. Do not pay unless they are willing to remove the negative entries from all your credit reports.

All correspondence needs to be by certified return receipt mail only, this way you have a paper trail.

Answer 5

Call the original creditor and see if they are willing to settle for a lesser amount. That will remove the debt from your credit report.

Answer 6

If the bill has been turned over to a collection agency, you pay them.

Answer 7

the creditor will tell you to pay the collector once the account is turned over. They probably won't even let you pay them directly.