Collecting agency filed a law suit again my mom for medical bill.?

Question

Collecting agency filed a law suit again my mom for medical bill. However, the amount is not correct. Do I need to send some kind of proof and negotiate with them at the court?


She cannot work, and my dad was in a car accident few months ago. He will not able to work certain period time while getting a treatment. So, Even if collecting agency could get a judgment against my parents, they don’t have any personal property or money to pay them. I’m a college student and taking off a year for making a living.

I have contacted the collecting agency, and they want a certain down payment about 4000, and then I could set up a monthly payment. But we can’t afford that kind of money for down payment right now. It is really hard to pay our rent. I could only afford about 150 each month. We really really want to make a payment.
Or Can I make a payment plan with hospital now?
What should I do?

Thank you.

amount difference is 15000.

Answer 1

they have probably added legal fees, collection fees, late fees, etc. to the bill.

my credit card adds fees to what I owe all the time, sometimes with little explanation.

My advice is to have your parents show up for court and explain all this to the judge. THey should bring proof of their income and assets and ask the judge for a payment plan or something.

Whatever you do, don't let your parents miss that court date for any reason. The court can't get blood from a turnip, but they can get your parents put in jail for contempt of court, failure to appear, those kind of violations. As long as they show up and are honest, I don't think the court can do much to your parents other than put them on a payment plan.

Answer 2

First, contact the agency and send COPIES of what you have. This will show them that the amount is wrong. NEVER give the original documents. Make several copies for your own records as well. Go to court. If you don't appear, you will get a default judgment against you. Give those papers to the judge. Also, your parents should contact the clerk of the court and ask for the phone number to civil legal aid. All states have such a service, and your parents may qualify. It doesn't hurt to apply for help!

Answer 3

At this point if they have already filed a law suit, you have to respond to it ( if they really filed, not just threatening to sue) you have the right to demand that they show proof of the debt, so if the amount is not correct they have to prove why it is. and have to show that she actually owes the debt.

Also they need to be sure not to keep too much in a checking or savings account, if they win the law suit they will get a judgement, which can freeze thier bank accounts.

Answer 4

In most cases once a bill has gone to collections that's pretty much the end of the story. Notice I said in MOST cases. You say the amount is incorrect. Be advised that the amount will be higher as collection fees have been added.

Answer 5

The hospital is out of the loop now. Any creditor will be out of the loop after they hand things over to a collections agency.