which is best, paying the collection agency or my doctor the $ owed??

Question

my doctor sent my bill of $288 to a collection agency and my dentist also sent my bill of $294 to an agency. my question is, do i try to make a settlement with the collection agency or is it too late to go to my doctor/dentist and pay them the full amount in exchage for them to have the collection agency on my credit report.

Answer 1

Medical debt is a bit different as far as collection agencies and medical providers go.

You have a right to pay the medical provider no matter what kind of a deal the med. provider and collector have.

By using your HIPAA rights --

You can pay the medical provider, but you must pay in full (no deals to pay a lesser amount or you lose your HIPAA rights).

Upon payment, the medical provider legally must recall the account from the collector and demand the collector remove everything concerning you from their files and from your credit reports.

You might click on the last link I have listed in my profile and do some reading about using HIPAA in the Medical Forum.

Answer 2

It depends, how long ago did you get the letter from
the collection agency and did they tell you to contact
the doctor/dentist. If they did then you can still work with
your doctor and or dentist. However if they are demanding
payment you have to deal with them.

When a debt is placed into collection, there are a couple
of scenario's in which the debt may fall.

1.) The doctor and the dentist placed the debt and thus
have a binding contract with the collection agency and
the agency normally splits the collected money 50/50
except for the interest (collection company keeps that)

2) The collection company purchased the debt (note)
and then the money is legally owed to the collection agency
and the doctor/dentist will write off the difference between
what was owed and what they received from the collection
agency (they probably only got 5% or less on that small
an amount0

I would make an effort to pay the debt off as soon as I was
able to and once it was cleared sent a letter to all 3
credit reporting agencies with an explanation that the
account is paid in full (send a copy of the receipts for proof)

Answer 3

Really it doesnt matter who you pay at the point. Whoever you feel comfortable paying.

If you call the creditor who is the Dr. in this case...they might tell you that they already sent your account out and that you should call the collection agent directly. In that case you have to call the collection agency. And no we are not all mean people that want to bite your head off. That is all BS and rumers.

As far as losing your rights cause you settle...that is not true.

Call the collection agency or the doc and ask for a settlement and hopefully they will give you one. If they do ask them to put it in writing and do not pay them till you get that settlement letter.

They may say...if you want it off your credit report than pay it in full and you should get that in writing before you pay as well.

Good Luck.

Answer 4

try working with the collection agency. many times you can get a nice discount if you make a large payment or the whole amount. explain to them your financial situation. hope this helps

Answer 5

deliver them $10 in line with month. maximum hospitals and medical doctors workplaces will artwork with you on a fee plan in case you in simple terms pay them something. They should not be able to placed this on your husband's credit. it isn't a joint account.

Answer 6

once it goes to collection, it is out of the creditors hands...
you deal with the collection agency

Answer 7

Pay the doctor.

Answer 8

if you want to live ,pay the doctor first.