Debt collector?

Question

I went to the hospital a few months ago to have major surgery done on my hand. It was an emergency and I could not pay for it at the time, as I was not employed. I just barely started my new job. I have been getting calls from a debt collector telling me he "expects payment" by a certain date, and that people at the hospital were losing their jobs because of my debt. A lousy 700 bucks?! I find that hard to believe.
But my question is, what is the process that the debt collectors go through? I have no property for them to seize and nothing of any monetary value, no cash on hand, no bank account...What can this guy do to me?

Answer 1

For 700 dollars, the debt collection agency is not going to do anything but try to harass you into paying. A creditor is not going to take you to court over this amount. It would cost them thousands of dollars to hire a lawyer and file paperwork to get a judgment, wage garnishment - etc. Even if they did get a successful judgment (unlikely) you could get the judgment vacated by filing bankruptcy.

Debt collection agencies use high pressure tactics to try to get you to pay. Don't let them scare you. If you don't pay, all that's going to happen is you'll have a negative mark on your credit report for 7 years. Only agree to pay them if the debt collection agency agrees to remove the derogatory item from your credit report. If you want to go this route, make sure to get the agreement in writing before making payment.

Answer 2

I fell for a similar tactic many years ago. If I knew then what I know now, I would never have even spoken to those clowns (aka debt collectors). They will tell you anything and everything they can think of to get you to pay up. They probably get a commission when a client settles a debt. The truth is that if it is a public hospital, you don't have to pay. Believe it. If you ignore the bills, they will stop coming soon enough. A public hospital has to treat everyone, whether or not he/she can pay. Taxpayers cover this. And if it is a private one, then an agreement/payment plan can be worked out, no matter what they say-especially since you can prove that it was an emergency and you only recently became employed. Refuse to accept this guy's calls and write to the accounts department of the hospital offering a payment plan. If the harassment continues, report the debt collector agency to the Better Business Bureau and even the Attorney General of your state, if you have to. If he steps up the game with threats, save any and all voice mails and keep a written log of what is going on. Also keep in mind that they may use another debt collector, with a nicer attitude, to accomplish the same result. It happened to me and I fell for it. Good luck with everything.

Answer 3

I'm surprised the hospital didn't require you to make payment arrangements BEFORE they treated you. When my son was young, I had to sit in the finance office and come up with a $1,000 deposit while my son sat with an ice pack on his hand. And when the bill turned out to be $1,300, they wouldn't let me take my kid home till I worked out a payment plan for the balance.

The collector will call you and try to collect. He could take you to court, get a judgment which would be good for 10 years, plus renewals. Even if you don't have assets now, you will in the future.

You could probably work out payment arrangements. It is only a lousy $700.

Answer 4

My brother labored as a debt-collector whilst in college. indexed under are some issues maximum folk do not understand. you may tell them to not call you at your place, or your paintings, or in any respect, era! in the event that they're harassing you or the guy who owes the debt, you may document them and could document them. initiate with inquiring for his or her supervisor, once you have their call returned selection (so as that they don't in basic terms postpone on you)....try the administration first, if that would not paintings there's a particularly basic criticism you may document online with the greater effective employer Bureau. creditors have distinctive regulations they're meant to maintain on with, each physique is so intimidated by utilising the calls....after which ignorant of what a debt-collector is truthfully allowed to do, they often fall for some particularly undesirable behaviors from those persons. My brother did very nicely on the interest, made a share of regardless of he accrued, and he did so (admittedly by utilising doing those issues that intimidate human beings...and that they don't understand debt-creditors are actually not allowed to do or say) desire this helps.

Answer 5

Did you ignore them when they first contacted you? Hospital is always working with patient when it comes to medical bills. I think they know they over charge people and they know that most of us don't have thousand of dollars laying around. I think because you didn't make payment arrangement with them originally, and now the account is with collection agency and they will harass you until you're exhausted and give up. They will continue to do so until they get some kind of commitment from you.

Answer 6

Debt collection on hospital bills is extreamly lenient. If you call the hospital directly you can usually work out a payment arrangement for 10/ week . I would call them directly to find out if you need to deal with the collection agency at all. No one at the hospital is losing their job over your bill - he is just trying to intimidate you and make you feel bad.

Answer 7

Put it on your credit that is about it.

Answer 8

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