How soon can a company turn over your account to collections?

Question

I received a medical bill from out of state and then less than 3 weeks later (19 days to be exact) I received a 'Second and Final Notice' saying that if not paid immediately it would be placed with an agency. 19 days doesn't seem like a lot of time before getting a collection agency threat - is this legal?

I did pay the bill already - I just thought it was very strange that they would threaten soon after sending me a first bill. I have never seen that before and was just wondering if it was legal.

Answer 1

Yes. You may have gotten the bill only 19 days ago but when was the service provided? Typically medical services have a due at time of service.

Most medical facilities do not have staff to deal with past due accounts. They turn them over to collection agencies very quickly. You may still be able to negotiate with the medical facility as the debts probably were not sold to the collection agency but merely assigned to them for collection.

Best advice is that if its your bill, pay it.