can you be taken to court for an unpaid hospital bill?

Question

they turned it over to an attorney and he said he will file a lawsuit to take me to court

he said according to my credit history I make $5000 a month,,,,,,,But I do not make that, I am living pay check to pay check,

Answer 1

The illegals don't, they just go on their marry way while taxpayers flip the bill, you should argue that if they get to skip out on the bill you should be able to as well. (equal protection under the law)

Answer 2

Yes you can. I was making regular payments on a hospital bill, a lot more than the $5 a month, and they told me every month to either pay it all at once or put it on a credit card. When it got to court, they made it look like I never made a single payment. I took copies of my checks, for proof that I was paying them, but the judge would not accept them, and I was ordered to pay the full amount that they claimed I owed, which was nearly twice what the original bill was. I attempted to appeal, but the same judge said no. I was livid. I paid twice.
Actually, they can have your wages garnished if you don't pay on your own. You don't want that to happen, because they will take a percentage of your earnings, I believe up to 25% of your income. This may be different depending on the state in which you live.

Answer 3

This is like any other bill, if you owe it, you owe it. Regardless of your income, you should have contacted the hospital and gone in and tried to work something out with them to avoid something like this. Now that it is turned over to an attorney who probably has his own collection agency, you may be beyond that. Call the lawyer and ask him what your options are, other than paying in full which you cannot do, and see if something can be set up.

I'm not sure if you send in $5 a month that they "have" to accept that because that doesn't really show your willingness to try and pay off the debt, especially if it's thousands of dollars. Anytime you have a bill and are hard up, it is better to contact the company and try to work something out with them.

One other option is going to Consumer Credit Counseling Service and asking for their help. Many times they can contact all the companies that you owe, get the interest rates lowered in some cases and set up a monthly payment plan with each company that will fit your budget. Once you sign and agree to this, you send them a set amount each month and they then pay the companies to assure they get the payment agreed on and to relieve you of the stress of mailing them in all the time.

And if you have to and are able, get another job so you can send extra money to some of them and get them paid off sooner.

I've gone through some difficult financial problems when I was very sick for 5 years several years ago so I understand living pay check to pay check but that doesn't relieve us of our responsiblity and we did give them our word that we would pay. I consider myself an honest person so by not paying my bills, that pretty much says I'm not honest and I didn't want that hanging over my head.

There may be a slight charge each month for CCCS to set you up and do this for you but most of their money comes from companies who pay them for this service, it is worth getting the creditors off your back. Believe me, it is worth it to get companies off your back.

There are other companies other than the one I listed below but not sure how much some of those may cost so check with several and get that information (if you decide to go this route) before signing with anyone so you get the best deal.

Answer 4

definite you are able to. i grow to be making customary money on a scientific institution bill, so plenty greater advantageous than the $5 a month, and that they informed me each month to the two pay it unexpectedly or positioned it on a credit card. whilst it have been given to court docket, they made it appear like I in no way made a unmarried cost. I took copies of my assessments, for evidence that i grow to be paying them, however the choose would not settle for them, and that i grow to be ordered to pay the entire volume that they claimed I owed, which grow to be just about two times what the unique bill grow to be. i attempted to charm, however a similar choose stated no. i grow to be furious. I paid two times. genuinely, they might have your wages garnished in case you do not pay on your guy or woman. you do not want that to take place, because of the fact they're going to take a proportion of your earnings, i've got self assurance as much as twenty-5% of your earnings. this may be diverse reckoning on the state in which you reside.

Answer 5

You can, but most of the time the hospital will sell the bill to a collection company. All they will do to try and collect is bug the begebbers out of you, then they sell it to another and so on. I suggest you get a unlisted phone number.

Answer 6

Yes they can sue you if you have the money you have to pay up. Hospitals always sue 50 percent of the time for their money back.

Answer 7

Yes, they can bring an action for breach of contract. They generally would only do so if they believe you have money. Eg., if they think you are "judgment proof" they will probably just going ding your credit.

Answer 8

Yes, they can take you to court. But if you pay them even $5.00 a month they have to accept it and play nice.

Answer 9

If your not paying on it they can. Always pay something, they have to take it as a payment.

Answer 10

Damn right they can. They provided the medical care when you needed it. Now they want to be paid. you simply cannot just ignore it.