Quote:
Originally posted by NiteChatDotTV
There are two ways around this:
Option 1: Fight the collection agency. They aren't tied to the government, and the reason they harass you so much is because they purchased your debt from the Hospital for something cheap like 10-25 cents on the dollar. Then they make their money by either offering you a settlement plan, or by charging the full amount. The Hospital has been paid regardless. So you can tell them "I don't care if you assumed my debt, the Hospital treated me, not you, so I'm not paying anything". Or you can really have fun with them and tell them you already paid everything in the mail. When they call back asking for the money cause they didn't recieve it, act very mad about it, don't let them intimidate you. Fuck up your credit my ass, no one fights with a pissed off consumer. There are actually legal ways around it, but I forget what they were, because this option is actually fun.
Option 2: Move to Canada and never pay for a hospital bill again, because it's covered in your taxes or something. Canadians are far superior to the USA when it comes to the important stuff.
|
LOL you just ruined your credit.
First.
They could care less if they say you paid the hospital. They could care less about ANYTHING you say UNLESS it has to do with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
If you send them a letter in writing saying you want proof that you owe the money, they CANNOT CONTACT YOU until they have sent the proof. Half the time they cannot prove the debt actually belongs to you. Them sending you a bill is NOT proof. Your signature is proof, a court judgement is proof.
They cannot report this to your credit (unless they already have) once you have sent them that letter in writing (be sure to get registered mail or signature proof that they got it) and until they send you proof. If they attempt to collect on the debt before sending proof they have violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
One company was trying to get $800 from me. They called, lied, etc. But in the end I just stopped hearing from them and its not on my credit, because I knew what I was doing.