Questioner: LynnCategory: Collections LawSubject: Medical
BillsQuestion: I have insurance, but even with 90% of everything
covered, ended up owing $1,000.The hospital is a non-profit, but would
not work with me unless I could pay the entire balance off in 6 months
or less. (I could not).So, the bills were turned over to collections.
(an Agency in Greeley, CO, who, ironically, has the majority of its
clients as non-profit, medical organizations!).1) Is it true that I,
personally, had to agree or sign off on their turning this over to
collections, more specifically, to this agency in particular?2) Is it
true the hospital is now likely collecting twice; once in its profit
and loss statement, once selling this to Professional Finance?3) I am
really struggling to keep up with the $50 a month they demand; if I am
making every effort, being sure to pay something each month, keeping in
contact with them,can they still take me to court and garnish my
wages?I did not get sick intentionally. The economy sucks, there have
been lay offs at my company, I struggle to keep utilities on, food on
the table, a roof over my head. How do these people live with
themselves? Must you sell your soul to Satan, to work in collections?
Especially for medical bills?Answer: click here to enlarge1) Is it true
that I, personally, had to agree or sign off on their turning this over
to collections, more specifically, to this agency in
particular?Probably not.2) Is it true the hospital is now likely
collecting twice; once in its profit and loss statement, once selling
this to Professional Finance?I have no knowledge of that subject. Maybe
they did and maybe they didn’t. Depends on their internal bookkeeping
procedures.3) I am really struggling to keep up with the $50 a month
they demand; if I am making every effort, being sure to pay something
each month, keeping in contact with them,can they still take me to
court and garnish my wages?Yes, they can and you should believe that
they will do that sooner or later and start preparing for it now. Above
all, you should never pay another dime to the hospital nor the debt
collector and most especially not to the debt collector. Start learning
all about FDCPA, FCRA and how to catch debt collectors breaking the law
and how to take them to court for their violations. If you do that you
can easily end up making them forget about ever collecting a dime and
make them pay you instead. My students do it all the time.I did not get
sick intentionally. The economy sucks, there have been lay offs at my
company, I struggle to keep utilities on, food on the table, a roof
over my head. How do these people live with themselves? Must you sell
your soul to Satan, to work in collections? Especially for medical
bills?Sounds logical to me. How do these people live with themselves?
Easy! The same way all thugs, corrupt politicians, and other scam
artists live with themselves. They convince themselves that what they
do is right or at least OK and they can make good money fast and easy.
They somehow kid themselves into believing that they won’t get caught.