Questioner: Lynn
Category: Collections Law

Subject: Medical Bills
Question: 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:

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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?

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.