I accumulated medical debt over three years. I made several bad decisions and let most of my bills go to collection, setting the collection calls to silent. I'm looking to repair my credit and pay off my bills because I have insurance now and I'm hoping that my health problems are behind me. A local CA tracked me down, got my work phone number, and threatened to sue me. I explained I'll try and pay, I'm behind because I have so many bills. The CA informed me that I make x money and should pay x per pay period. I offered to settle and the CA kept saying he was going to end the call and tell the cancer center to seek a judgement (I also said I was considering bankruptcy). But the CA never ended the call, he kept talking. Two weeks later the CA called and offered to settle the $8,000 bill for $4,000. I asked to get this offer in writing. I have some questions: How do I make sure the offer is a "paid in full" settlement offer and not a payment? What do I ask for to receive the best record on my credit report. the CA said it would marked "settled in full." Am I missing anything? What else should I try and negotiated into this agreement?
Don't pay the collection agency. Try and pay the original creditor. The CA will tack on extra fees. They are NOT your friend. A lot of the CA are bogus and scam artists.
I called the cancer center, the rep told me the account is in collections and to deal with the CA. Thanks, I'll keep those fees in mind when I'm negotiating. I called the cancer center again after posting the above message and told them I was ready to pay. After a long while I hold, they decided to pull my debt out of collections. I guess i have to say the right things.
DO NOT NEGOTIATE WITH THE CA !!!! THAT IS THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO !! I don't care what the original creditor said. There are a number of things you should do NOW. Talking about money with the OC or the CA is down the road. You might be able to get out of this paying very little money or not paying anything at all !! There is also a good possibility this can be completely DELETED from your credit report. I am working right now so I have to go. Hopefully somebody else will chime in. If not I will try and help after after I get home.
He said he spoke to the cancer center which seems to be the OC in this case and that they are willing to pull the account back (apparently was assigned and not sold) and work with him. This is good to hear. Just be sure that its understood that the OC will tell the CA that the account is back in-house and to delete its reporting of the account. In writing would be a good idea to get this.... BTW...how old are these accounts, depending on your state, you could already be out of the SOL for some or all of them and the CA could be guilty of violating section 807 (2)(a) and (5) of the FDCPA.
Sorry, did not see post about OC willing to pull collection account back to them. LOL I was doing 3 things at once when I replied to your post. This is a BIG win for you. Good luck.
Thanks for taking the time to look at my problems! The OC did pull my account out of collections, I did not ask them to ask the CA to not report me. I do owe them more money so hopefully I can use that as leverage before I pay the rest of my bills with that facility. The accounts are between 2 and 3 years old. My surgery was in September of 2010 and I had several things done at that place until I got a new job and received insurance in June of 2011.
Forgot to ask -- was the CA even reporting? I'm guessing you're not out of the SOL, but you'd have to check. Even if not, if CA plays hardball with deleting (if they're already reporting), you could still hold 807 (5) over their head.
I don't think the CA reported me. They do have a new account from a non-profit hospital I get my PET and CAT scans from so they call my office phone and cell phone every day. I don't answer, I'm going to start using Why Chat's program.
