Our infant son spend some time in the hostpital a while back. After the insurance was all settled I was advised to call the hospital to make a payment plan. I do this and was told to pay at least $62 a month (that gave a payoff at a certain number of years). So I started paying $100/month. The balance included two accounts and I was just paying on one account. One of the accounts was sent to collection. I called and was told I should have been paying at least $31 on each account instead. They said not to worry, just start paying monthly on each account and they would report payments to the collection agency. Agency is treatening to report on credit report. It was in my wife's name and she has not applied for credit since we got married 10yrs ago, we pay cash for cars, she has same old revolving accounts, but I'm really concerned 4-5 yrs down the line we may want to purchase a new house and it may be a issue. I have ~$800,000 in commercial loans for real estate rentals and I often need new loans or have to renew or shop for rates. I'm assuming it won't show up on MY credit or that would be a bigger issue (I have to personally sign on my LLC's loans in most cases). To make matters worse the bill that was turned over was a $4000 ambulance bill that was $1300 after insurance, and the ambulance trip was b/c the hospital (who this bill is with) misdiagnosed my son and rushed him to another hospital. BTW, he turned out fine and were luckly they made the mistake b/c other hospital caught a appendex that about to rupture and our local hospital does not have infant surgeons, so it could have been fatal had they not send him ther for the other misdiagnosis. I'm assuming the amount is to little for a an attorney to want to mess with. We have an issue with another account that may go a similar way some, it involves only $300 from a equipment supplier buy I can not get an invoice on what the actual charges are for. I've already paid the other hosptial and all associated doctors that billed individually in full.
Call the hospital billing department and request that they pull the account back from collections so you can pay them directly. This was all a simple mixup, as you were making more than the required payment but just not on the correct account, and don't give up until you get someone on the line that's willing to help you. Medical providers are usually more willing to help with this kind of request.
