Hello all, I am new to this site and just figured out how to post on here...I think I posted this once somewhere else on the site, so I apologize if you have already read this post. I need some advice on an issue I have with a medical bill...thanks all!! I am new to this site and I am very lost on the debt collection process. I received a call from a debt collector at work last week. He asked for me by my fiancees last name, so I wasn't sure what was going on. My son had a medical procedure done in Jan 2009 and I had received my first bill in Feb 2009. The last name on the bill was incorrect as it was my fiancees and not mine. I tried to call to change the last name on the bill and also to set up payment arraignments as I had just had my son and had many other medical bills (which I set up payment arraignments for) to pay for as well. I didn't receive any calls back, so with the next bill I called again and nothing. I decided to pay what I could and the amount I asked to have set up as payments. I again received a bill with the balanced changed by the payment I made and tried to again call them. I once again made a payment and received a third bill with the balance changed by the amount I paid again. I called and paid once more before we moved. Never received any call or notification other than the bill. Once we moved I didn't receive any other bills (even though I put in a change of address) I realize now it is because of the last name being incorrect. The collection agent was very rude and didn't want to hear anything. I told him that I had tried to contact the hospital and make arraignments and that I could pay him a small amount each month until it was paid off since my fiancee just had his hours cut at work. He cut me off and said it was unacceptable and I would have to go get a personal loan to pay it off. He also said they never received any return mail for me and I gave him my address and home phone number and told him not to contact me at work. He also said that the hospital had retained a lawyer and to file a lawsuit against me. I asked him to put in his records that I have made attempts to take care of the bill, but once I stopped receiving bills I didn't have an address or contact. I don't think this is fair and I have every intention of paying the bill, I just can't pay it all up front like he says I have to. Should I send one of these letters I have found on this site? I only have a phone number from him. He upset me so much and being that I was at work, I didn't get anything else but his name. Any help on my situation is very much appreciated. Thanks!
You don't have to talk to him on the phone if you don't want to. Get the name of his firm and its address the next time you speak, and then keep your communication in writing (CMRRR) from that point forward. It's better this way anyway, since you'll want to keep good records of the entire process. I would try contacting the billing department at the hospital one more time to see if you can get this debt pulled back from the collection agency and structure a payment plan. Hospitals are generally quite willing to work out a payment plan with you, so I'm not sure whey they were initially ignoring your requests. In the meantime, DV the CA as well to protect your rights under the FDCPA.
