Just got a letter from a collection company today for 103.20. The debt is from Dr.'s office and I believe they incorrectly sent it to collection. Should i pay the Dr. office or the collection agency? they just reported the debt to the collection agency less than 2 weeks ago. Called the Collection agency and they said they haven't repoted it to the Credit Bureaus nor would they, if I pay within 30 days. My Dr's office is very unresponsive and disorganised. The problem lies from miscommunication between Dr. office and insurance company. What should i do? pay the DR or the collection agency? Please advise. Thanks,
Is it covered by ins.Well if you walked into the Drs, office and pay it off and get a receipt.What then is the ca going to pay on.Have you talked to the insurance about the problem?
I'd try to pay the doctor first. If the DR. refuses to take the money saying that it has been turned over to a collection agency try telling the Doc that you are there to pay cash and if he wants to pay part of the money to the collection agency for doing nothing at all that is not your problem. Tell the Doc that if s/he don't take the money you will simply refuse to pay the collection agency and you will end up taking the both of them to federal court. Of course, one of three things will happen. 1. The Doctor accepts the money and pays the collection agency and everybody is happy. 2. The Doctor accepts the money but don't tell the debt collector so the debt collector keeps on dinging you and you tell the debt collector by certified mail that you refuse to pay but don't tell them why you refuse to pay. 3. The Doc accepts the money and tells the DC that you have paid and the DC comes after you for their collection fees. Again you refuse to pay. After all, you didn't agree to pay the DC anything and the problem is between the Doc and the DC. Debt Collectors always have a clause in their contract with their clients stating that once turned over to the DC the client agrees not to accept any money from the debtor and in the event they do the client owes the DC his fee whether the DC collected or not. If the Doc refuses to accept the money and says you have to pay the DC then let the DC earn his money. My feeling is that nobody should ever pay a debt collector anything at all. Make them pay you instead.
Mail it in to the doctor, wait a bit and then ask the collection agency to remove it. If they refuse, call the doctor and tell them the same thing. One way or another, it will be removed. Once the bill is paid, these items are removed if you ask them to.
