How to pay a debt that was sent into collections?

Question

I have a medical bill from an ER visit last December that has been sent into collections. I had made 2 payments of $100 through the hospital's website before (I think) it was sent into collections. Now, when I go to the website, it says there are "no current documents." Does that mean I can't pay through the website anymore?

Answer 1

Yes, that's what it means. The reason is that legally, you don't owe the hospital any more. You owe the collection agency. The collection agency was assigned/sold the debt, so they own it now.



Have you been contacted by the collection agency yet? If so, send them a written letter, demanding that they send you documentation proving that the debt is yours, and how they arrived at the total they claim you owe (you aren't doing this because you don't owe the money. You're doing it to make sure they aren't adding any crazy fees to it). Legally, they must stop attempting to collect the debt until they send this proof to you. Once you get the proof from them, contact them and begin negotiating a settlement/payment plan for the debt. Don't pay the collection agency anything until you have a written agreement of how much you owe them, and how you will pay it back (and "$100 a month until it's paid off "isn't good enough. You want it to be very specific: "$100 a month for 27 months").

Answer 2

The hospital no longer owns the debt. They sold it to a collection agency.

It is out of the hospitals hands.



Get your three credit reports free once a year.

Never go to any advertised site from TV that will charge you for them.

All three reports are free at : Annual Credit Report.com

Look at them. The collection agency will be in one of the three.

Contact the agency.



Two things you can do:

Can you pay the bill in full? Make sure you are aware that when it goes to collections an extra charge may be added on. If you can pay in full request a pay on delete.

This is where you pay the bill in full, and they remove the item from your credit reports.

Ask for it in writing before you make payment in case they forget to "delete" the item later.



Collection agencies do not want payments.

You can also negotiate a settlement. You can offer a lower amount and they will mark the bill as "paid". This will still allow it to show on your reports for many years, but at least you saved a bit of money and kept them from suing you in court

Answer 3

You should only becoming make payment on organization which has either already been designated your debt by agreement, or the collection agency which has purchased your debt. If you think that paying the unique lender will result in the gathering company not receiving paid, you are wrong.



The actual charge the selection agency might consider will still be forwarded to all of them, as well as till designated paid entirely, they would nevertheless continue collection exercise.

Answer 4

If it says there are no current documents, it may indeed mean that it is advanced to the point that only dealing with the collection agency will solve the debt