Hospital Sent me to Collectons, can I still pay hospital instead?

Question

I had a 1600 dollar bill to pay them and I called in November and agreed to pay them 63 dollars a month until it was payed off. Now a few months later I get a call from a collection agency saying I have to pay them now. I never recieved any bill or other statments about me paying 63 collars in the mail since I agreed to pay that amount monthly back in November. The hospital said they sent me a final notice which I did not recieve and sent me to collections. The lady in collectons was pretty rude and said that there was nothing the hospital and I can do about it, and I will have to pay collections weather I like it or not. So am I screwed on this, or can I still find a way to pay the inital 63 dollars a month which I already was gladly willing to do.

Also the hospital said I should have called them since I recieved nothing, but I was busy with other stuff and went on vacation over the holidays. Shouldn't they also be at fault for not even trying to CALL me.

Answer 1

You will have to pay the collections agency.  I would try to work out a payment plan with them.  They should be willing to work with you.  They just want to collect the money, so they should take anything.

Answer 2

If the hospital charged off the account and sold it to the collection agency, the agency now owns it.  But you should require them to produce written proof of that before paying them.  Do NOT deal with collection agencies by phone - make all communication in writing.

Answer 3

You can pay the hospital, but not in monthly installments. Collections just means that the hospital sold your debt to the collections agency. The hospital is not at fault for not calling you. It is your bill, you signed paperwork stating that you are responsible for paying services rendered. Therefore, the hospital would really only be doing you a courtesy by calling you. No matter what, on paper it is your fault.

Answer 4

The only hope you have is to make a payment aragenment with the collection agent. Yes they can be s****.s...but they will work with you. After so many days a hospital will automaticly send unpayed in full bills to collection. The collection agenices pay the hospital pennies on the dollar for these...the c.a. now owns the bill. They can take you to court and garenseh your wages..or put a lien on your property. Is this right ?...NO. but they have the courts on thier side. I'm sorry this is not the news you wanted to hear but I've been in your shoes and it sucks the big one. I went and took out a loan for $5000 to pay these bottom feeding blood suckers off.

Answer 5

It is your credit that is hurt, not the hospital's so it is irrelevant that they didn't follow up with you. They sent a bill,didn't they? You need to do everything in writing. I'd see a lawyer if I were you, before your credit gets wrecked over a relatively small bill. Or, go to ccc-consumer credit counseling services-you may be able to get help from them. But be proactive, because the longer you wait, the more they will pad the bill with interest and penalties. Hope you are feeling better.

Answer 6

The hospital is not obligated to send bills to you--nor are the obligated to make sure you got them. YOU are obligated to make the payments you agreed to. The fact that you never made the payments, nullifies the agreement.

You can pay the hospital, but they will just notify the collection agency of your payments. The collection agency will also charge interest on your balance and that could get expensive FAST.

My best advice is pay the collection agency off as quickly as you can to avoid a further dink to your credit. Notify them in writing that you will be paying so much per month and request that they not call you at home or at work.