I was sent to collection for a medical bill that is seven years old and have no record that the insurace paid?

Question

I was sent to collection for a medical bill that is seven years old and have no record that the insurace paid?

Answer 1

I wouldn't pay it.  Medical bills, like all debt, get swiped off your record in seven years.

Answer 2

In my state, if they try to collect (send a bill) the statute of limitations renews for another 7 years. This is probably what they are doing. It's too late to get the insurance to pay on it. Your best bet is offer them a discounted amount. Chances are alot of this is interest that the collection company has tacked on!

Answer 3

Know your rights the following is a section from the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act that describes how the debt collecter is required, by law, to validate the alleged debt -

§ 809. Validation of debts

(a) Within five days after the initial communication with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt, a debt collector shall, unless the following information is contained in the initial communication or the consumer has

paid the debt, send the consumer a written notice containing —

(1) the amount of the debt;

(2) the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed;

(3) a statement that unless the consumer, within thirty days

after receipt of the notice, disputes the validity of the debt, or any portion thereof, the debt will be assumed to be valid by the debt collector;

(4) a statement that if the consumer notifies the debt collector

in writing within the thirty-day period that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, the debt collector will obtain verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment against the consumer and a copy of such verification or judgment will be mailed to the consumer by the debt collector; and

(5) a statement that, upon the consumer’s written request within the thirty-day period, the debt collector will provide the consumer with the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor.

(b) If the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within

the thirty-day period described in subsection (a) that the

debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, or that the consumer

requests the name and address of the original credi-tor, the debt collector shall cease collection of the debt, or any disputed portion thereof, until the debt collector obtains verification of the debt or any copy of a judgment, or the name and address of the original creditor, and a copy of such verification or judgment, or name and address of the original creditor, is mailed to the consumer by the debt collector. Collection activities and communications that do not otherwise violate this title may continue during the 30-day period referred to in subsection (a) unless the consumer has notified the debt collector in writing that the debt, or any portion of the debt, is disputed or that the consumer requests the name and address of the original creditor.

Any collection activities and communication during the

30-day period may not overshadow or be inconsistent with

the disclosure of the consumer’s right to dispute the debt or

request the name and address of the original creditor.

(c) The failure of a consumer to dispute the validity of a debt

under this section may not be construed by any court as an

admission of liability by the consumer.

(d) A communication in the form of a formal pleading in a

civil action shall not be treated as an initial communication

for purposes of subsection (a).

(e) The sending or delivery of any form or notice which

does not relate to the collection of a debt and is expressly

required by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, title V of

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, or any provision of Federal or

State law relating to notice of data security breach or privacy,

or any regulation prescribed under any such provision of law, shall not be treated as an initial communication in connection with debt collection for purposes of this section.

Answer 4

It is probably past the SOL for your state. If they are just presenting the bill now it is probably to late for them to try to collect it. If you keep your records that long and you really owe the bill you might want to pay it but shouldn't have to pay it.