Collections Won't Accept Payment Arrangements

[robert Juliano]

My mother (67 year old lady on a fixed income) owes a medical bill that has just gone into collections. The collection agency has not reported to the 3 credit bureaus yet and we are trying to keep that from happening. She owes $1,400.00 and wants to pay them $500.00 now, and two more payments of $450.00 for the next two months. They told her that it wouldn’t matter.... she has to pay the total amount in full or it will go on her credit report.

I thought that if you made payment arrangements and paid on time it wouldn’t go on your report. Is this true?

[aaron]

A collection agency does not have to agree to accept payments. The referral of a collection matter to a collection agency will normally appear on a credit report, along with any preceding late or missed payments - so if that hasn't happened yet, she's lucky.