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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Posts
    5

    Default Collections on Something That Wasn't Billed to Me (Now 1 Year Later)

    My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: North Carolina and Province of Ontario.

    Hi all,

    I'm new to the forum and have done some reading before creating an account. I live in the province of Ontario.

    Last year, I was in North Carolina and had a medical emergency. I went to a hospital there, gave them my drivers license information etc. The lady at the desk told me that if I pay the bill within a set amount of days (ie. 7 days), then I would only have to pay 50% of the bill and gave me a flyer about it. The next day, I flew home to Toronto and I called into the phone number on the flyer and I was sent through a series of automated voice responses without being able to reach a human being. I looked up phone numbers for the hospital and called 3 numbers as they would continue to give me new numbers without reaching anyone who knew anything about what I was talking about. Long story short, I couldn't even find a place to pay my bill. Finally, over 2 weeks after the emergency, I got in touch with someone and I said that I wanted to pay it off within the 7 days to get 50% and explained my story to them. They said that was fine, but I had to wait for the bill. My medical insurance through my credit card agreed to pay it as long as it came in within a certain amount of time as well.

    3 months later, I didn't receive a bill of any sort. I get a call from them and they started asking me to pay my bill. I was obviously frustrated at this whole situation and I told them I didn't receive the bill. She said they'll send it again.

    Another month passes and still no bill and another call. I told them that this is ridiculous that I have to chase them to find out how much I have to pay. Now my insurance company won't even pay the bill anymore. So she says that they'll send it again.

    I honestly can't remember if I got a bill now that it's so late. They continued to call me for months, and I eventually either missed their calls or ignored them seeing that number calling me.

    The lady that I spoke to says I didn't get the bill because I live in Canada, which makes no sense since USPS, Fedex, UPS, Purolator, DHL etc. all deliver to Canada.

    So I got a call from a collections agency today, and this is the only thing I can think of that would have been sent to collections as I have perfect credit otherwise. I picked up the phone and said hello, but they didn't say anything and hung up. I'm sure I'll get a call again and want to make sure I'm well prepared for this. Can anyone provide any advice on how I should approach this situation? It seems a little ridiculous since I was the one trying to pay the invoice in advance, my insurance company WOULD have covered the bill and I still don't know who to contact about this.

    Should I call them back? The bill was just over $1000 I think without the interest. I would have gladly paid $500 right on the spot.

    I appreciate all those out here helping others!! Great forum!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    38,867

    Default Re: Collections on Something That Wasn't Billed to Me (Now 1 Year Later)

    Can anyone provide any advice on how I should approach this situation?
    paying the bill you admit to which hasn't been paid would be a good idea.

    It seems a little ridiculous since I was the one trying to pay the invoice in advance, my insurance company WOULD have covered the bill and I still don't know who to contact about this.
    paying the bill before it is invoiced is like paying the cashier of the grocery store when you walk into the store, before you have gathered your purchase. They simply cannot do it because they really don't know what you are supposed to pay.


    Should I call them back? The bill was just over $1000 I think without the interest. I would have gladly paid $500 right on the spot.
    Hmmm, if you have not had received a bill, how would you have any clue how much the bill is?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Posts
    5

    Default Re: Collections on Something That Wasn't Billed to Me (Now 1 Year Later)

    Thanks for your response.

    I believe the lady that I spoke with several months later told me the amount. Everything is a little jumbled as it was a while back. The Collection agency that called me is from a Bank in Canada and I've been reading up on them and apparently people are saying they only do debt for credit cards, loans or other bank related issues.

    Can a US company sell debt to a Canadian collections agency?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    18,340

    Default Re: Collections on Something That Wasn't Billed to Me (Now 1 Year Later)

    Quote Quoting salmanpasta
    View Post

    Can a US company sell debt to a Canadian collections agency?
    Obviously they CAN do it because they DID do it.

    But if you are asking if that gives you a defense, no it doesn't.

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