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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    2

    Default On the Verge of Being Sued for a Medical Bill

    I just recently had a baby and with that a ton of medical bills left over from what my insurance did not cover. There are 4 separate bills for the same hospital. They told me they could not combine them because they are all different departments.
    I thought I had been paying on all of them, but apparently I had not because I recently got a letter in the mail from an attorney's office asking to pay the amount in full or contact them to discuss. I contacted them to try to set up a payment arrangement but the woman I spoke with was very rude. I am currently on an unpaid maternity leave. I tried to explain to her that I do not have money coming in so I would send what I could for the time being and once I get back to work I should be able to start sending more of a substantial amount. When asked what I could pay now, I told her I could send $25 for this month and I would be back to work next month. She basically laughed at me and said absolutely not. She was not helpful at all and basically told me I could send it whatever amount of money I want, they are still going to sue me. I tried calling back to speak with someone else but was on hold until they closed. I am going to try to call again on Monday. I am just curious as to what my options are. I have every intent on paying the bill, but I can only afford what I can afford. I don't see what difference it makes if they follow through and sue me, I still won't be able to give them more then what I offered her right now. I would much rather not have to go to court over this, and have legal fees added on to what I owe. But the woman I spoke with made me feel like I didn't have a choice because I can not pay the balance in full. My mom thinks I should file for bank bankruptcy, I am getting over my head with all the bills I have but I am not to keen on the idea. I worked really hard to bring my credit up over the last year and I would hate to undue all the hard work I've done over a stupid medical bill. Everyone keeps telling me that if am sending them money it can't go to collections.. or they can't take me to court, or if they do take me to court they won't win because I was attempting to pay. Legally I just need to know what my rights are, and how I should handle this attorney's office that clearly wants to bully me into paying the bill in full.

    - - - Updated - - -

    I live in Michigan, I apologize for leaving that bit of information out.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    OH10
    Posts
    17,019

    Default Re: On the Verge of Being Sued for a Medical Bill

    Presumably, one would have started saving to pay these bills beforehand. If you feel you will be a candidate for bankruptcy, consult a lawyer locally. Your income may be prohibitive once you return to work.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Somewhere near Canada
    Posts
    35,894

    Default Re: On the Verge of Being Sued for a Medical Bill

    Stop listening to "everyone" - they couldn't be more wrong. They can absolutely send the account to collections, OR sue you even if you're paying "something".

    (Think about it - what "everyone" thinks would mean that you could pay a dollar a month to keep a creditor at bay. Hardly fair, eh?)

    Try negotiating again.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: On the Verge of Being Sued for a Medical Bill

    What am I supposed to do if they will not negotiate? What am I supposed to do if I still can't afford the lowest amount they will accept? I have to have some kinds of rights here.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    24,521

    Default Re: On the Verge of Being Sued for a Medical Bill

    You have the right to pay the bill in full or be sued for it.

    I'm sorry, I'm not unsympathetic to your situation, not by a long shot. But no, legally you do NOT have the guaranteed right to pay the bill in installments. THEY have the right to payment for the services that you have already received, and nothing in the law says they have to allow you to pay it off month by month or that as long as you're making payments they are prohibited from taking any action to get their money faster.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    OH10
    Posts
    17,019

    Default Re: On the Verge of Being Sued for a Medical Bill

    If you did not have insurance, with proof of income, some adjustment to the bills should be possible through the business office. You will need to go there in person and file paperwork.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    CT & IL
    Posts
    5,273

    Default Re: On the Verge of Being Sued for a Medical Bill

    you need to write them a letter .. no use in speaking on the phone .. it would simply be a case of he said she said.

    And if you owe $10,000 I could see where $25/mo was not seen to be adequate. That's 400 months or 33 yrs...

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