My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: MS
Background: This hospital is notorious for not billing correctly. My girlfriends's mom went in for her yearly checkup (it's 100% covered). The Doc asked her how she was doing (as they always do), she said fine but her neck hurt from the morning and said she herself said she probably slept on it wrong. The doc said that's probably what it is, advised some Advil and told her to call her if it didn't get better in a few days...that's the end of that story. Till she gets a bill for $3,000+. Her insurance told her the doctor's office didn't bill it as a checkup, but billed it as an emergency visit, and when she called the doctor's office the receptionist said "oh yeah you came in here complaining about your neck and this and that". Wow!
Anyways, I got a call from a previous eye doc's office (same hospital system) last week saying I have $30 odd dollar bill due. I asked what it was regarding, she didn't answer my question, just told me the insurance paid their amount and I have to paid the $30 sum dollars. I said it was a checkup which is 100% covered except the $10 co-pay which I already paid and I told her you probably didn't bill it correctly and advised her to bill it as a checkup. Her response: "no problem, i'll send it to collections, BYE!"
Questions...if they send it to collections and I pay collections right away...does it take a hit on my credit report? Is there any way to dispute this and say they aren't willingly it correctly? Without spending hours and going to court and this and that...it's $30 lol.

