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  1. #1
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    Mar 2018
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    Default Are There Time Limits for a Creditor to Notify a Debtor of a Debt

    My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Tennessee
    A contract was made to provide services for me. The hospital demanded money upfront. I paid and surgery was performed 10/14/15. No further correspondence was made between myself and the hospital until May 2017 after the hospital made some "adjustments" to my account in April 2017. Until then I believed no bill no debt.
    If I had applied for credit within the period between 10/15 and 5/17 im sure I would have unknowingly violated disclosure requirements.

    Can I remain in perpetual debt or doesn't the creditor have to notify the debtor, that a balance remains, within a specified time frame?
    Was I a debtor to the hospital between 10/15 to 3/17 prior to the adjustments?
    Thanks

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Are Their Time Limits for a Creditor to Notify a Debtor of a Debt

    The "time limit" would be the state's statue of limitations for enforcement of a contract, six years.

    Note that if you carry insurance, and this is a participating provider, they will typically have a much shorter period of time to submit their revised claim to your insurance company, with a common consequence of missing that deadline being that they cannot collect the late-claimed balance.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Are Their Time Limits for a Creditor to Notify a Debtor of a Debt

    Quote Quoting scandle
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    Can I remain in perpetual debt or doesn't the creditor have to notify the debtor, that a balance remains, within a specified time frame?
    Was I a debtor to the hospital between 10/15 to 3/17 prior to the adjustments?
    Thanks
    The hospital doesn't have to give you anything or notify you of anything. It was up to you to follow up with your bills and find out the status.

    What the heck is wrong with calling up and asking: "What is the status of my bills? May I have a printout?"

    Burying your head in the sand doesn't make things go away.

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Are Their Time Limits for a Creditor to Notify a Debtor of a Debt

    Quote Quoting adjusterjack
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    The hospital doesn't have to give you anything or notify you of anything. It was up to you to follow up with your bills and find out the status.

    What the heck is wrong with calling up and asking: "What is the status of my bills? May I have a printout?"

    Burying your head in the sand doesn't make things go away.
    Wow. I concur things wont go away by burying my head in the sand. Would you recommend I contact the trash collector, lawn care service and exterminator and make sure I met our agreement even though they no longer bill me or does this advice only apply to hospitals?

    Prior to April 2017, as I stated above the hospital would have said I owed them nothing. The adjustments were made in April of 2017.
    Was I a debtor to the hospital between 10/15 to 3/17?

    Quote Quoting Mr. Knowitall
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    The "time limit" would be the state's statue of limitations for enforcement of a contract, six years.

    Note that if you carry insurance, and this is a participating provider, they will typically have a much shorter period of time to submit their revised claim to your insurance company, with a common consequence of missing that deadline being that they cannot collect the late-claimed balance.
    Yes The hospital appears to have revised and resubmitted the bill to the insurance company. And is now trying to get from me the difference. I honored the original agreement. Doesn't another agreement/contract need to be made before they just turn me back into a debtor? The statute of limitation should not apply to the initial contract once it is honored no "enforcement" was needed.
    Thank you

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Are Their Time Limits for a Creditor to Notify a Debtor of a Debt

    If the hospital complied with its contract with the insurance company, you don't get any protection from that contract even if the bill was revised upward. You still owe for co-payments, deductibles, and care that was not covered by insurance under your own agreement with the hospital. If you believe that they violated the terms of their agreement with your insurance company as an in-network provider, talk to your insurance company's customer service department.

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Are Their Time Limits for a Creditor to Notify a Debtor of a Debt

    Quote Quoting scandle
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    Wow. I concur things wont go away by burying my head in the sand. Would you recommend I contact the trash collector, lawn care service and exterminator and make sure I met our agreement even though they no longer bill me
    Hell, yes.

    Self preservation is nobody's business but your own.

    If YOU don't make sure your bills are paid YOU reap the consequences.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
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    Default Re: Are Their Time Limits for a Creditor to Notify a Debtor of a Debt

    Quote Quoting Mr. Knowitall
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    If the hospital complied with its contract with the insurance company, you don't get any protection from that contract even if the bill was revised upward. You still owe for co-payments, deductibles, and care that was not covered by insurance under your own agreement with the hospital. If you believe that they violated the terms of their agreement with your insurance company as an in-network provider, talk to your insurance company's customer service department.
    The bill was paid by myself as well as BCBS any contact with the hospital between 10/15 and 4/17 would have resulted in them stating it was paid. During the month of April 2017 the hospital revised the cost of the services. The insurance covered a portion of the revision and I am now being sued for the difference. MY daughter had a baby in September and the bills got home before she did. In a timely acceptable manner that I happily paid.
    My wife once hit a deer in her new dodge neon same situation occurred insurance covered a portion and I covered the rest. Any revision to the original bill a year after the repair would not be acceptable by anyone, so why is it different for a hospital?

    I already met all the copayments, deductibles not covered by insurance in 10/15. I paid the bill.
    I was given 30 days to respond. How many days does the hospital get, the autobody shop, dry cleaner? There are time limits for everything bankruptcy, statute of limitations, milk. eggs. my life
    Seems reasonable to expect any "creditor" to inform the "debtor" of unpaid balances due within a specified time. Doesn't seem reasonable to place me in the status of a debtor after paying a debt and then revising the debt a year later.
    Appreciate the help. Easier to just give them the $280 dollars more but I don't believe this is a good way to treat each other. Im out

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