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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Posts
    3

    Question Do Bill Collectors Have To Stop Contacting You If You're Out Of Work

    Hi, I'm in Nebraska, was in Tennessee when I went to the hospital and when it was sent to collections.

    First of all, I've been told that collections agencies are not allowed to call you if you are not working, is this true? I am on disability, have no income except for that. The collection agency calls about once a month. I've told them I'm not working and can't pay anything, are they still allowed to keep calling?

    Also, my bf wants me to try to file indigence on my medical bills. I have a hospital bill of about $1900. A doctors bill from when I went to the hospital, for $650 (I've paid $100, it was $750), and psychiatrist bill of I think $250, which I don't mind paying when I am able, and don't think he'll send it to collections.

    When I went to the hospital, they gave me forms to fill out for financial assistance to pay my bill. However, I was in severe depression for at least a month after I went to the hospital. I wasn't functioning. There was a lot to do with getting those forms filled out, including making copies of every one of my husband's check stubs for the past 6 months. I was overwhelmed considering the state of mind I was in at the time. My husband at the time wouldn't help me with it, I never got the papers filled out. Then my husband wouldn't send them any money at all and they sent it to collections.

    My bf suggested I call the hospital, see if they would pull it back from collections and let me fill the papers out now. They wouldn't do it. They said I'm way past the time limit to do those papers, that they had to be turned in within 120 days after I went into the hospital. It has now been almost a year since then. I believe it had actually said on the papers I only had a month to turn them in, otherwise I'm sure I could've gotten it done within 120 days. But I no longer have the papers.

    I'm worried that since it is in collections I won't be able to file indigence. When I talked to the hospital, they said I'd have to see if the collection agency had an indigence program. When I talked to the collection agency, they said I'd have to deal with the hospital, but that the hospital probably wouldn't do anything for me.

    In my divorce, my ex has agreed to give me some money to go toward the debt he left me in (the bills were in my name, but he agreed to pay it, considering he was supposed to be paying these bills when we were married). But he's only giving me $900 which will only cover half of one of the bills.

    Is there any way to file indigence on bills that are in collections???

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Is this true? not working and indigence

    Bill collectors can call when you're not working. If you don't want collection agencies to contact you, write to them and tell them to stop.

    If you want to work out a special repayment plan with your creditors, call them and try to work something out.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Il.(near StL,Mo.)
    Posts
    5,252

    Default Re: Is this true? not working and indigence

    Was it actually in the divorce decree that your ex was to pay your medical debts - if so, you can bring a lawsuit against him for non-payment.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: Is this true? not working and indigence

    Quote Quoting Betty3
    View Post
    Was it actually in the divorce decree that your ex was to pay your medical debts - if so, you can bring a lawsuit against him for non-payment.
    Hi Betty,
    Our divorce isn't final yet. I have the papers and need to sign and get them notarized and sent back. We came to the agreement on our own that he would pay that much to me in the divorce, we're having a no-contest divorce... considering if I argued over the debt accrued in the marriage, that's about how much I would get granted anyway. So until the divorce is final, he doesn't have to pay anything yet.

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