I was transported to a hospital in Brooklyn via the FDNY ambulance (at the time I did not know this) on July 03rd 2003. I received the bill for the services provided at the hospital by July 13th 2003 (which I paid). On August 27th, 2003 I moved out of NY. On May 05th 2008, NCO Medclr (a collection agency) posted a collection account on my credit report which they purchased from FDNY (as I was told by an FDNY employee). As a consequence of my moving, I never received a bill. As a matter of fact, I would think that 2 months would have been enough time for them to issue me a bill which the FDNY did not do. Now I am stuck with this 482.00 bill. I am willing to resolve this matter as quickly as possible. My question is what course of action can I take with regards to resolving this issue? Is the FDNY partially responsible for them not getting their payment in a timely fashion? As a consequence, am I responsible for all the "interest and fees" that they tacked onto the bill?
Additionally, I called NCO-Medclr today at their FDNY COLLECTIONS UNIT and spoke with a gentleman who called himself Mr. Bellamy who told me that the fastest way to resolve this is to pay the full amount and not the settlement amount of 361.50 if I wanted to get my credit right. Should I follow his advice?

