[Avw1]

I have a few questions on medical bills:
1). I have a $10,000 hospital bill with no insurance and the hospital's customer dept called me and told be I can pay it off, but the maximum period is 5 years and it works out to about $170 per month. They do not add interest I was told. I have to commit within 7 days that I will be able to pay this. I cannot pay them this much as I also have a string of doctors bills from the hospital visit that I also need to pay. If I offer them less than this per month, what can they do to me? Will it effect my credit score? (This is in TX)

2). I had another hospital bill from NC and there was an outstanding amount of $250 that I missed and never paid. (I did pay the main bill from this in full). The handed me to a collection agent as I moved and their letters never reached me. Well the collection agency listed me on a credit bureau as Unpaid medical bill. I since called the hospital and the lady said I can send a payment direct to the hospital for the full amount. If I do this and the hospital is paid in full, how can I get the collection agency to remove my bad listing from the credit bureau? I called and they are not eager to help....

3). A doctor handed me over to a collection agency 60 days since their 1st bill. If I commit to pay them installments, can they list me on the credit bureau while I am paying off this bill?

Sorry for the long post but I need advice badly.

Thanks!

[Pale Rider]

Originally Posted by Avw1

I have a few questions on medical bills:
1). I have a $10,000 hospital bill with no insurance and the hospital's customer dept called me and told be I can pay it off, but the maximum period is 5 years and it works out to about $170 per month. They do not add interest I was told. I have to commit within 7 days that I will be able to pay this. I cannot pay them this much as I also have a string of doctors bills from the hospital visit that I also need to pay. If I offer them less than this per month, what can they do to me? Will it effect my credit score? (This is in TX)

If you agree to the payments, then pay less, they might send it to collections and/or sue to try to get the balance. That could hurt your score if it is reported.

Did they state it had to be equal payments? You might explain your situation, and try to negotiate a lesser monthly payment in the first year or two, then higher payments or a baloon payment toward the end of the 5 year period.

Originally Posted by Avw1

2). I had another hospital bill from NC and there was an outstanding amount of $250 that I missed and never paid. (I did pay the main bill from this in full). The handed me to a collection agent as I moved and their letters never reached me. Well the collection agency listed me on a credit bureau as Unpaid medical bill. I since called the hospital and the lady said I can send a payment direct to the hospital for the full amount. If I do this and the hospital is paid in full, how can I get the collection agency to remove my bad listing from the credit bureau? I called and they are not eager to help....

You might try paying the hospital then asking the the hospital to help in removing the collection. Or, dispute it through the CRA, as they will probably not be reporting correctly at that point.

Originally Posted by Avw1

3). A doctor handed me over to a collection agency 60 days since their 1st bill. If I commit to pay them installments, can they list me on the credit bureau while I am paying off this bill?

Yes