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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / March 2005I think they are jerking me around--OT
I finally got my bill for the visit I made to the ER a couple weeks ago. Only $302. I was expecting more. After all, the hospital is expanding and someone has to pay for all the construction costs! Anyway, I called them up to arrange a payment system. With my clinic and medicine bills, money is real tight. So they told me they wanted it in four payments. I said i couldn't possibly pay that much. She told me paying anything less; that, after i had gotten a couple statements, that Collections would be after me for the rest. I told her with my doc and med bills, all I could afford was $10 or $20 a month. She said, maybe she could talk to her supervisor and see about getting my bill in 6 payments instead of four. While i waited on hold. i asked some of muy co-workers (i was at my office) if they were just jerking me around. They all said, YES! So, when the woman came back on the phone, she had 6 payments for me. But i said I had to study my budget and would get back to her. But I didn't think I could swing it. She said she would put the 6 payment note in my info for when I called back. I still can't afford more than $10 a month right now. I have a lot coming out right now. But I am worrying about Collections. Some people say they won't do that; it is just a threat. I hope so. But what if it is real? If so, does Collections make you pay a fee on top of what the bill is for? I feel that I have to put the cost of my medicines first. And the clinic is nice at lettign me pay as much as I can with no set amount. No threats. I will be having more blood tests and exams every couple months; so there will be a running account with them. They are so nice and helpful. So why does the hospital have to be so nasty? -- CATherine > I finally got my bill for the visit I made to the ER a couple weeks > ago. Only $302. I was expecting more. After all, the hospital is [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > -- > CATherine It depends what state you are in. Here in Texas they can put your medical bill into collections, but medical bills can not be reported on your credit rating. I'm not a lawyer, so I can't tell you what they can and can't do, but I've heard that as long as your trying your best to pay a bill that there isn't a judge out there who will order a garnishment on your wages. I do know that bill collectors are not allowed to call your work and if you tell them, in writing, not to call your home they can't do that either, so all they can do is write you nasty letters. You might want to get in touch with a legal aid lawyer to find your what your rights are. Hugs, CatNipped >> I finally got my bill for the visit I made to the ER a couple weeks >> ago. Only $302. I was expecting more. After all, the hospital is [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] > > CatNipped It's pretty funny how that works, too. I've been a consistently good customer of this one credit card company for almost 10 years. Didn't start having problems making payments (and no, I wasn't using the card) until after my unemployment ran out. I notified them I was out of work - not ONCE did they say "Oh, by the way, you have our Credit Protection Insurance, let us send you an application." I'd completely forgotten I'd been paying for this crap. Now it's past the time when I could activate it even though I notified them I was out of work. They call and tell me I have to make $x payment or it will be sent to collections. The next time, I go through the entire spiel again, they say oh, could you make $x (a smaller amount) payment? Funny how each time I talk with them the payment amount goes lower. But of course I can't use the credit protection insurance I've been paying for for 10 years because I didn't file the paperwork within 6 months of losing my job. I didn't remember I HAD this damn insurance and no one there told me even though I told them immediately I lost my job! I'm thinking of hiring an attorney to fight this. Sorry, CATherine... didn't mean to piggy-back on your post to rant about my own situation. I hope the hospital doesn't cause problems for you. Been there, done that. Purrs on the way. Jill >>> I finally got my bill for the visit I made to the ER a couple weeks >>> ago. Only $302. I was expecting more. After all, the hospital is [quoted text clipped - 77 lines] > > Jill Yes, I think you should contact an attorney -- or at least speak to as "high up" a supervisor as you can reach and let them *think* you are going to get legal counsel. Even if you can't get reimbursement for past months due to the fact that you didn't notify them (and I think that's probable), I would think that you could still make a claim for *future* payments now that you have sent notification. It's even at least possible that the credit card company could be held to be at fault because you *did* tell them you were unemployed. MaryL >>>> I finally got my bill for the visit I made to the ER a couple weeks >>>> ago. Only $302. I was expecting more. After all, the hospital is [quoted text clipped - 85 lines] > are going to get legal counsel. Even if you can't get reimbursement > for past months due to the fact that you didn't notify them But I DID and I have a copy of the email from them acknowledging I did! Well within their 6 month requirement period. Yet not once did they say "You have this insurance, shall we send you the forms?" (and I > think that's probable), I would think that you could still make a > claim for *future* payments now that you have sent notification. > It's even at least possible that the credit card company could be > held to be at fault because you *did* tell them you were unemployed. > > MaryL I did indeed, even though at the time I wasn't having problems making payments. Now that I am it's like, uh, why didn't you tell me about this "protection" when I told you??? I know an attorney who might be willing to take the case on a pro-bono or contigency basis. I'd love to tackle one of the big banks for screwing a long-term customer. LOL Jill > I finally got my bill for the visit I made to the ER a couple weeks > ago. Only $302. I was expecting more. After all, the hospital is [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > -- > CATherine If you make regular payments, even 5$ a month, if they are *regular* and every month they canNOT send you to collections. I found this out once I started working at my current job where we have to write off accounts and if *any* payments are made we cannot send them off. If regular payments are made you cannot write them off. They try to get blood out of stones and yes, they get nasty because sometimes people pay more but more often than not, people give up and then they DO get sent to collections. I wish they didn't get that way. I think they would collect more money if they made arrangements easier. I've heard that too, Karen; and even with collection agencies there are certain rules they can't break, like calling you at work if you say they can't. There's a website that addresses those issues I read somewhere. I had my first experience talking to a collection agency recently. It was for a cell phone bill I had co-signed. The person on the phone was rude and condescending. I I finally told her it wasn't even my bill, but I was prepared to take responsibility for it if she would get off her high horse and quit talking down to me like I was a deadbeat. It didn't help much. She was still pretty snotty. Sherry >> CATherine > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >didn't get that way. I think they would collect more money if they made >arrangements easier. Well, I just wrote a letter and put it with the bill and a ten dollar check. I was very nice in the letter and even thanked them for working woth me on the small payments! >;-> I bet the letter will confuse them as to what the person arranged with me that I talked to last week! LOL! -- CATherine Catherine, your question about collections: I don't think you pay a fee over the original amount. The hospital would forfeit a percentage of the amount they collect for the collection agency's services. Or at least that's the way it worked with the cell phone bill I replied to Karen about. Above all, don't fret about it (even though I know you are). And don't let them be nasty with you. If they are, ask to speak to a supervisor, or at the very least, a representative who can treat you with respect. You don't need that. Sherry > Catherine, your question about collections: I don't think you pay a fee > over the original amount. The hospital would forfeit a percentage of [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > You don't need that. > Sherry That's right Sherry. We pay 25dollars per account sent to the agency and only get back half of the amount paid. I suppose some can tack on a "fee", but I'm sure there are somethings attached to that. Because of that, it is in any companies best interest to take regular payments, or they will only recoup part of the amount. >Catherine, your question about collections: I don't think you pay a fee >over the original amount. The hospital would forfeit a percentage of [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >You don't need that. >Sherry I tried to call again this weekend; but the system is down through Monday for the move of offices in the hospital construction going on. If I wait any longer until I can talk to them again, I won't have time to mail a payment. So I just wrote a letter and mailed the small check today. I am feeling relieved about what everyone is saying about this matter. -- CATherine <snip> > I still can't afford more than $10 a month right now. I have a > lot coming out right now. But I am worrying about Collections. > Some people say they won't do that; it is just a threat. I hope > so. But what if it is real? If so, does Collections make you pay > a fee on top of what the bill is for? I don't know if they are individual in how they handle things, but here is my take from my own experience. Several years ago when I went to get a mortgage to buy my house, the bank found a delinquent medical bill from years earlier, when I had no insurance and had some heart problems. I never completed paying the bill and owed something like $500, and apparently the Drs office quit sending me bills, but had turned it over to a collection agency who didn't seem anxious to get the money because I don't recall ever being contacted by them. In order to get a mortgage, I had to contact the Drs office and arrange payment. They said they had written it off years ago, but that if I paid 1/2 of the ammount owed, they would report it paid in full to the credit agencies. So that is what I did. Good luck to you. No one should have to suffer the financial problems on top of health problems, especially when you're basically being threatened already. :(  SignatureCheryl ><snip> >> I still can't afford more than $10 a month right now. I have a [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >problems on top of health problems, especially when you're >basically being threatened already. :( That is just the way I feel about it. It really incensed me that they threatened Collections before I even get to start making payments! I am trying to do the best I can to see all my creditors get paid. If I pay the hospital like they want, I can't pay someone else. But they see only thier own bill and the cost of the construction at the hospital and my little bill is supposed to help that! -- CATherine > That is just the way I feel about it. It really incensed me that > they threatened Collections before I even get to start making [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > cost of the construction at the hospital and my little bill is > supposed to help that! Hang in there CAThrine and do the best you can do. No one can expect more than that. SignatureCheryl > I still can't afford more than $10 a month right now. I have a lot > coming out right now. But I am worrying about Collections. Some people > say they won't do that; it is just a threat. I hope so. There was a time when, if you were making regular payments on a large bill, clearly intending to pay it off, no one bothered you (especially if you let them know that you would be paying it in pieces). Then they started adding monthly interest to unpaid balances (which I suppose is justified, since they are being made to wait for their money). > But what if it > is real? If so, does Collections make you pay a fee on top of what the > bill is for? They shouldn't, but probably "yes". However, define "make" - if you pay off the original bill, plus any accrued interest, and refuse to pay the late fees, they probably could not do much. (FWIW, a collection agency will not accept an account for collection, if all it consists of is late fees.) > I feel that I have to put the cost of my medicines first. And the > clinic is nice at lettign me pay as much as I can with no set amount. > No threats. I will be having more blood tests and exams every couple > months; so there will be a running account with them. They are so nice > and helpful. So why does the hospital have to be so nasty? Don't you have any credit cards? I always charge my vet bills on them - then if I choose to make minimum payments to my credit card company, it's my own business (and the vets have their money in full, without hassle). >There was a time when, if you were making regular payments >on a large bill, clearly intending to pay it off, no one >bothered you (especially if you let them know that you would >be paying it in pieces). Then they started adding monthly >interest to unpaid balances (which I suppose is justified, >since they are being made to wait for their money). Yes, that is reasonable. >> But what if it >> is real? If so, does Collections make you pay a fee on top of what the [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >accept an account for collection, if all it consists of is >late fees.) This is good to know. >> I feel that I have to put the cost of my medicines first. And the >> clinic is nice at lettign me pay as much as I can with no set amount. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >my credit card company, it's my own business (and the vets >have their money in full, without hassle). Oh, yes. And they are all bunged up. I have just gotten the minimum payments down to a level that I can start making larger payments. Now with my new medical problem, that is not going to happen soon. If I put the ER bill on a credit card, the resulting minimum payment would be more than I can handle. And it would draw interest, compounding the problem. I used my IRS Refund to pay off one card. Before all this happened. I wish I had waited, then i wouldn't be in this pickle. Actually, I wish I had never gone to the ER. But at the time, I was light-headed and couldn't think clearly and couldn't drive to my clinic forty miles away from where I was. And I could have had a stroke. Who knows? What is done is done. Now I just want them to work with me to get it paid so I can get on with my life and new medical regime. -- CATherine >I finally got my bill for the visit I made to the ER a couple weeks >ago. Only $302. I was expecting more. After all, the hospital is [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] >months; so there will be a running account with them. They are so nice >and helpful. So why does the hospital have to be so nasty? {{{{CATherine}}}} I'm so sorry they are being like that to you. I've been there myself, many times, and it's the last thing you need when you've been through a health crisis. From my understanding, as long as you pay *something*, they cannot call in a collection agency. I can't guarantee this, but it has always been the case when I could only pay10 or 20 a month. And collections doesn't charge anything else, either, even if it goes to that. They just basically harrass you about paying. So you send them a letter telling them they are to contact you *only* by writing via the US mail. That stops phone calls. And you do the best you can. I still think you should just send them what you can, and don't worry about it. They're getting something, and I suspect they will leave you alone. Hope this works out for you. Ginger-lyn Home Pages: http://www.spiritrealm.com/summer/ http://www.angelfire.com/folk/glsummer (homepage & cats) http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~summer/index.htm (genealogy) http://www.i-love-cats.com/meow/glsummer/ (The Violence Against Animals in Movies Website) >{{{{CATherine}}}} > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > >Ginger-lyn You are so generous with your love when you are in a terrible situation yourself. I sure wish I could help you; but i am in credit card hell and now the medical bills on top of that. I pray that somehow there is a wonderful solution to help you before too long. Hugs and purrs, -- CATherine >>{{{{CATherine}}}} >> [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] >somehow there is a wonderful solution to help you before too long. >Hugs and purrs, {{{CAtherine}}}} Thank you for that. I'm sure all the purrs and concern from all my wonderful friends here will help me get through this. And hopefully, the same for you! Ginger-lyn Home Pages: http://www.spiritrealm.com/summer/ http://www.angelfire.com/folk/glsummer (homepage & cats) http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~summer/index.htm (genealogy) http://www.i-love-cats.com/meow/glsummer/ (The Violence Against Animals in Movies Website) Purrs and best wishes, SignaturePolonca & Soncek > I finally got my bill for the visit I made to the ER a couple weeks > ago. Only $302. I was expecting more. After all, the hospital is [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > month. She said, maybe she could talk to her supervisor and see about > getting my bill in 6 payments instead of four. <snip>
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