a different medical bill question

They can not do anything once they get the DV letter. The only options they can legally take are to either provide validation, close the account entirely, or send it to another collector. Since this is all recent I would assume that the debt collector doesnt own this debt--the hospital still does.

I would specifically dispute the items you have issue with, like the cat scan and the first ER visit where he received no treatment at all. Heres the thing on that first one--if he signed a hospital form promising to pay for services, then he may have a harder time with that one.

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thanks so much, i was not sure about if they can still collect but i guess since they did not recieve it, than they can.
he is in the process of getting disability, it is hard because he has no insurance and he has to see many doctors to approve it - he is working with charity care, but they are taking forever and will not advise while it is still pending :(
the problem is he has so many different bills, all from the same hospital! my family can get together the $77 if he owes it, we just were unsure (and cannot do it for a couple of weeks or so). we just were also not sure if paying this bill will affect our status with charity care - they are helping us out but do not answer questions :(

Bummer :( Charity hospitals are usually pretty slow, especially those connected with a university! I had extensive dental work done and it took them a year and a half to complete the project!

It's going to get worse since the wealthy are trying so hard to shove the middle class into the poorhouse and plunder whatever they have left. :shakes head: It really makes me sad to see.

And even though they have some caring doctors, they are largely staffed by interns who are anxiously awaiting the ending of their internship and so many of them do not care one whit about you. Oh, the humanity!

I wish you and your brother the best. SSI does take forever. Even 20 years ago it used to take them 2 to 5 years and an appeal or two (and a lawyer) to get them to approve. They used to pay (including cab coupons) for you to get medical examinations (and pay for the exams themselves). They do not do that anymore?

thanks, :)

alright so i am reading over this letter and it kinda scares me lol. it tells him that payment is expected before further collection action is necessary.. he sent the DV letter before the thirty days was up and he did not recieve the green card back but the agency (Certified credt & collection bureau) is in the same state so they either got it by now or will get it tommorow or something - the first letter was dated July 6, the second July 27. should he wait until it is validated? some things are still in question with this bill, i just know that nobody in my family can afford to get sued :(

I am sure he sent the DV letter to the address provided on the dunning letter. In that case, yes, I would wait for the validation or the green card. They will not be able to continue collections without providing verification of the debt.

I really doubt they'll sue over $78, though.

thanks :)
they recieved the letter yesterday at 6:12 am.. the other one was sent before they got it.
$78 is not a big deal but we are unsure about the charges and we do not have it anyway :(

Of course. The amount is not important, being ripped off is being ripped off - even if it's only $1 - and should not be tolerated. It's like that scam that was withdrawing $7.95 (or some small amount) from people's bank accounts without their knowledge, hoping that the small amount would be overlooked. Thankfully, not everyone overlooked it...

thanks again for everyone's help :)

okay question! i know that they recieved the dv letter this past week and in today's mail, we got something for them. it was a letter stating that this is the bill we requested. that was basically how it was worded, and to send a money order of check to the hospital name with their address. than they gave us a bill with a service date, account number and patient name. it said that the charges were: emergency room, $473.00 and that there was an allowance for $395.24. What should we do? like what are our next steps? is this even enough info? is it playing with fire to ask for more? does this mean it is an in house collector? please someone help!

i am sorry to be a pain, does anyone have any thoughts on this? :(

guess not lol.. we are going to call them tommorow, i guess. my guess is that they are an in house collector and this is enough validation? it does not really answer the questions that were raised in the letter, though.. we already sent a copy of this to charity care.

my mom called today and was told they would get back to us.. any other info/thoughts/advice?

nothing new yet, was what they sent even considered validation?

Hi, Sorry I was sick for a couple of days. Unfortunately, what actually constitutes proper validation is up in the air.

I would request the hospital itself to provide me with a copy of your complete file, including every charge and every authorization for it. Due to medical info release procedures, it may be better to go in and ask this.

thanks, we were a bit panicked lol that is why i posted so much. it does seem to be an in house collector, which i believe will make it easier with charity care and what not. we did plan on going there.. it is hard because they will only talk to my brother, which we understand because of privacy laws but he does not understand a lot about it. it is so frustrating! if i had the money i would just pay this and be done with it, i still do not know if it is right, i do not see how they could charge about $500 to not even see a nurse? or what this allowance is? i agree, it is probably best to just go in person.

It might be better for him to sign a Limited Power of Attorney to grant you (or someone in your family) the right to assist him in his debt issues.

Chrys, thank you my mom just mentioned something like that and she said she was going to look into it.

thanks again, i am taking him tommorow afternoon back to charity care - wish me luck, i am soo nervous for some reason :oops:

After the predatory practices you have just been working through, I don't blame you for being nervous. I wish you the best.

thanks, they rescheduled us for monday!! this is not the first time they rescheduled us, so i am upset because you have to make an appointment and it is pretty far in advance :( i told them we are showing up on monday no matter what.
thanks for your help and support, i will keep you updated :)