sent to collection as a minor

If the lab has offered you the service even after knowing that you are under 18, they will not sue you for the debt, but they can definitely sell the debt to a CA. However, if the lab comes to know that you are under 18, they can sue you for committing a fraud.

Unfortunately, your only choice is to pay it or the collection agency will contact your parents, who are responsible for it because you are a minor. A minor has virtually no rights as an individual. What state are you in? In may be possible to compel silence of the collector if this is a protected procedure.

The FDCPA states in 15USC1692c(d):
"(d) 'Consumer' defined: For the purpose of this section, the term 'consumer' includes the consumer's spouse, parent (if the consumer is a minor), guardian, executor, or administrator."

Also, novice, a minor can avail themselves of healthcare services without their parent's permission (although some specific personal medical procedures may be over-ruled by State law). Whereas HIPAA states that the medical provider cannot share the data, the collection agency can go after them for the debt - even though they would not be able to tell the parent exactly what the services were for.

Simply put...minors CAN enter into contract and those contracts can be deemed valid if they were for necessities of life. Medical care comes under that.

Oh yeah, I just wanted to overcompensate so that novice's wrong information didn't cause any undue distress.

But the original question was about after it goes to a collection agency. Is there any way the OP can make sure the CA does not contact the parents?

Yeah, they could do a C&D...that would stop all contact. Plus they need to start paying on the account, even if it is only $10 per month.

i have tried contacting the lab place, and they want me to pay 75$ a month. I told them that i am only able to pay 15$ and they said that i can pay 15, but that they are still sending it to collection. the services were for *medical testing and in CA

If you have not informed the lab that you are under 18 I would immediately. As long as your parents name is not on the paperwork they are fine too. You can not enter into legal contract under the age of 18 even if it is for medical purposes. What they won't tell you is there is a special insurance the lab has for illegals and those under the age of 18 without a parents signature. If you play it right by doing the right things in the right order it will be written off and forgotten. Been in a similar situation myself and never paid a penny nor did a CA buy the debt.

Guest...read above. A child CAN enter into a contract, especially for necessities of life.

Oh, also, to the original poster, get in touch with a teen advocacy group right away, they would be able to advise you much better because of non-disclosure protections, and you really need someone to talk to that you can trust to tell all the details to so they can really help you. I wish you the best.