What do you say to these people?
Date: Tue, 05/04/2010 - 14:27
I have a question about medical collectors. It's easy to say pay them some each month, but if you've ever been faced with what we have - you will quickly come to understand that is not possible. In the beginning we did, but as incomes and resources have disappeared, so has the ability to pay. Even things like being billed for numerous bills arising from surgeries after a defective wire in a pacemaker/defibrillator that was recalled "after the fact" of it going off over 40 times. It certainly wasn't our fault, but we're still left with those bills too! I guess what I'm asking is when attorney's offices or collection people call on old hospital bills or doctor bills - what do you say? I don't have the money to pay any of them or they would already have been paid. It's not that I don't want to pay, but there is no money from one disability check to the next. Our home is gone and most of the furniture, so there isn't anything left to sell.
I have tried to explain this to the collectors . . . but, you know how well that is received. :rolleyes: I don't know if they don't believe me or just don't care. If they'd only go back and look at our credit "before", they would know what kind of people we are, but they talk to us like we are deadbeats and I'm just tired of being pursued and pressured about something that we can't help.
Any ideas?
Yes they can and will. Medical debts are the same as any other
Yes they can and will. Medical debts are the same as any other debt. However, since you have no assets other than disability, depending on your state's law, they might not be able to get anything if on the off chance they take you to court to collect. Every creditor lives in a strange alternate reality where everyone that owes money can pay and doesn't want to. It's annoying and sometimes . . . well it would be unprofessional of me to continue. Just do the best you can.
You don't need to take that BS from them. You have the right to
You don't need to take that BS from them. You have the right to not be talked down to or harassed. How old are these debts? If they are past the statute of limitations I would send these collectors cease & desist letters.
You could write them cease and desist letters that explain your situation, that you have nothing for them to take and that as soon as you can take care of these debts you will. But that the continuous calling is stressful on your delicate health and you want it to stop since it does nothing but stress you further.
If you do get sued, you can show the judge a copy of the letter and explain that they knew perfectly well your situation and chose to bring suit anyhow....it is as simple as: You can't get blood from a stone. If you have nothing, you have nothing and a judgment won't change that.
The medicals are different ages as they have piled up year after
The medicals are different ages as they have piled up year after year. What is the sol on medicals in Georgia? And I can't promise to pay anything as I won't ever have an income anymore and neither will my husband. We'll just have more and more medicals added to what we already have. As it is now, my doctor tries to send me to the hospital for scans, etc., and I have to say "no" because I know I won't be able to pay the difference after medicare pays their part. At times when either one of us have to be admitted due to an emergency, I feel a deep sense of panic as I know what all this means . . . added to a heap that we can't see over.
Thank you both for your replies!
To the best of my knowledge, the statute of limitations in Georg
To the best of my knowledge, the statute of limitations in Georgia is 4 years unless you signed a payment agreement. It would be a good idea to check on that with someone who knows more about Georgia law. A good resource I always recommend for free legal advice is www.lawguru.com.
As Goldenblast said, a cease and desist letter, as described, wi
As Goldenblast said, a cease and desist letter, as described, will at least get them off the phone so you no longer have to explain anything to them! In actuality collectors feel they have a right to know every detail of your personal financial life! The fact is they do not have a right to know anything unless they depose you after a judgement to determine your assets! In your case as OVLG Attorney stated, that is not likely!
