Tamara Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 I had some surgery and made payments to my hospital. They sent me monthly statements, which I would pay. We bought a house and moved. I gave them my new address. However, I didn't received 2 months of statements. So instead of contacting me they sent me to collections. I called the hospital and explained the situation. They said, too late, it's now in collections.I know, it was totally my fault. I should have remembered the payment was due but in the hectic pace and unorganization of it all, it was forgotten.I started making payments to the CA. They told me if I made payments they would show "paying as agreed" on my credit report. I checked my credit report and guess what...it doesn't show "paying as agreed".Question:1. Will it help my credit report if they show "paying as agreed"?2. If they refuse to put "paying as agreed" should I stop paying completely? If I stop paying, I'm sure they will file a lawsuit so I am assuming I should keep paying. 3. Is there anything I can do? 4. They added somewhere over $1,000 to the original hospital bill. Can they do this? I am in Missouri. The total bill was approx. $5,000.I worked long and hard to remove the negative items on my credit report in order to get my house. And now I screw up this simple thing. Thanks for the help!Tamara. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
score booster Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 They can list a collection account as pays as agreed, but it's still an open collection account. Can you afford a settlement for deletion? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamara Posted March 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 Can't afford a settlement yet.Can they add over $1000 to the original debt?Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneIrish Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 FDCPA:§ 808. Unfair practices [15 USC 1692f]A debt collector may not use unfair or unconscionable means to collect or attempt to collect any debt. Without limiting the general application of the foregoing, the following conduct is a violation of this section: (1) The collection of any amount (including any interest, fee, charge, or expense incidental to the principal obligation) unless such amount is expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or permitted by law. What does your original agreement/contract with the hospital say? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retmar Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 Most definitely check to see if these charges are legit. Write the Hospital and ask them to send you a copy of the papers you signed showing the charges are legit. Also check your state's laws to see if they are legal. You can also inlcude that you do not like dealing with their assignee as you are treated like a piece of dirt anytime you ask a simple question. Let them know that there is no law that says you have to deal only with the CA and would prefer to deal with them only. Otherwise, as allowed in some states, they may be held liable for the actions of their assingee. Then close with the mention that you are very concerned about your personal information being given to the CA, and are seeking an investigation to see if any violations have occurred regarding the HIPAA law. As it is, by their forcing you to deal only with their collector, they are forcing you to forfeit your rights under HIPAA. By saying this, it may cause them to recall the debt and handle themselves. Any violation of HIPAA is quite expensive and most providers do not want to take a chance. At least this is worth a try. I say this as I now have my carrier researching the same thing as they agree that my position should be true, but, they must check to be sure. I'm still waiting for the results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamara Posted March 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 The collection agency has a name very similar to the hospital. The hospital is Cox Hospital. The collection agency is Cox Collection. I'm sure it's owned by the hospital. I will look for my original contract that I signed with the hospital on the day of the surgery. Not sure if I can find it though. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeartRN Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 You can call the medical records department at the hospital and get a copy of your entire file from your stay there. Your consent for treatment usually contains the info regarding financial responsibility. What is the $1000 they added to your account. Hospitals usually don't charge interest on their accounts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamara Posted March 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 The fee is what the collection company charges...I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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