About to be sued, negotiated PFD w/ atty...should I pay?

[jazmin]

I have a collection that I'm sure is mine (and is medical), but it's been through 2 CAs (yes, I ignored it for ~1yr), I finally decided to deal w/it in March, and I called CA and asked for an original bill or statement from OC because I didn't even know what it was for. They agreed and said it would take up to 3 weeks. I waited a week and called back to see if I could get one faster, they said it's been sent to an atty.

Called the atty, gave my story, and negotiated a PFD for original amount plus $150 in atty fees. The total is like $750, and I strongly feel I should just pay it since deletion is all I really want. I just don't want to find out later that I really didn't have to pay anything or there was some other way to handle it. Any suggestions??

[willingtocope]

Lots of questions need to be answered. Who owns the debt? If its one of the CAs, then, no don't pay...particularly when the debt chaser wants his $150 on top.

If the OC still owns the debt...call them...play dumb..."gee, I forgot all about this, can I pay you now, and, oh, by the way, call of the CA".

[jazmin]

I seem to be having trouble finding who owns all my accounts. I f do end up paying the hospital, I'm sure the atty is going to fight somehow for his fees right? Won't the CA just say I still owe the difference?

[willingtocope]

Call the OC and ask who owns the debt. Be nice, but if they won't tell you, tell them you can't see yourself paying someone you don't owe money to. If they want their money, they'll have to deal with you directly.

If they tell you they sold it, then use the DV process BEFORE you even think about handing over money to someone. The debt chaser can only charge fees if your original contract for service said he could...that's why you want them to provide proof of the debt.