Yes another newbie question :)... this one about multiple TL with same CA

[stephiep]

Hello all!

I am new here as a member... but I've been OBSESSIVELY reading the board for a couple months.

I haven't attempted any credit repair yet, because I'm trying to know everything I can and have the best game plan before I start stirring the pot. I don't want to wake up any sleeping giants, ya know?

ANYWAY..... my question is this.......

I have 5 different collections from the same OC that all went to the same CA. They are hospital bills. The first 2 are past my state's SOL and are under $100... so I'm not worried at all about disputing them with the CRA and hopefully getting them deleted somehow. BUT - the other 3 (totaling around $2500) are still within the SOL.... won't be out of SOL for a couple years (we have 5 year SOL here in Oklahoma).

What would yall do? Any suggestions? I know that if I dispute the first 2 small ones, it's going to spark them to pursue the other 3 larger ones.

Any help is appreciated.

TIA!

oh, and I LOVE this board! And all the genius people on it!!!

[sparky256DSL]

Can you make a payment arrangement with the OC on the ones that are not past SOL? And maybe even on the ones that are. If the OC pulls it back(assuming they still own the debt) from the CA then they have no reason to report to the CRAs. Hospitals have been known to make payment plans for a small amount per month. My mom worked a deal with the OC(hospital) to take a minimum of $25/month on a $4000 bill. When she has more money she pays more. It makes me think it is more about principle then the money with the hospitals. Just my two cents.

[swirlgirl]

This just me...but I generally don't believe in waiting out SOL. After all, you know if a debt is your or not. Plus, are you really willing to have a jacked up credit score for YEARS just so you don't have to pay what you rightfully owe? What if something happens and you need to get credit? If you truly believe that the debts are invalid, then deal with that.

With that said, I'd begin by disputing with the CRAs and take it from there. You may or may not waking up a sleeping giant. But, it's a giant you created anyway.

[lovebug5]

The answer to the question mostly depends on whether or not you are planning on or are willing to pay on this debt. If you are, contacting the OC with a hardship story and agreeing to a payment plan under the condition that they will pull the accounts back from the CA may be a good idea...But if you're not willing to pay on these debts which total a significant amount and there are no reporting errors, you might be risking it.

Just my two cents.

[stephiep]

thanks all!

actually, I think the hospital these bills are with would be more than happy to make a payment arrangement. That's what I will do... just didn't understand exactly how the CA's would handle it........

SOOOOO......

please help me understand this a little better....

The OC is not on my credit.... if I make payment arrangements with them, they would have to notify the CA's? And those CA's reports would be deleted from my credit???? If that's the case, YAY! I have no problem paying the bill I just want to do it the smartest way I can.

[sparky256DSL]

Typically a hospital can not report to CRA (I believe) so they use CA to collect and report from them. By making a payment plan you are effectively removing the CA from the picture. Make sure to have them agree to pull the account back from the CA, this will make it easier to get the TLs removed. If they are not automatically removed you may need to dispute with the CA and the CRAs.

Get everything in writting.

[Guest BucFan]

This just me...but I generally don't believe in waiting out SOL. After all, you know if a debt is your or not. Plus, are you really willing to have a jacked up credit score for YEARS just so you don't have to pay what you rightfully owe? What if something happens and you need to get credit? If you truly believe that the debts are invalid, then deal with that.

With that said, I'd begin by disputing with the CRAs and take it from there. You may or may not waking up a sleeping giant. But, it's a giant you created anyway.

I am so glad to see that a few here share this view.

[stephiep]

WELL.......

I called the hospital, and asked the billing office if I could still pay them directly without the CA involved. Didn't give any names or info, just a general question. The lady was VERY nice and she said yes definitely, and that sometimes they even work out a settlement for less if it's HUGE. My total to them is $4500 whew that is going to be a whopper of a monthly payment.... but SOOOOOOO worth it to get the CA off my credit!! 5 of them!!

Can I ask a few more questions??

First, what is my first step? Call the hospital? I usually have a pretty good way with people on the phone.... I think I might do OK.... but how does it go to get things in writing after that? Do I write out a letter/contract and send it? Or do they do that and I look at it? Sorry it sounds like I'm being anal, but I don't want to walk into this blind and sink myself.

TIA again

[Flipper]

I have a similar situation, though none of mine have been reported yet and had better not be. My son is in a study at a large Chicago hospital since 2006. The deal was, all expenses, with the exception of lab charges, were to be included as part of the funding for this program.

This has turned into a complete nightmare. And before I go forward, let me preface by saying that I have 20 years' background in health insurance. I have been placed in collections for several dates of service written off as "bad debt" by the hospital. Two of these charges are $2,205 EEGs that were performed and the hospital erroneously billed my insurance company. My only liability is for labs, not radiology. The billing for the labs is a mess. They didn't apply PPO discounts, they are "guessing" at some dates of service and on many, it appears as if they never billed the carrier at all. To add insult to injury, they've turned several of these bills over to collections.

Another 5 of the lab charges are showing up as simply "patient balance", no itemization whatsover is included. I don't even know if they're labs and given their billing mistakes, I won't pay them a dime unless they can substantiate everything.

However, I am working with the hospital, trying to get to the bottom of this to find out what my actual liability is. I do owe them money, but how much is what is at issue. They have agreed to write a letter formally admitting that this whole situation is their error once we get this all resolved - if that day ever comes, I will cut them a check for full payment on the spot. If they failed to file with the carrier, then I will further press them to waive these charges, as I will not accept liability for something that should have been filed by them when I signed an assignment of benefits.

At the end of the day, any medical provider simply wants their money and 99% of them are not interested in playing hard ball or trying to hurt anyone. Most are more than wonderful about working with patients to resolve billing issues. I would sooner pay a medical provider than I would any other creditor, simply because they are much more pleasant to interact with and cooperative.

Resolve your bills with them; work out an arrangement whereby it's a PFD situation. It's very likely they will consent to that deal. Even if the SOL is past, it shows incredibly good faith on your part to resolve all the outstanding accounts. See if you can work out a reduction of the total liability. But do not, I repeat, do not work with the CA. Go directly to the source of this debt.

Good luck; you seem to have a really good grasp of what you're doing.