Collection

[Sunflowers]

New Mexico
My son who is 16, but 15 at the time had gone to a local dealership to get some mechanic work done. He knows the son of the lady that handled setting up the work that needed to be done to his truck. There was an verbal conversation between them and ultimately came to the conclusion of her giving the ok. She doesn't handle any of the billing, she just set it up to get the work done. Well they finished it up and there was a bill for the amount of $600.00 or so. Months went by and then a collection agency had taken over. To my knowledge my son didn't sign anything. I was not asked at any point if the work could be done or had given any information about this work that was done. I didn't ever sign anything. Well as I'm learning all of this because the a collection agency had started sending bills in the mail. One evening they caught me at home and proceeded to tell me that I was responsible for the bill since my son was a minor. First of all they are rude as can be. I explained to them that I'm on disablity and sometimes, not all the time, I receive child support. I explained to them that I don't have the resources to pay that bill and they got arguemenative about it and then told me to have a nice day and hung up.
My question is, am I responsible for a bill that I never put my signature on or had spoke to anyone about having the "ok" to do it? I understand he's my responsibility but I never gave my permission to the dealership to do the work. It was more of my son's friend's mom works there and she set it up. I knew he was having it done, but I didn't know when or at no time was it discussed with me.
I only have disability, and I have to have a transplant in the near future and that's why I am no longer able to work and I can't afford to pay on it or pay it off. My son doesn't work because he's in school so it just leaves my income which is not very much. Can they make me pay this bill out of my SS Disability? Or come after any of my property such as my car, which I still owe about 13,000 on it and of course I have furniture and all the stuff it takes to live.
I'm don't want to be sued by these people, but they aren't reasoning and it's got me upset that I may lose what I have for a $600 bill that I didn't have anything to do with.
What are they allowed to do? Their agency is in Phoenix, AZ.
What are my rights in this case? Do I send them a letter disputing this bill or what should I do. I don't know what they can do legally and I've asked them and they told me to get an attorney. Bottome line, I can't pay this and I'm worried sick over it because I have limited resources right now as it is.

Thanks so much for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.

[debtcollector`]

They can file a mechanics lien on the car. --- I don't know the hows and whys of how it works -- nover done it or been in the situation.

But I would say that you are responsible for your dependant children.

DC

[Ladynred]

If YOU weren't involved in getting the repairs done, and your son doesn't work, then what magic genie was going to PAY for those repairs in the first place ?? Quite frankly, while you probably are liable for your son's bill, he needs to get off his butt and get a job to pay it off. $600 is not a lot of money, but the longer it goes unpaid the higher its going to get. Lots of kids work part -time jobs AND go to school. He needs to step up and take responsibility for HIS bill.