Medical Collection

[chucky123]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? ND

My friend got a minor medical procedure done. Paid cash. At time of surgery, they said it will be something like $1000. She paid the $1000. She then had a follow up about 45 days later. At that time, she asked if she owed anything. She was told that the follow up costs were included in the $1000 that shows paid in their computer. Now she pulls her credit report a year later and there is a collection for like $50. It says she owed $50. She calls the doctors office and they said they made a mistake with the bill and it was really $1050 but they are not allowed to send mail or leave messages on the phone or anything like that since its "private" information. They had in their records they called once, no answer. No more contact attempts. Obviously she would have paid the $50 bucks if she had known and its a specialty doctor so its not like she will probably ever go back there for anything. So when shes talking to them, they sent the $50 to a collection agency that basically said screw you to her and that she must pay.

I have worked in credit industry so I told her not to pay it unless they agree to remove from her credit report. They refuse to do so, probably too much trouble over $50. So now she is stuck. There has to be something she can do to get it removed. It should be illegal to bill someone without notifying them and then sending it to collections and screwing with their credit.

 

[TigerD]

I have worked in credit industry so I told her not to pay it unless they agree to remove from her credit report. They refuse to do so, probably too much trouble over $50. So now she is stuck. There has to be something she can do to get it removed. It should be illegal to bill someone without notifying them and then sending it to collections and screwing with their credit.

So the question here is?
a) Is she dumber than you for following your advice?
b) How to write a check and pay her bill?
c) Is this why you should not provide advice you are not competent to provide?

DC

 

[chucky123]

So the question here is?
a) Is she dumber than you for following your advice?
b) How to write a check and pay her bill?
c) Is this why you should not provide advice you are not competent to provide?

DC

Ummm, what's wrong with my advice? Sure you could argue my advice is not ethical to the collection agency for example... but I am talking from the interest of my friend. It is in HER BEST INTEREST not to pay the collection. Doing so will immediately hurt her credit score. I am competent to provide this advice, I worked in the credit industry for about 5 years. Plus I personally don't think its ethical that someone else's mistake is hurting her ability to purchase a car/rent an apartment etc. so I honestly have no issues telling her not to accept any outcome other than a PAY FOR DELETE situation as that would be fair to all.

 

[Zigner]

Paying the bill will not cause any more harm than has already been done. It will, in fact, help.

 

[chucky123]

Paying the bill will not cause any more harm than has already been done. It will, in fact, help.

How will a derogatory almost 2 year old tradeline changing to a still derogatory but now recent paid tradeline help?

 

[Silverplum]

How will a derogatory almost 2 year old tradeline changing to a still derogatory but now recent paid tradeline help?

Really? You're really asking that question?

 

[justalayman]

How will a derogatory almost 2 year old tradeline changing to a still derogatory but now recent paid tradeline help?

because when somebody looks at it, they will see that at one time she failed to pay a bill but has since paid her obligation.


Is that really that difficult to see? If I was a lender, I would surely be more likely to loan money to somebody that eventially paid their bills than somebody that never paid their bills.

and at 2 years, she has 5 more to let that unpaid derogatory screw with her.

 

[chucky123]

Really? You're really asking that question?

It's now current derogatory. That hurts more than any benefit of going from open to paid status.

 

[Zigner]

It's now current derogatory. That hurts more than any benefit of going from open to paid status.

You are truly clueless.

 

[chucky123]

because when somebody looks at it, they will see that at one time she failed to pay a bill but has since paid her obligation.


Is that really that difficult to see? If I was a lender, I would surely be more likely to loan money to somebody that eventially paid their bills than somebody that never paid their bills.

and at 2 years, she has 5 more to let that unpaid derogatory screw with her.

And if she pays it, then she will have 7 more years to let the trade line screw with her.

 

[Zigner]

And if she pays it, then she will have 7 more years to let the trade line screw with her.

Nope - that's NOT how it works. It is reported for 7 years (+6 mos) from the original delinquency.

I thought you said you were "in the industry"

 

[justalayman]

And if she pays it, then she will have 7 more years to let the trade line screw with her.

yes, but it will be 7 years of a PAID account.



for being in the credit game, you surely aren't creative. There are possibilities for this to be taken care of and it not extending the time on her credit report.


On top of that, while it is not likely they would sue for $50, what happens if they do? Then she has a judgment (much worse than any of the discussed situations) for AT LEAST 10 years.

 

[ecmst12]

And seriously, one $50 late bill is not going to harm her credit all that much.

 

[chucky123]

On top of that, while it is not likely they would sue for $50, what happens if they do? Then she has a judgment (much worse than any of the discussed situations) for AT LEAST 10 years.

You can't sue someone for $50 in most courts. And generally when all is said and done even a local small claims court REAL COST (including filing, time to send a person there, gas etc) is much higher than $50 so it would never happen even in a best/worst case scenario.

The industry I do business in now, companies screw each other out of a few thousand here and there all the time, they know I won't fly on a plane to Oregon or Texas and sue them or hire someone to do it for $2,000. Cost vs Best case reward wouldn't be worth it.

 

[Zigner]

You can't sue someone for $50 in most courts.

You truly do have no clue.