commentator
Senior Member
The bill that will not die, cannot be paid off
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? TN
Two years ago, my son was in college, was working in one of the campus offices as an unpaid student worker. He was asked by a custodial worker doing a project nearby to give him a hand on installing a heavy piece of equipment through a hole in the ceiling. To make a long story short, the guy dropped it on his head, knocking him out and cutting him.
He was taken to the emergency room, had treatment and a tetanus shot. He was at that time still covered under our family insurance policy, but he said they would not take this insurance information, since it was an injury on campus, which they said somehow was an 'on the job' injury. They apparently assumed he was employed by the college, instead of just being a student. Apparently this was what the custodian told them who brought him there, as he did not say this. He did give them his name and required information.
Two years later. He has not personally received any billings for this incident from the hospital during this period. Our insurance has not been billed. He cannot find any record that it was billed to the college financial office.
He is now employed at the same college. He has been receiving calls from an outside collection agency, which has somehow gotten this $300 debt, and is harrassing him and demanding payment. He has spoken to someone in the finance office at the college who assures him they would still be able to pay this bill for him. He was told that what they need to make the payment is a statement showing how much is owed and for what.
He keeps telling the collection agency this, every time they call him, which is more than daily. They keep saying they will send him something, and they never do. He has made this request many times and gotten the same assurances and results. Nothing but more calls.
He has called the hospital, and they say they have no record of the bill and can give him nothing. This has been going on for months, and he has stopped taking the collection agency's calls. I am afraid they will now go forward with some sort of garnishment. How can he go about getting something on paper from the collection agency that will allow the college to pay this bill?
Has it been too long for him to take any legal action against the college if they were to refuse to pay? I do not believe they would, but even so?
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? TN
Two years ago, my son was in college, was working in one of the campus offices as an unpaid student worker. He was asked by a custodial worker doing a project nearby to give him a hand on installing a heavy piece of equipment through a hole in the ceiling. To make a long story short, the guy dropped it on his head, knocking him out and cutting him.
He was taken to the emergency room, had treatment and a tetanus shot. He was at that time still covered under our family insurance policy, but he said they would not take this insurance information, since it was an injury on campus, which they said somehow was an 'on the job' injury. They apparently assumed he was employed by the college, instead of just being a student. Apparently this was what the custodian told them who brought him there, as he did not say this. He did give them his name and required information.
Two years later. He has not personally received any billings for this incident from the hospital during this period. Our insurance has not been billed. He cannot find any record that it was billed to the college financial office.
He is now employed at the same college. He has been receiving calls from an outside collection agency, which has somehow gotten this $300 debt, and is harrassing him and demanding payment. He has spoken to someone in the finance office at the college who assures him they would still be able to pay this bill for him. He was told that what they need to make the payment is a statement showing how much is owed and for what.
He keeps telling the collection agency this, every time they call him, which is more than daily. They keep saying they will send him something, and they never do. He has made this request many times and gotten the same assurances and results. Nothing but more calls.
He has called the hospital, and they say they have no record of the bill and can give him nothing. This has been going on for months, and he has stopped taking the collection agency's calls. I am afraid they will now go forward with some sort of garnishment. How can he go about getting something on paper from the collection agency that will allow the college to pay this bill?
Has it been too long for him to take any legal action against the college if they were to refuse to pay? I do not believe they would, but even so?
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