Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in California
In 2008 I went to the Doctor three times. I paid two of the bills. The third bill came. I could not pay it. I called the Doctors office MANY times to tell them this. Someone in their office eventually, after I had called many many times. Told me they would right it off. They did not send me any further bills for a long while. Then I started getting them again, exactly two times this year. I called and called again and again. Left messages, they never called me back. This year ,2010 I get a letter from a collection agency and a couple of calls, which I egnored, quite honestly. Today,after a little more than a month I received a notice from the collection agency again with their usual threats! I do not have this. It's now $168. I have NO INSURANCE! I had insurance enicially but could no longer pay it so I had to drop it. I am 64 years old, on Food Stamps and receive a very modest $196 per month S.S. I am in good credit standing but will this ruin it? The original bill was 2008. What can I do? Thank you.
2 Answers from Attorneys
You don't have insurance, so the doctor billed you. You didn't pay, and the doctor sent the bill to collections. What did you expect would happen? Don't get me wrong, all of us lawyers would like to help you if possible, and maybe the collection agency has wrongfully inflated your bill, but I just don't see a lawsuit here. Maybe the collection agency will settle the bill for $50.
You should have gotten the write off in writing from the doctor. Since you did not, you are stuck. Perhaps beg the doctor for leniency. Or offer to scrub their floors, or vacuum to work off your bill.