Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in California
Does a collection company have to tell you what the bill is for and from whom
I had an auto accident in 2001 or 2002 and was represented by an attorney,we settled the case, I won, medical bills were paid, I thought, 2 have made it to my credit report. How do I get the attorney to pay ,also the collection agency, Grant and Weber won't tell me where the bill originated, is that legal??
3 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Does a collection company have to tell you what the bill is for and from whom
If the doctor had a lien on your case, your attorney was obligated to negotiate and pay the bill before you got paid. If so, contact the attorney and remind the attorney about his/her responsibility to do so.
If there was no lien, then the bill was your obligation. However, if the bill is over 2 or 4 years old (oral or written agreement), it might well be uncollectable because of the statutes of limitations.
If you ever receive a collection letter, you can dispute it in writing, and they would have to provide you with written information about the debt.
Re: Does a collection company have to tell you what the bill is for and from whom
Don't pay or promise to pay, the debt is too old. Never talk to CAs on the phone. You may have a lawsuit for unfair debt collection practices, call or write for info.
Re: Does a collection company have to tell you what the bill is for and from whom
When you ask for verification of the bill, the collection company must comply. You may have a claim under the Fair Debt Collection Act. Did your attorney sign a lien for these bills? Please contact us if you have any other questions.