Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Florida

Hello,

in 2003 i was as a tourist in Florida and had treatment in the emergency room and paid 4000 Dollar cash. At that time i was told this is the amount due to be paid. I also asked for the medical records and the hospital failed to give them to me for weeks. I was told that they got lost. I had to fly back to the USA in order to get them a year later. End of 2003 i recieved another hospital bill of 10 000 Dollar and i wrote them back, that i question the amount and the service for it. I told them to go back to my insurance company. In 2004 i had a letter from a collection company and i wrote again back, that i question the amount and the service listed on the bill. I did not hear from them untill July 2012. The amount is now less and its a different collection company in Europe. Under German law the limitation of service for medical bills are 3 years, i guess in Florida it is 4 or 5 years depending if its seen as a written contract or oral, is this correct? I have heard, that the limitation of service stops, if you left the state but I was NEVER a resident of Florida and the hospital had always my correct adress in Germany. What is the statute of limitation in this case, it has been almost 9 years? Thanks so much!


Asked on 7/13/12, 11:33 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Sanford M. Martin Sanford M. Martin, P.A.

Do not pay any amount or promise to pay any amount on the debt. It appears to

be the typical debt collector's scam or threat. You should not pay because the

debt has passed Florida's statute of limitation, regardless of your citizenship,

and it appears the debt was mishandled from the outset. The debt collector

likely purchased the debt at a discount and will merely attempt to pressure

you with a usual scam or technique they use to threaten people. The debt

could not be enforced in Florida, and the collector will not be able to obtain

any court order from Florida to support its collection action in another state

or country.

Read more
Answered on 7/14/12, 6:38 am
Lucreita Becude Lucreita D. Becude, P.A.

Mr. Martin is absolutely correct. With the recent economic problems in the states, scams are up 70% .

Read more
Answered on 7/15/12, 5:09 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Credit, Debt and Collections Law questions and answers in Florida