Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Florida
I have been out of work since October of 2008. My wife and I have tried so far to faithfully pay two medical bills for charges incurred for the implanting of a pacer/defibrillator in June of 2008. Other charges on the same bill include follow up visits to the physiologist and the other bill for follow up visits to my cardiologist.
After over a year and half I have no solid prospects of getting a job any time soon. I have exhausted a retirement account in trying to keep my home and other essentials going while I land a new job. Now I have no other monies other than what I receive from the State Of Florida Unemployment Compensation Insurance and what my son can give to help keep my wife and I one step ahead.
My question to the Law Guru is: How can I make the people at these account collection services understand what my current situation is and how it is becoming increasing difficult to pay them the monthly amounts originally agreed upon if they now refuse to listen? I have sent to one of these services a letter in which I stated my current financial shortcoming and their reply was to send another bill with a late payment attached to the balance.
I am not a dishonest man and I try to meet all my financial responsibilities, but in light of these hard economic and job scarce times, I must make cruel decisions which can benefit some while leaving others out. My top priority is to try to keep my home and all the necessities that must be kept in order for my family to have a place to call home.
What am I suppose to do about this problem. Do I continue to try to make these people understand my situation? Should I just send what I can? Do I just stop paying the bill in the hopes that they will contact me and try to negotiate a much lower monthly payment?
My every attempt at contacting these people by phone has been completely useless. I have also read on various internet sites that doing any transaction by phone is not recommended. All transactions should be done by correspondence. I need the wisdom of the law to help me determine the best course of action regarding this matter.
Thank you
2 Answers from Attorneys
pay what you can and forget it. You have done all you can. Sadly, collectors do only what they are told. The fact that you can not contact them by telephone shows you they have no intent on changing any policies. You probably had someone help you lower the payments, go back to them and let them renegotiate. sometimes you can get a lower total amount if they are willing to take a lump sum and call it even.
See my website on harassment. Collection people are paid only when they collect for the most part. They do not care about you. Want to know the law? Sign up for our free newsletter on varies areas of the law by sending an email to [email protected] and requesting the newsletter, or go to www.ConsumerLawyerHelp.com
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