Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Kansas

Re: med bill collection

In the absence of a written agreement which provides to the contrary, a collection agency can refuse to accept partial payments.

Unless a judgment exists and except for the purpose to serve a writ of garnishment, federal law prohibits an agency from communicating with any third party in an attempt to collect a debt.

Although apparently the agency has not contacted your employer, the threat to do so is a separate violation of federal law.

Based on my experience, most agencies make reasonable efforts to comply with federal and state [if applicable] law relating to debt collection practices. Since this agency [or at least the collector who contacted you] has clearly violated the law, additional violations may have occurred.

You can file suit to recover actual and statutory damages and attorney fees.

You should compile a file with all written correspondence you have received from the agency and a log summarizing the oral contacts, and contact a local attorney who is familiar with the federal and [possibly] state laws applicable to debt collectors.