Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Missouri
Past Due Medical Bills
If i owe past medical bills to a hospital and I send them what I can afford every month. And they dont except what payment I have sent them and they return it back to me. wont the bill be paid in full?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Past Due Medical Bills
Sometimes creditors do not accept partial payments, because they believe it will limit how much they can allege is owed later. Unfortunately, this myth has hovered over the debtor/creditor field. However, I am unaware of any court that has deemed that refusal of partial payments eliminates the debt alleged. Therfore, the answer to yoru questions is "No."
Re: Past Due Medical Bills
This is a common myth; I do not know the origin of this myth, but that is all that it is. A creditor can elect to accept payments, or can elect to accept payment in full. Nothing requires the creditor to accept $5 a month because that's all you can afford. The creditor can and probably will take you to court where he can garnish your wages and bank accounts for payment. For this reason, you should probably attempt to work out arrangements with the creditor as soon as you can.