[Hellion]

Yeah screw them, they seem very frusterated that I don't have a credit or debit card and no bank account. And no one I know or am related to is going to let me use theirs.

So yeah if they can't wait untill I get on SSI, and set it up so I can send them a check or cash or something...then they have problems. I have an unpaid ambulance bill and an unpaid ER bill, I didn't have funds to pay it and couldn't set up a payment plan for either so they sent it to a collections agency, and I still have no funds to pay it.

[reesecups]

Yeas ago, I actually worked for a collection agency, in the computer department (so don't throw rocks). Sounds like you're disabled, which usually means a limited income. If you call and explain this to them, they will send you paperwork with your income vs expenses. Also assets. If you have no legitimate assets and not enough income and you are disabled, you will probably be considered uncollectable. In other words, you aren't worth suing because you wouldn't be a successful win in a court. So I think the main thing you have to worry about is the trade-line and score on your credit reports.

If they are outside collectors, they must all abide by the PL95-109 law. If they are collecting within the company you owe, then, I believe there are different rules governing them. If they are harassing you afterward, you can write a certified letter to them explaining you want no further contact with them until they are ready to take the next step (like lawsuit), they are not allowed to contact you. All outside agencies have to answer to the attorney general of that state. And believe me, none of them like that. So read the law and no your rights. Document and report violations.

[Perna]

I got caught between a hospital and a collection agency once; I had insurance but the hospital did not note it right for themselves or something so turned me over to a collection agency; I told the collection agency and they said "there's nothing we can do", I told the hospital and they said they'd take care of it and did not so I kept getting calls, etc. I worked for a large non-profit that had a lawyer I knew well so I went and asked him what to do and he told me what to write in a letter, detailing everything to the legal department of the hospital and it was like magic, everything got quiet

[Hellion]

Alright, well I suppose the next time they call I will just explain the situation as clear as possible and go from there. I was thinking of asking the attorney I have for my SSI case about it to see if he could give me any advice.

But yeah hopefully they have some kind of option for people who don't have a bank account, credit or debit card. But yeah when I tried explaining I am unsure if I will be getting on SSI in febuary and was unsure how I would receive the SSI funds they started saying crap about 'if you don't cooperate, it will just make things harder...bla, bla bla.' Maybe next time I will get someone who also speaks english so I can understand them better.

Thanks for the responses though I will certianly look into what my rights are, and go from there.

[reesecups]

Frankly, no assets, minimal survivable income, disabled, my agency would have sent letters and called, then would probably threaten legal action at most. Then mark it uncollectable and return it to the company it came from.

Medical collections were always considered 'cream' business to collection agencies because hospitals were so bad in insurance and accuracy. For very little time, some of our collectors simply filed insurance, Medicare and Medicaid payments for those who had it. And for every payment we got, which were many, 15% of the payment went to us.

I tried to make medical payments to a hospital after my stay there. I told them I was disabled and could only afford a specific amount per month. The hospital wouldn't accept the amount because they considered it too small. Threatened me with a collection agency. My credit was already ruined, told them to go ahead (most will accept payments lower than what the hospital will). When it got to collections I explained my situation and offered the monthly payment. They sent me paperwork and made me prove my circumstances. Instead of making me do payments, they just marked it uncollectable and that was the end of it.

[reesecups]

Also, depending on the state you live in they MAY be able to put a lien in property. If you have a house or car some states (the ones I remember were TX and FL) I'm sure there's more now, they can't touch your property.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I get them all the time from psych hospital and er visits last yr, I tell them im unemployed and applied for disability. I have no money. none. at all. and they just keep calling.

[reesecups]

You must send then something in writing, certified or registered, whichever way you can get a returned signature proving they received. Telling them that the cannot contact you again until it is turned over to legal. If it's verbal, they can and will legally ignore you.

[Hellion]

Originally Posted by reesecups

Also, depending on the state you live in they MAY be able to put a lien in property. If you have a house or car some states (the ones I remember were TX and FL) I'm sure there's more now, they can't touch your property.

Don't think I gotta worry about anything like that...I certainly have no car and I live at my moms house the only thing of 'value' I really have is my laptop and that is not a significant asset I don't think.

[reesecups]

Originally Posted by Hellion

Don't think I gotta worry about anything like that...I certainly have no car and I live at my moms house the only thing of 'value' I really have is my laptop and that is not a significant asset I don't think.

No, it isn't and if it's paid for, you will be able to keep it, even if you file bankruptcy.

[Hellion]

Originally Posted by reesecups

No, it isn't and if it's paid for, you will be able to keep it, even if you file bankruptcy.

Good god, I hope i don't have to do that....just the stress of my SSI hearing and potentially having to re-apply if I get denied is driving me over the edge....no idea how i would handle trying to file for bankruptcy. What exactly would that help though....I mean I have no income and either I will continue to have no income or get on SSI so would bankruptcy even help anything in that case?

I don't know for now I think I'll just stick with that i told them I have no income and the last person from the agency I talked to made a note of that on my file as well as that they should quit calling me at least for a while since there is nothing I can do right now...so just waiting it out, i did say I would be willing to figure some kind of payment plan if/when I get income.

[reesecups]

To be honest. Many who file bankruptcy are honest people who never either didn't accept responsibility for paying debt, or like you, who, with medical, had no choice and even on SSI, will probably barely make enough to survive. Chapter 7 IS for people in your situation. You haven't got it and even if you do get SSI, you will probably not be able to afford the expenses. Coming up with the money to file when you're broke is a problem.

People in your position shouldn't feel shame about it. You didn't choose to need medical care. There's no shame in it when you are honest and really want to make an effort. There is no sense of pride when doing it, and it can be stressful, but it will get the collector's off your back. Then if you do have money in the future you can still choose to pay them.

[Hellion]

Alright so now they want a credit card number, and the only credit card I have is expired and I don't plan on using one again. Also though I am almost starting to question if they are valid...I said I could set up a payment plan when I get a bank account which the person seemed to understand then they still asked for a credit number but said they wouldn't charge till later in the month, I guess they will call back later to see if I found a credit card. So I will tell them it is expired and they have to wait...but I wont sit there and be harrassed so if they keep trying to argue I am hanging up and not answering anymore till I get legal advice.

Also I can hardly understand what they say due to a very strong accent, to collections agencies outsource their phone jobs....or am I just unlucky enough to have someone I can't understand calling on the behalf of the collection agency?

[shortandcute]

Originally Posted by Hellion

Don't think I gotta worry about anything like that...I certainly have no car and I live at my moms house the only thing of 'value' I really have is my laptop and that is not a significant asset I don't think.

Well, even if you owned a home and they did put a lien on it, they still couldn't do much as long as you were still living in it--like they couldn't legally put you out on the streets. Having a lien on a home simply means that if you ever actually sold your home, they would get to keep whatever didn't go to the bank. Like for instance, say you still owed 50,000 on your home and you sold it for 52,000. The bank would get to keep the 50,000 you owe them and the creditor would get whatever's left over. Sometimes, the creditors don't like to mess with that because it's a lot of paperwork and they still often don't get the whole amount that is owed them. Usually, it's used as more of a scare tactic than anything else, because a lot of people don't know the whole story--and creditors count on that. (P.S. I learned that personal experience.)

[thickntired]

Hellion in the meantime you should. Contact medicade. I believe bc of your income that can be an option and they're retroactive in bills.

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[Hellion]

Originally Posted by thickntired

Hellion in the meantime you should. Contact medicade. I believe bc of your income that can be an option and they're retroactive in bills.

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I already have medicaid...and when I talked to someone from SSI to update my financial info or whatever they said maybe medicaid could pay it off or something, just not sure how to find out.

[thickntired]

That suxs but don't quit on Medicaid. I think you'd meet the requirements. The stupid government aid plans make it really hard to find info. It's like doing your damn taxes.

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[eskielover]

First off...disability income in judgment proof income according to my own lawyer.....which is good because I'm on disability........but it was also not good because the crook that installed a bad heat pump system in my house was also in disability & my lawyer explained that he was basically judgment proof so no reason to waste my money going after him.

The same applys to collection agencies trying to get any money from you.....if it's not covered by medicaid or medicare (through the disability) then it's basically tough luck on their part.

I had one company after I broke my back that charged me the full amount because medicare wouldn't cover it (x-ray requested by a chiropractor vs an MD)......what the crap....my back was fractured who cared who ordered the x-ray...but medicare does & they WON'T PAY.....so I was paying like $5/month.....somehow they sent it to collection while I was paying & had records of my payments.....I jumped all over them....they took care of it....& I never saw a bill again.