What Do I Do??????? Medical Bills...... | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 2061358 United States 09/28/2011 10:42 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I dont think you would be responsible if you were only 16 at the time.Why arent they billing your parents Quoting: Anonymous Coward 2221161 Well, they sent them there for a long time. And then my dad handed the bill to me.. and I'm like.. you know I can't pay that.. and it shoulda been paid 3 years ago.. and now they're coming to my house. So I guess he gave them my new address =/ I feel really desperate. I mean I try to live my life free and clear of things like this. And their irresponsibility is going to haunt me for years. :'( I've owned thousands in medical bills for over 10 years. OH NO DONT HURT MY CREDIT SCORE. Credit is for suckers anyways. Don't buy what you don't have the cash for. They can't throw you in jail over medical bills. Don't sweat it. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1331394 United States 09/28/2011 10:47 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | OK so when I was 16 I had a surgery on my tonsils. I lived with my parents until I was almost 19 and was carried on their insurance. (my birthday is in January, and graduated in July). Quoting: Pangn The doctor who preformed the surgery collected from insurance, but my irresponsible parents never paid the co-payment So now, the original $335 has turned into $1,500 and they're billing me and threatening my credit score.. I simply don't have the money to even make payments. Am I legally responsible for this? Or should I send a letter letting them know I was underage, and that they need to bill my parents? Any advice is really appriciated... You absolutely are not legally responsible for this bill. Legal contracts can only be entered into by people 18 or older. Send them a letter stating you were 16 years of age at the time and are not legally liable for the debt. I would then also include in the letter that continued harassment will result in you filing a suit for relief under the FCRA in your local court. Tell them you will file pro-se and ask the judge for the maximum penalty granted under the act. They WILL go away. THIS,THIS,THIS! Make a copy of the letter for your records, and mail it out from your local P.O. "signature required", so they can't deny that they recieved the letter. |
Mercurius User ID: 1081195 United States 09/28/2011 10:51 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | OK so when I was 16 I had a surgery on my tonsils. I lived with my parents until I was almost 19 and was carried on their insurance. (my birthday is in January, and graduated in July). Quoting: Pangn The doctor who preformed the surgery collected from insurance, but my irresponsible parents never paid the co-payment So now, the original $335 has turned into $1,500 and they're billing me and threatening my credit score.. I simply don't have the money to even make payments. Am I legally responsible for this? Or should I send a letter letting them know I was underage, and that they need to bill my parents? Any advice is really appriciated... Check into it. But as far as I know before age 18 you cannot enter into a contract. Investigate the law online. I suspect the only people who owe anything are you parents. They signed. Thats not to say they won't try to collect. The collection scum go after the relatives of dead people, even though they have no legal (nor even vaguely moral) obligation to pay. |
Pangn (OP) User ID: 1526962 United States 09/29/2011 12:12 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Pangn (OP) User ID: 1526962 United States 09/29/2011 12:21 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | What state do you live in? In MI there is a 6 year statute of limitations on collecting debts. Don't make ANY payment on it, or it resets, and they can collect again (in my state, for another 6 year window) Quoting: DinoDNA You are EXACTLY describing what I was trying to get across to her. If you give one single dime on a bill that has "expired" you can (in your words) reset the bill. They don't teach that in schools! I'm in Virginia. Fortunately, I haven't paid on it. I just hate that I'm working the best I can and struggling, and suddenly this $1500 bill pops up. I'm strung so thin, I can't even get insurance for now. Thank you for the advice :) They really are. I've had several health ailments that I never could get fixed when I was underage, and now I can't afford to because I'm trying to make a living on my own. The night I graduated high school, they had my stuff packed. I never snuck out, drank, smarted off, or done drugs. I graduated with honors. OK so when I was 16 I had a surgery on my tonsils. I lived with my parents until I was almost 19 and was carried on their insurance. (my birthday is in January, and graduated in July). Quoting: Pangn The doctor who preformed the surgery collected from insurance, but my irresponsible parents never paid the co-payment So now, the original $335 has turned into $1,500 and they're billing me and threatening my credit score.. I simply don't have the money to even make payments. Am I legally responsible for this? Or should I send a letter letting them know I was underage, and that they need to bill my parents? Any advice is really appriciated... how old are you right now, how many years ago was this?? the statute of limitations on debt is 7 years, if its closed to the cut off dont pay anything I'm 21. So it would have been in January of 2007. Just 3 more years. I've just walked such a straight line (no car payments, no credit cards) that I hate to get collections on my score before I even get a score. Most hospitals have charity if you cannot pay. You have to prove that you are not able to pay. If you are not working and living at home have your parents write a letter stating that. If you live on your own and cannot afford it make list of you bills and show your check stubs. The hospitals dont advertise this but when you talk to the hospital collectors just say "I request charity". Quoting: OdinWodin I think the hospital is taken care of, it's the actual doctor who performed the surgery who is billing me. He is private practice who comes into the hospital to perform his surgerys. The hospital it was done in isn't even 1 star to be honest. I truly hate this stuff. I can't afford insurance now, I can't go back and pay old bills, and I certainly can't take it to my parents and expect them to be decent people. I guess I will follow you guys advice and just write them a letter explaining that I was underage, and give them my parents address. Hopefully it's enough. :( |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 998009 United States 09/29/2011 12:24 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I deal with the parents of these moochers every day they don't get how they can't claim hardship as well oh wait they get that we are so fucked unless we wake up the welfare bums! they would be BETTER of with the FAIR TAX! |
Tracy User ID: 1198157 Australia 09/29/2011 12:53 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Last Edited by Red Red Whine on 09/29/2011 12:54 AM |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1995585 United States 09/29/2011 01:21 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Children cannot give consent for their own operation (not without parental or guardian consent). Just advise the Drs office that you were 16 and give them all the info about your parents..ie their full names address and phone numbers....so they can direct the bills to the right people. Dont pay them anything. Quoting: Tracy That was the best, most direct, concise advice in this thread. Just do it. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 2275182 United States 09/29/2011 01:31 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Go the the hospital where you had the procedure. Go the billing office. Ask if they have a form to apply for "charity care." Most states have laws that require hospitals to provide a certain percentage of healthcare. Keep banging down doors until you find someone to complete this process for you. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 2275182 United States 09/29/2011 01:39 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Whatever you do, do not pay 1500 dollars. I never even heard of a medical bill that increases over time. It wasn't a loan. It was a co-pay. |