Are collection agencies obligated to honor charity care that yourecieved regarding abill was sent to collections?
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Are collection agencies obligated to honor charity care that yourecieved regarding abill was sent to collections?
I had 3 bills from the hospital; 1 was for services covered by 100% charity care and 2 other were from the doctors office that went unpaid. Both were sent to collections. The first agency honored my charity care for the full 100% and the debt was wiped clean with no problems. The second collector is telling me that it is too late and I now am stuck to pay the amount in full. I feel like I am being misled.
Asked on September 15, 2011 under Bankruptcy Law, New Jersey
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
If you have three (3) invoices that were sent to collections by a hospital where the first collection agency told you that one was covered by charity care was considered paid in full, do you have written confirmation from this collection company?
If not, whether or not you were told this makes no difference at this point in time in that the invoice that you thought was eliminated has apparently been sold or assigned by the hospital to another collection company. This is why one always need to get written confirmation as to potential reduction in a debt obligation.
As a result, you will now need to be responding to the second collection company.
Perhaps the best way to resolve this collection issue is for you to contact the hospital where services were rendered but not paid for in an attempt to work out a payment plan on a monthly amount to an agreed upon total obligation.
Good luck.
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