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Does a medical company have to warn you that they plan to turn you over to a collection agency?
No - they will have notified you in reminder letters that they may do that if you continue to default on payments. When they actually instigate the action, they don't have to tell you they have done so - the collection agency will simply write to you - and tell you they've taken over the case, and all communication with the medical company must now stop, as you're now dealing solely with the collection agency.
What else can I help you with?
Can unpaid co-payments for Hospital bills hurt your credit report?
Yep! If the ambulance company turns your account over to a collection agency that agency might report the collection on your credit. Medical collections are the most common type of collection on a credit report.
I have a medical bill for 168.00 that was sent to a collection agency after I made a payment. They are going to keep in the collection agency until my bill is paid off. This can not be right.?
If the bill was late enough to be sent to a collection agency, the collection of that bill has been turned over to that collection agency as well.
My account balance with American express has been turned over to a collection agency. Does American express over a reduced payoff as a settlement?
when a company "sells" a bad debt to a collection agency it is at a fraction of the total bill due. So, if you have a bad debt to American express in the amount of $10,000, more than likely it was sold to the collection agency for 2-3000. The remainder can be written off by American Express on the taxes that are filed by the company. What you can do is contact the collection agency after saving 40% of the debt (or 4000) and offer to negotiate a settlement. If you settle for $4000.00 you are saving $6000 and the collection agency is making 50-100% profit on the bad debt. This what the debt settlement companies do - no sense in paying the settlement company fees when we can negotiate ourselves.
What is a second party collection agency?
A second party collection agency is an agency trying to collect a debt that is owed to someone else. If for example, you owe on a store credit card from ABC store, they may turn the debt over to another agency that has nothing to do with them. This is a second party collection agency.
If a second collection agency takes over a unpaid debt can they have that collection put on your report?
Yes the second collection will be placed on the credit report. But they will remove the first collection agency off the report. In some states it is against the law to be double billed by two collection agency for the same debt.
When Can a medical bill be turned over for collection?
In the majority of states a medical bill can be turned over to a collection agency at any time. Doesn't matter if you are paying on the bill or have an agreement with the doctors office. In some cases these collection agencies are NOT outside companies but an account receivable agency for the group of doctor's or clinics. It is far more efficient to have a third party handle payments and invoicing. Kind of like having a 3rd party do your companies payroll. You should ask the 'collection' agency if they are part of the group you owe the bill to. If so, it is far easier to negotiate with them. If not, make sure the agency has correct information on file. You may actually be in the middle of a dispute between your insurance company and the billing office. If so, contact your doctors office to get this resolved asap and make sure they take the bill back from the collector. Get it ALL in writing.
When a collection agency buys a debt from a credit card company does a new statute of limitations start from the day it was purchased or does the collection agency's statute remain the same?
The statute of limitations starts counting immediately when you made the last payment to either the credit card company or the collection agency. If you ever make a payment to either of them the statute of limitations will start over. If you have not made any payments to the credit card company recently and the credit card company sells the debt to the collection agency, the collection agency's statute of limitations will be from the date that you last paid the credit card company. Furthermore, if the statute of limitations is over and the collection agency continues to keep collecting the debt, you can send them a letter (certified is the preferred method) to stop all contact with you. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), they would be required to stop immediately upon receipt of the letter (unless they are taking legal action in a court then they can send you legal notices only). If they do not stop, you are entitled to collect monetary damages as outlined in the FRCA. This does not stop the collection agency from reporting to your credit report. Your credit reporting falls under a different set of rules which basically removes most collections debts (except for court judgements) after 7-10 years.
Can a debt collection agency legally identify themselves a 'collection agency' when placing inquiries on your credit report when the debt in question was charged off over a decade ago?
No.
How does a company report someone to the credit bureau?
The original creditor either sells the debt to a collection agency or the collection agency may aquire the debt on a contingency basis. At any rate once the account is in collections 30 days from the date of turn over the collection agency has the right to report the account to the credit bureau. Accounts are sent to the credit bureau via internet with encrypted files.
Once the delinquent account has been turned over to a collection agency the physicians office should do what?
Once a delinquent account has been turned over to a collection agency, the physician's office should stop billing.
Does a debt being turned over to a collection agency ruin your credit?
Yes.
Are old Florida traffic tickets turned over to a collection agency?
Yes.
