Need advice for my mother please !

[what was i thinking]

sorry to hear that she has to continue to go thru this nightmare. good luck, the lawyer may be the way to go. it is my understanding also that collection companies lie to try to get you to pay it. usually they can't do what they threaten, so they scare you into doing it. let that be the case here.

 

[CountryMom]

I had an issue with a hospital locally here about 6 years ago. I had a horrible bronc ride and ended up breaking my arm really badly. After surgery and a nasty hospital stay (horrible nursing staff) I was home and trying to manage. We did have insurance and all the proper paperwork was done when I was admited by my husband. 30 days after my admitance I received a phone call that if I didn't pay them $14,000 I was going to collections. Mind you the insurance had not even had time to go through! My husband was off in the Gulf working and I was stuck at home and couldn't drive with three kids. It was a mess. Needless to say that they did send me to collections, called me several times harrassing me litterally over the phone, and the insurance paid all but $3500 45 days after my visit. My husband was furious and simply put in a call to the CEO of the hospital. He never got the chance to actually speak to him, but did speak with his secretary. He said they had 24 hours to set up a payment plan (like I had originally asked them on the first phone call) and stop that collection thing or he was going to the Local Newspaper and TV station. The next morning the head of the Business Department of the Hospital called me and apologized up and down. The Hospital didn't only stop the collection, but they also wrote off the remaining $3500.

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Country mom is a smart cookie! Call around for help.

Try Legal Aid, then try law schools or the bar association. Lawyers are obligated to provide a certain number of hours of "pro bono" or free work for people the bar association can tell you who is needing some hours and for a lawyer this is an easy case.

If all else fails try the newspaper or TV stations consumer advocate - they almost all have one.

WHatever you do DO NOT send them money!!

Good Luck. Gird your loins - prepare for battle!

 

[AhBee01]

I had a situation happen where the hospital claims was bought by a company to try to collect old claims. It was like 12 years ago. We had paid everything, but a small amount and then after I got divorced my ex filed bankruptcy and those bill were in his claim. They tried to collect the money that was aloud in the bankruptcy.
Also any claim that had my name on it that the divorce agreement said he was responcible to pay that he put on the bankruptcy, they tried to get the money from me. That was a big nightmare, and believe me I had a person threaten to come to my door and make me pay.
I got a lawyer for the hospital claim, and they told me they have no case and I better never hear from them again, The guy on the phone even had the nerve to tell me you won' t get a lawyer, and he would get the money! I did get a lawyer and he didn't get my money.
I hope all goes well,
Brenda

 

[Cackel]

sorry to here about this , But If you did not sign anything for him when he went in the hospital you do not have to pay his bill , HE DOES and they can not come sfter your house for his bill unless the house is in both your names, Hope this helps you

 

[HennysMom]

call a lawyer - then find out if there is a statue of limitations on medical.

6 years later and no bills and they are now coming after you for them? Was it on-going medical treatment during that timeframe from insurance companies or something?

I do not believe they can come after you all these years later w/out billing you or notifying you unless you've been being seen for continual treatment all this time and its been in a constant insurance claim type of situation.

Lawyer is whats needed, one that specializes in medical - and fast. Sounds to me like someone went through their accounts and said "oh look - someone owes us money from years ago.. lets collect now" and is using scare tactics to get it. They cannot go into any bank account without notification, especially years later and without giving you proper notice/attempts to pay first and foremost, be it through a payment plan or whatever. Illegal as all all get-out.

And so far as collection agency's go - some of them are scum of the earth and use some pretty bad methods/means to get people to pay their bills that are illegal and border on questionable ethics at best. If they keep calling your mom, she can tell them to quit harrassing her (tell her to get their name, number, extension, company, etc) and if they call her again, she will report them for harrassment. Look up the law (there is one out there) for this type of situation and they must abide by it or face very stiff penalities. This is why its best to get a lawyer involved because they will handle it all. Also, if they DO keep calling after you tell them not to (and please, learn the law and code, and cite it back to them) and leave you msgs on your machine - RECORD THE MESSAGES and keep them...you can use them in court because they knowingly left them on a recorder (they are admissable). Judges hate collection agents that abuse what they do - trust me. We went through this about 15 years ago and we had our entire medical bill thrown out of court ....just for this reason.

 

[unionwirewoman]

Thanks to everyone for all of the advice....I've certainly learned alot !

Mom called the collectors today ...it was good news .

8 months ago she went to court with this collection company and the judge ruled that she was not liable for that bill......she thought this bill was a different one and called me on Saturday crying and not knowing what to do .

The collection company DID take $1400 dollars out of her account...by the way MY name is on that account also...just in case she ends up in the hospital again and wouldn't be able to pay bills . The company put the money back in today....seems they can't read the paperwork that's in front of them . She works at the bank her account is in.....She felt so embaressed to even go to work today , even though NONE of this was her fault !

Thanks again for the info and the caring.....I just wish there was a way to make these idiots realize what they have put my mother and family through .

 

[Julie08]

If they were married at the time that the bills where incurred then they are join debt. Certainly, they can come after her for them. At least here in Canada it works that way. Getting a lawyer would be the best thing.

 

[Cackel]

that are not joint here in Va. They use to be years ago but now your bills are your bills and his bills is his.Only if your name and his is on the same bill ,then they can make you pay.And they can not take money out of your bank account if someone elses name is on there to.