December 2006


I Can’t Always Pay the Full Amount on Medical Bills, But I Pay What I Can. Does this go on my Credit Score? Can They Turn me Over to Collections?

Summary

Sometimes it is hard to come up with the full amount, if all I send in to the billing dept A of the hospital A is ten dollars ,does that not still have me making an attempt to pay this bill.

Dear Esq. is not intended as direct personal legal advice. For direct personal legal advice regarding your own state and situation you should consult a local attorney. → You should not and may not rely on anything on this website as legal advice.

“I have medicial bills from the hospital that is left from what my insurance did not cover. I am making monthly payments. Sometimes it is hard to come up with the full amount, if all I send in to the billing dept A of the hospital A is ten dollars ,does that not still have me making an attempt to pay this bill. Not trying to ignore the fact that I owe this ,just sometimes some months are harder then others to make the full amount required. My question is, if that is all I have to make for the payment does that give the hospital billing dept. the right to call and tell me that they are turning me over to collections? And do medicial bills go against your credit score??”

They can call when you do not make the payment in full. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act of 1977, there are rules they must follow. A collector may contact you in person, by mail, telephone, telegram or fax. They may not contact you at inconvenient times or places (for example before 8AM or after 9PM), unless you agree. If calls at work are bothering you, you can get that to stop. They also cannot harass you. This means they can’t threaten violence or bodily harm, use obscene language, call repeatedly just to annoy you, lie, send you documents that look official that are not, and other harassing activity.

Turning it to collections would be within their rights if you do not make the payment. Unpaid or late paid bills, including medical bills, can go against a person on their credit score.

If you have credit problems, or are wondering whether bankruptcy is the right option for you, just fill out the form below to schedule a confidential FREE consultation with a debt and bankruptcy attorney in your area! A local debt and bankruptcy attorney can answer your questions and explain your options and the bankruptcy process to you. Don’t delay! Time wasted can have a serious impact on the outcome of a bad credit situation!

Will Signing a Check from my Ex to our Daughter Affect my Social Security (SSI) benefits?

My Mom is on SSI and just recently got a divorce from my Dad. He sent me a check but it is made out to my Mom.

Dear Esq. is not intended as direct personal legal advice. For direct personal legal advice regarding your own state and situation you should consult a local attorney. → You should not and may not rely on anything on this website as legal advice.

“My Mom is on SSI and just recently got a divorce from my Dad. He sent me a check but it is made out to my Mom. I am wanting to know if she signs it over to me will it affect her SSI? We live in Del Norte County, California.”

Since this is not income to her - she is merely signing it over to you - it does not seem to be income that would be countable for your mother. If your father wants to send you money in the future, he should write the checks directly to you. If this amount is court ordered child support, then it would be reportable income to the SSA that may decrease the SSI benefit.