Current Events > How would I know if someone sent me to collections? Checking credit report and

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finding that thing on a website like Credit Karma? Some dumb ass health care provider made a mistake and overcharged me for co pay. I haven't gotten a response from them through email yet of them admitting their mistake but I provided actual evidence like receipt but I just want to know just in case they reject unrejectable evidence I gave and they might put me through collections without me knowing.

They will likely sell the debt without ever notifying you and you'll get a call about a year later from a collection agency threatening to sue you and shit if you don't pay. If you don't give into them, that's when they'll report you to the credit bureaus.

So if you suspect something, you need to deal with the billing department of the doctor ASAP.
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DoctorVader posted...

They will likely sell the debt without ever notifying you and you'll get a call about a year later from a collection agency threatening to sue you and shit if you don't pay. If you don't give into them, that's when they'll report you to the credit bureaus.

So if you suspect something, you need to deal with the billing department of the doctor ASAP.

Got the mail today, just sent an email to their billing department an hour ago. It's for $10 but I am not going to give these fuckers an extra single fucking penny if I don't owe them. If they admit it was their fault in the email but still put me through collections can I sue them?

DoctorVader posted...

They will likely sell the debt without ever notifying you and you'll get a call about a year later from a collection agency threatening to sue you and shit if you don't pay. If you don't give into them, that's when they'll report you to the credit bureaus.

So if you suspect something, you need to deal with the billing department of the doctor ASAP.

No. If the debt is under a certain amount of money the collections agency won't report it to bureaus because it's just a waste of time. They will however threaten that they'll do it and they'll try to collect on it regardless. What you should never do is threaten the collector back as they'll take legal action.

Like, if you just don't pay off those small ($1000-ish, 500% interest type) payday loans, nothing bad will happen to your credit, you'll just get harassed by Bill collectors who agree to "settle" your crazy ass $5000 debt for just $500 after they already purchased your debt from the lender for $100 who wrote off $1000 is defaulted loans in taxes and gets to make money off that.

Getting credit bureaus involved ruins this process so they only do it if you really piss them off.
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The government mandates that you get one free credit report per year so look it up and they'll point you to a free report
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ChromaticAngel posted...

DoctorVader posted...

They will likely sell the debt without ever notifying you and you'll get a call about a year later from a collection agency threatening to sue you and shit if you don't pay. If you don't give into them, that's when they'll report you to the credit bureaus.

So if you suspect something, you need to deal with the billing department of the doctor ASAP.

No. If the debt is under a certain amount of money the collections agency won't report it to bureaus because it's just a waste of time. They will however threaten that they'll do it and they'll try to collect on it regardless. What you should never do is threaten the collector back as they'll take legal action.

Like, if you just don't pay off those small ($1000-ish, 500% interest type) payday loans, nothing bad will happen to your credit, you'll just get harassed by Bill collectors who agree to "settle" your crazy ass $5000 debt for just $500 after they already purchased your debt from the lender for $100 who wrote off $1000 is defaulted loans in taxes and gets to make money off that.

Getting credit bureaus involved ruins this process so they only do it if you really piss them off.

Yeah that's true. I was thinking it was a large amount since it was medical.

But what's the actual threshold? I personally did get sent to collections because I completely ignored the collectors. It was for $800 for a ER visit that wasn't covered because the doctor didn't accept my insurance but the hospital did and it stayed on my report for 7 years. This was like 12 years ago.
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DoctorVader posted...

But what's the actual threshold? I personally did get sent to collections because I completely ignored the collectors. It was for $800 for a ER visit that wasn't covered because the doctor didn't accept my insurance but the hospital did and it stayed on my report for 7 years. This was like 12 years ago.

It was recently increased, but I don't know how much. I know now that people will straight up not bother to collect medical debt under a certain amount. But if it was 12 years ago, then it doesn't matter. You are not legally obligated to pay a debt that has been in default for over a certain number of years. As a matter of fact, if you got a bill collector calling you about some 12 year old bill that you never paid, you can basically just tell them that you legally don't have to pay it and they'll never call you back.

It's legal to TRY to collect it though, but you don't have to pay and they can't do anything about it to you in reprisal.
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