Alrighty then, I have this situation with a collection agency trying to collect a debt of $425 for a visit to the dentist about 3 years ago. And I'm in no mood to pay - here's why. The guy did a root-canal, but the filling he placed he did so badly that over time the tooth ended up cracking and breaking - and another dentist had to insert a metal rod inside to keep it from completely collapsing and then put a crown on it. So, I don't think this original jerk deserves anything from me except maybe a malpractice suit for destroying a tooth. (Any dentists in here who can argue with me?) Now, the collection agency wants the money. I don't actually give a crap if my credit is ruined for the next 7 years - it's already ruined. What's another 7 years, I'm not buying a car or a house any time soon. I'm only concerned that they might take it to court. Not that I've got anything to hide, but courts scare me. What kind of court can they take me to for $425? Incidentally, the dentist is located in Brooklyn, the collection agency sends its letters from St. Paul, MN. Any thoughts, advice? The letters I'm in the process of composing now basically says I don't think this guy deserves any money from me because the damage he did is greater than what he was fixing. I used an analogy of taking a DVD player to get fixed because the laser isn't working. They put in a new laser, but someone drops a dumbbell on the machine, completely smashing it. And then insisting on the payment for the new laser, never mind the completely ruined player. Make sense? I'd like to take a dumbbell to this a#%hole!
Collection agency help
- Thread starter Dmitry
- Start date
Arguing with the collection agency is usually fruitless. They'll say you should have argued your points when you received bills from the dentist. Small claims court will be the likely result if it does go that far. Offer them $.50 on the dollar if that something you're willing to pay. Collection agencies receive upwards of 40% of the total collected.
- Location
- The Big City
Don't offer them anything. It's a 3 year old claim and eventually it will just go away. Your dentist farmed it out to a collection agency, something they must do before they can write it off.
Because of the amount it's very unlike it will go to small claims court or them trying to get a judgment against you. Also medical bills don't effect your credit rating.
Because of the amount it's very unlike it will go to small claims court or them trying to get a judgment against you. Also medical bills don't effect your credit rating.
From my understanding and general knowledge Medical bills do not affect your credit regardless of whether they reach collection. Don't know if laws have changed but that was the case and that is why no medical bills show up on my credit history and I never used to pay medical bills that were not processed correctly like the receptionist got lazy and such....
As far as your bill dmitry, looking at it from both sides you make a point about him messing up on you but you should have done something then, now the dentist wants his money and he Won't believe your story and it will be hard proving. So it's either call the credit agent and try the 50% and make sure you get a confirmation that once you make that payment the debt is cleared. Or just get ready to throw out alot of mail from that agent and just ignore them.
As far as your bill dmitry, looking at it from both sides you make a point about him messing up on you but you should have done something then, now the dentist wants his money and he Won't believe your story and it will be hard proving. So it's either call the credit agent and try the 50% and make sure you get a confirmation that once you make that payment the debt is cleared. Or just get ready to throw out alot of mail from that agent and just ignore them.
- Location
- The Big City
Unlike Credit Cards or loans medical bills must be reported to the credit rating agencies for them to appear on your credit report. This is something that the collection agency would have to do and most of the time, unless the amount is large, doesn't happen.
Also a Doctor must make an attempt to collect the funds before they can write it off for IRS purposes. Farming it out to a collection agency is an attempt to collect. The Doctor will then decided when it's best to write it off for tax purposes, especially for such a small amount.
Also a Doctor must make an attempt to collect the funds before they can write it off for IRS purposes. Farming it out to a collection agency is an attempt to collect. The Doctor will then decided when it's best to write it off for tax purposes, especially for such a small amount.
Although I havn't used it, I heard this company is good at disputing negative stuff on your credit report.
http://www.beaconrepair.com/
http://www.beaconrepair.com/
The dentist had only sent me 2 bills, and I responded to both. I don't think the first bill arrived until well over a year after the procedure was done, though I no longer have any of those previous correspondences. The only thing I can prove is that another dentist did work on the tooth in question because in his claim this dentist is identifying the exact tooth. And I can get written confirmation from the other dentist that the tooth in question was damaged and what work she did on it.
This is a much more accurate answer than your first response
For the surgeons I work for, I write off amounts this low every day. It may not be such a small deal to a dentist though. They may fight this balance to the end, on principle alone. My bosses do :tired:
- Location
- The Big City
This is a much more accurate answer than your first response
Hey it's late Sunday night, what do you want :grumpy:
I'm not in working mode until tomorrow at 9am.:wink1:
And yes some people do take it personal. I would think after 3 years he's just seeing what he can get, if anything, before he writes it off.
- Location
- NY
I was a mortgage broker for 14 years. I saw 1000's of credit reports. Defaulted medical bills DO show up on credit reports, as collection accounts. They don't show up like an installment loan (car, mtg, student loan) would. They show up like a bankruptcy, foreclosure and collection account. They can very easily be expunged from your report.
Listen to Dean. He's got the right information for you.
R
Listen to Dean. He's got the right information for you.
R
:smash::fight2:
- Location
- NY
How can I find out? Do they have a web-site?
- Location
- NY
There is no minimum for small claims court (hence the name SMALL claims court). However, there is a maximum. Currently that maximum is $5000 (as of 10/05). Not sure if that has been amended yet.
There is a $15 filing fee for claims under $1000. So amounts smaller than that don't make sense.
There is a $15 filing fee for claims under $1000. So amounts smaller than that don't make sense.
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