https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 20 Jun 2026 22:58:48 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679924 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 19:58:24 +0000 bloved 2679924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: my one hesitatation (besides the small amount) is that they left you a message. We had a credit agency issue this year (due to erroneous billing from a daycare we left) and every time the agency would call they would not leave a message. I could be wrong, but I feel like it may have to do with a privacy issue. Just something else to consider... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679866 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 18:00:22 +0000 MaryM 2679866@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: So has DH. Sometimes he answers, but I never do. </p> <p>I highly suggest googling the numbers though! I've started doing that and then blocking the ones that have sketchy information related to them online. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679865 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 17:56:43 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2679865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: @MaryM I screen too, and if not for the message and the fact that they do appear legit, I wouldn't have even bothered. Yes, good scammers would use a credible cover, but I called them (after the message), they didn't ask for any personal info except my name, the facility and date of service line up (and they gave me that), and I don't want to risk anything harming my well controlled credit. It's on them to prove to me that I owe them this, so we'll see what happens now that I've asked for a statement. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679860 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 17:46:14 +0000 littlejoy 2679860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: I've been getting SO MANY calls from numbers I don't recognize, too. I majorly screen my calls, but they rarely leave voicemails. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679839 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 16:55:47 +0000 MaryM 2679839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A really good scammer would want to use the name of a legit company so they seem more legit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679837 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 16:54:17 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2679837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetCaroline: Well, that's the interesting thing. None of the hospital departments I talked to heard of this agency, but it is a legit agency according to BBB and various Googling that I'd done. I requested an itemized bill, which they have to request from the hospital. If it's legit, then I'll get something. If not, then it goes away. I'm just weary to let it go entirely if it can end up on my credit report, so I want to be proactive about dealing with it, and even though I'd normally pay such a small balance, on principle I want to fight it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679781 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 15:43:59 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2679781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you do pay it, I would look at sending them a check and requesting a receipt. Too scary to give them CC info over the phone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679720 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 14:35:12 +0000 peaches1038 2679720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you look at your insurance claims online? I have BCBS and can see every claim for everyone on my policy. I keep track diligently because it's so easy to get taken advantage of. Or, if you can't access your claim info online, call the insurance company and see if they have any info rather than the hospital. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679656 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 13:43:00 +0000 MaryM 2679656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There's a lot of scams going on now related to this. </p> <p>I keep getting calls from random numbers (that I don't answer). Once, they left a message saying something about a complaint against my mother. They had the last name right, but not the first one. </p> <p>When I get the calls at work, I google the number before considering answering. Sure enough, the last one I googled was a scammer pretending to be a collection agency. </p> <p>If you know for sure you don't have an outstanding balance, I wouldn't engage. At all. </p> <p>If they do contact you by phone and you answer, ask for the bills/balances to be sent to you in writing and provide no personal information. If they're a true collection agency, they should have your home address. And they're required by law to provide the information in writing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679651 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 13:40:43 +0000 psw27 2679651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would definitely ask for more information. Like others have suggested - it could be a small bill from a lab or outside doctor, etc. I got so many different bills from different people when I had LO, from the doctor to the lab to the hospital itself. But... for $18 I might just pay it. Collection agencies are ruthless about reporting to your credit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679642 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 13:33:47 +0000 codeitall 2679642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd recommend this: <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/wiki/collections" rel="nofollow">https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/wiki/collections</a> There are laws about what they're allowed to do and what you can make them do before you pay anything. I know it is only $18, but it is your money. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679591 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 12:52:09 +0000 Madison43 2679591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got a handful of collection notices after my daughter's NICU stay for the most random charges that slipped through the cracks (weren't picked up by insurance, weren't billed to me, etc....). Just ask them to send an itemized bill - which they can easily get from the hospital and to follow up with you in 30 days. Once you get the bill, you can pay the hospital or lab directly or if it's an insurance issue, send it to them. Easy peasy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679588 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 12:45:42 +0000 skipra 2679588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Call the hospital and insurance company first. </p> <p>Collections agencies are really annoying and persistent so you'll either have to straighten it out of pay it. </p> <p>I had a doctor double charge me once and kept sending me a bill. The insurance company told me not to pay it. I called the doctor's office and supposedly they fixed it but I kept getting a bill and finally calls from a collections agency. I just explained what happened, said I was not paying it, and that was the end of it! Just because it was sent to collections does not mean it's legitimate so try to figure it out if possible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679580 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 12:30:51 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2679580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Unless the hospital says you owe that money or they sold your account to a collection agency that balance sounds bogus. Personally, I would get the final balance statement from the hospital and the next time the collection agency calls ask them for a fax number to send your proof. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679574 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 12:22:46 +0000 youboots 2679574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetCaroline: these are my thoughts too. It's not worth the time to collect </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679555 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 11:57:21 +0000 SweetCaroline 2679555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would ask the hospital if they work with that collection agency. Also, research to see if they are a legit company. I think it's weird they would turn $18 over to a collection agency. I had hospitals as clients in a past life and they would have written $18 off as bad debt and moved on...Too small to pay a collection agency for. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679551 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 11:54:17 +0000 littlejoy 2679551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most of the time, they do not have full, itemized bills. It sounds like you've done your due diligence. It does sound like a rogue blood test or lab. Did the hospital give the impression they could see the balances for all services, or that there could be small bills from outside services? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679546 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 11:52:09 +0000 looch 2679546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got a call from one once, it occurred because I had a bill sent to my office, we moved and I wasn't getting the mail! It was an awful experience and I ended up not having to pay it.</p> <p>For a small amount like $18, I would be tempted to just pay it and request evidence of it being resolved. Is it worth more of your time? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679543 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 11:48:58 +0000 Mama Bird 2679543@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, collections agencies! I dealt with one after my company's HR sent my short term disability claim to the wrong insurance. Those boneheads paid the claim even though I was not eligible, then realized their mistake and kicked it right over to collections without even telling me. Plus there was a mistake on the bill they gave to the collection agency. Took a month to straighten out the mess. I had to make a whole bunch of calls to all the parties involved. </p> <p>I recommend calling the collection agency and getting the number of whoever is assigned your case. The guy that was dealing with mine was very helpful, provided the info he had, and helped me figure out what backup documents I needed to get the bill corrected.</p> <p>Hospitals are awful about billing BTW. Apparently I have a very small copay for going to L&amp;D... they sent me the bill a whole year after I was there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679422 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 09:51:43 +0000 caterw 2679422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would look up the agency- maybe check the Better Business Bureau. Weird that the hospital would not have a record of the bill, but something that small may be from a lab that they had done by a separate agency. You could also check your health insurance website to see if the bill is listed on your explanation of benefits. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679404 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 09:34:41 +0000 FaithFertility 2679404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that is a good idea!!!<br /> Hospital bills bill out from many different companies doctors labs...etc!!!</p> <p>Could be a small bill from lab work or something </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-have-experience-with-collections-agencies#post-2679387 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 09:17:49 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2679387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got a call yesterday from a collections agency (<a href="http://www.creditservicecompany.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.creditservicecompany.com</a>). They are claiming I owe $18 to the hospital I stayed at in June when I injured my back. Had the right info for me (which they gave me, I didn't have to give them anything but my name), the right hospital and the right date of service. I told them I'll get back to them, and called the hospital. 3 different billing departments, and no one has any record of me owing anything. I also pulled my credit reports, which don't have anything flagged on them. </p> <p>I am planning to go back to this agency and asking them for a full itemized bill in writing. Is there anything else I should be doing? I'm neurotic about my bills, so this is my first go round with this and I really don't want to end up with credit report issues, especially as we're trying to buy a house this year. </p>