Legal question.

[Warhorse]

Hey. I have a legal question for you all.

I got a threat from a credit collection agency on some hospital bill my mom hasn't paid back in 1998.

She swore she paid it, but she doesn't have the check stub from nearly ten years ago, plus, I always thought stuff like this had a 7 year statute of limitations.

I called the agency to aks what was up, and he started to cuss at me and everything else, saying I dont know my crap and to just pay the bill. I then said I am just going to contact my lawyer, and he got P.O'd and told me to F off.

So, is this a ligit thing, or a scam?

[iris]

This sounds vaguely familiar to me, but I can't remember why. There are lots of medical billing scams.

Maybe you should call the Federal Trade Commission and ask them:
1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261

It would help if you had some information about the person/agency that called you.

[Warhorse]

Thanks Iris. I was gonna to take the letter that was sent to me and have my lawyer look at it and contact the agency. The agency seemed to get all pissy when I told them I was getting an attorney involved, and that was what got me thinking it could be a scam. This is for something that happened in 1998, and I can't remember that far back.

[OA]

Yea deifinately get as much info as you can before you do anything, much less sending your money somewhere...and I also thought there was a limitation on when they could collect, but I'm not sure exactly sure how many years...good luck with that and keep us posted...

[Raven]

Like every one has said already look into it more before you do anything else, it sounds pretty fishy but then again I'm not really familar with alot of legal things.

[Masked Ninja]

I would say the instant the guy started swearing and pressuring you to "just pay the bill," I'd get suspicious. Even more so when he freaked out when you mentioned lawyers. Supposedly he's a professional, and he's swearing at you over the phone? If it turned out to be legit after all (though I'm thinking not likely), this guy should be fired.

[iris]

I would say the instant the guy started swearing and pressuring you to "just pay the bill," I'd get suspicious. Even more so when he freaked out when you mentioned lawyers. Supposedly he's a professional, and he's swearing at you over the phone? If it turned out to be legit after all (though I'm thinking not likely), this guy should be fired.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of real collection agencies that will verbally assault and threaten you, so that's not really an indication as to whether they're legit.

[Spitfire]

Unfortunately, there are plenty of real collection agencies that will verbally assault and threaten you, so that's not really an indication as to whether they're legit.

Even if they cuss you out there's got to be a law against that. That's like spitting on someone that's already sleeping in the street. Because most people they call up are poor people who can't afford to pay bills.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Unless you co-signed to pay your mother's bills, I don't believe there is any way they can legally force you to pay her bills, regardless of relation. Sadly though, this doesn't stop collection agencies. They will harass you, insult you, and threaten you. Some even go past that. It would be best to get an attorney involved to see how legit this is.

[iris]

Even if they cuss you out there's got to be a law against that. That's like spitting on someone that's already sleeping in the street. Because most people they call up are poor people who can't afford to pay bills.You're right, there probably is a law against it. But it happens. You could probably take that to the Better Business Bureau, but I think most people wouldn't bother if they actually owe the money.

[Warhorse]

I told my boss, and he's faxing the letter that the collection agency sent me to the Attorney General, and I'll see where it go's from there.

I just don't want anything on my record. I have an excellent record, and don't want it messed up because of some sleezy collection agency. The guy even had my social security number he was rambling off to me, but not my mother's, when it was her bill. Even then, I called the hospital that is involved, and they show a record of her bill paid in full at the time of release, so I'm sensing a scam, and the morons thought they were dealing with a poor bloke. They got another thing coming. I'm thinking of suing the company just for having my social security number and saying it over the phone. WHat if I wasn't the person they were looking for? They would have gave the number to a stranger who could do fraudulent things with it.

[Masked Ninja]

Unfortunately, there are plenty of real collection agencies that will verbally assault and threaten you, so that's not really an indication as to whether they're legit.I suppose my naivete is showing. :P

That sounds like a good idea, Warhorse... the hospital having a record of the bill being paid sounds like it should help. And the whole social security number thing... argh. Good luck with getting to the bottom of this, dudette.

[Warhorse]

It was a scam!

I'm warning you all, if you get some sort of letter from a company called NCC, a division of the Common Wealth Financial Institute, report them immedietly! Your best bet is to first call your attorney general, they work the fastest in situations.

But don't ignore it, they get a hold of your social security number, and can screw up your credit, or sell it to a dirty individual, so please beware.

Thanks Ya'all!