I left the hospital ER without seeing a doctor after waiting too long. I got a $3,000 bill for nothing, and now it’s in collections. Can I still try to talk to the hospital about this, or is it too late?
Same thing happened to me. I left after waiting for hours without seeing anyone. They tried to bill me around $1,800, but they eventually dropped it. It was an ER visit, not an appointment.
You should call the hospital’s billing department. I’ve managed to fix billing issues even after the debt was sent to collections.
Call them anyway. Sometimes they can pull it back from collections. I managed to get my ER bill recalled and set up a payment plan.
Are you sure the debt was actually sold? Sometimes collection agencies just collect on behalf of the hospital without owning the debt.
I had a similar experience. I sent the provider a certified letter before it went to collections. Then I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, which got their attention. Eventually, they admitted their mistake, recalled the debt from collections, and removed it from my credit report.
You have more options when it’s still with the hospital’s billing department. You can ask for an itemized bill or dispute the charges. Once it’s in collections, there’s not much you can do. That’s why it’s important to act quickly.
@Remy
What can I even do now that it’s with collections?
Skylar said:
@Remy
What can I even do now that it’s with collections?
You can still call the hospital and explain the mistake. Tell them you’re disputing the bill since you never received any services. They might recall it from the collection agency and fix the issue. Also, if you had insurance, check with them to see if they were billed and what you can do to resolve it. Don’t just rely on random advice online; call the billing department or consult a lawyer who handles debt issues. Many offer free consultations.
Skylar said:
@Remy
What can I even do now that it’s with collections?
If the debt is in collections, you can contest it. Start by asking the collection agency for proof of the debt. They are required to provide verification if you request it. It’s worth trying.
You can try calling the hospital, but if the debt is in collections, they might not deal with it directly anymore.
Storm said:
You can try calling the hospital, but if the debt is in collections, they might not deal with it directly anymore.
That’s not how it works. Once the debt is sold, the hospital doesn’t take it back. They’ve already recouped some money from selling it.
@Teo
If the debt collector can’t verify the debt, they might send it back to the hospital. It depends on the documentation they have.
Storm said:
@Teo
If the debt collector can’t verify the debt, they might send it back to the hospital. It depends on the documentation they have.
Medical debt works differently from car loans or other types of debt. Hospitals often keep better records, and once they sell it, they don’t get involved again.
@Teo
I worked in medical collections, and it’s true that hospitals and collection agencies handle medical debt differently. You might still be able to get the hospital to resolve this, though.
@Teo
That’s fair. Medical debt isn’t always as tightly documented as car loans, so you might have a better chance disputing it.
Ask for an itemized bill from the hospital and explain that you never got treated. They might drop the charges. If not, then you’ll have to deal with collections.
You still used services even if you didn’t see a doctor. What do you want to talk to them about?
Raleigh said:
You still used services even if you didn’t see a doctor. What do you want to talk to them about?
What services? I just sat in the waiting room.
Raleigh said:
You still used services even if you didn’t see a doctor. What do you want to talk to them about?
What services? I just sat in the waiting room.
Did they check you in? Were you waiting in the ER or in a treatment area?