Tampa looks to recoup unpaid ambulance bills Tbo.com
Every year, Tampa Fire Rescue dispatches ambulance crews on thousands of calls, responding to everything from car crashes to heart attacks to accidents at home.
And every year, more than half of those patients stiff the city on the bill.
Sensitive to the public perception of squeezing heart attack victims for money, the city hasn't tried particularly hard to recover its money, annually writing off millions of dollars in unpaid ambulance fees. Now, though, Mayor Bob Buckhorn wants the city to hire a private collection company to track down scofflaws.
Tampa Fire Rescue charges patients an average of $7 million every year for emergency transport, but more than 50 percent of those who get an ambulance ride skip out on the tab.
Many who fail to pay are patients without medical insurance, city officials say.
"Given the current economic climate, we understand that people are struggling and want to be compassionate and sensitive, but we just can't let this go any longer," said Sonya Little, the city's finance director.
Collection Agency
Debt collectors describe how they do their jobs--and why they prefer calling your relatives and neighbors!
Can a credit card company sell my 'bad debt' to a collection agency after more than 15 years?
Does the collection agency have the legal right to pursue the 'bad debt'?
yes!This is huge money making business.In florida the bad year debt is suppose to be six years.A friend of ours was just taken to court by one for that he went ahead and paid it off before it arrived in court.But how do they take you to court when he hadnt done(i mean as in making any payments for it for yrs..not even one) anything ?i dont get it..
Most "junk debt" collection agencies buy the debt for pennies of the dollar and will try and collect something. They will use deceptive practices to scare the party into making some form of payment, if that person does do this, then it resets the time clock on the debt.
Courts will throw out a case if the defendant provides proof that the debt is beyond the statute of limitations.
The only type of debt that has no statute of limitations is a Student Loan.The statute of limitations on defaulted student loans was eliminated by the Higher Education Act. Section 484A removes all limitations and gives the Department of Education or the guaranty agency (bank or lender) the ability to file suit, enforce judgments, initiate offsets, or other actions, to collect a defaulted student loan regardless of the age of the debt. Statutes of limitation are no longer valid defenses against repayment of a student loan.
Here are some links on how to fight back
http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/index.html
I invite you to join the following Yahoo group "DontGetRippedOff" dedicated to helping those in financial trouble, Here you will find information to help you with debt collection agencies.
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/dontgetrippedoff/
Can a collection agency report a bad credit card debt if they do not have written records?
I was contacted by collection agency an account that was charged off 8 years ago. They said they bought that debt and are reporting it on my credit.
I asked for written records with my signature to ensure that it was a real account that I opened. They said that it had been validated by the orginal credit card company, but they could not supply any records with my signature.
Can I have that removed if there are no records with signatures showing that I ever opened that account?
Since it is a credit card debt and it was charged off 8 years ago, the collection agency is violating your rights by reporting it.
A credit card can only be reported for 7 years from the first time you became 30 days late and never brought the account current leading to the charge off. It cannot be re-aged to report for a longer period.
I would suggest doing "everything" in writing and sent certified mail return receipt - create a paper trail to use should you decide to sue the collection agency.
Order your paid reports.
Send the collection agency a debt validation letter. Do not sign the letter, print your initials or type your name.
When you get the green card back, file disputes with the CRA's.
If the account is verified instead of being removed, file complaints with the BBB, FTC, your AG and the collection agencies AG.
If the account remains, sue the collector for their violations.
Chances are pretty good that you are past the collecting SOL for your state. Though you might click on my profile and click on the link listed to find the SOL for your state.
If you are past the collecting SOL, after you do the above steps, you should send the collector a SOL letter.
You might do some reading in the other links I have listed in my profile, to the FDCPA, FCRA and also the last link listed.
(get records, signatures, whatever they need to prove it's your debt). If not it has to be removed
Step 1: Get copy of credit report (call or get online) I prefer calling if you go online they give you all kinds of "trick questions" to answer to prove your identity and this is a longer process
Step 2: Find the item and dispute it online (you can write and mail but this will take longer)
Step 3: Wait (the credit bureau will notify email when you can review your corrected credit report) This will show either it being removed or how they determined you really owed the money.
Step 4: Print a copy for your records and just to verify order a copy a year after the current report unless you want to pay.
I recommend doing it this way I disputed 2 items and they were removed with 2 weeks!!!!!!!!
Send the collection agency a debt validation letter and dispute the account with the credit bureaus.
For some sample letters, check out the site below:
Does getting your debt transfered to a collection agency atomatically gives you a bad record?
I have a debt to telus and they fowarded it to a collection agency. I can't pay the whole amount in full because it's pretty big and im stil a student and the agency won't accept payments(installments). The agecy said that if i don't pay, it willgo to my record and stay there for 7 years. My question is, doesn't having your debt frwarded to a collection agency automatically results to abad record? Because if it does, what's the use of paying the debt? You ALREADY have a bad credit anyways.
Just to clear things out, I'm in Canada.
Just because your account has been placed with a collection agency doesn't mean it has been placed on your credit. It could very well be that your original creditor doesn't report, and that the agency has a policy of attempting negotiation before reporting. Some agencies actually use this as a bargaining tool, which it sounds like in this instance.
You state that they won't take payments, but you might want to attempt again to negotiate something with them. If you can adhere to a payment schedule that pays the account off relatively quickly they might be willing to work with you. 6-9 months would be a realistic goal, so sit down and crunch the numbers and see if that will work with your budget.
If they still refuse and are going to place it on your credit, see if you can work out an agreement where they will remove the entry upon your repayment. Make sure you get this in writing.
Best of luck.
I had a collection agency collecting on a bad debt....?
I had a collection agency collecting for a bad debt on one of my very past due credit cards. Long story but we got in to one of those teaser loans for our mortgage and it jumped all the way up to $3,400 a month so we were unable to make our minimum monthly payments and stopped paying on all our credit cards. We ended up selling our home and now are settling all of our past due accounts. All have gone to collection agencies and like a dummy I set up a payment 15 days from now to pay off one credit card. The reason why I say I am a dummy is because I just realized that I already paid off the credit card a month ago with a different collection agency. Has anyone ever heard of more than one collection agency collecting for a credit card account? Even though it was already paid off. I don't know if I got ripped off or what? Please advise if this has ever happened to you or any advice. I am going to cancel the post dated check so the actual credit card company doesn't get paid twice. Thanks.
Don't pay them twice, yes cancel the check. And be sure to write down every creditor you've paid and your account numbers. If they keep calling tell them you've already paid with another agency, and if the calls don't stop, you can sue them. I am about ready to do the same thing, if i do not get refinanced soon.
Why can collection agencies buy other bad debt, start collecting against you, although you have no contract?
There is a new thing going around where collection agencies are buying debts not collected by the original agency. where is this generated from, how are they doing it, and do i have an obligation to pay although they are not a party to the original debt?
its legal as the contract is in default the parties have broken faith and now the debt is subject to any collection methoed available under the law but charge cards can sell debts also and outside the home state that way the judgements can be gotten against you where you cant fight them and garnisnments and liens also so thats nasty
In many cases, your contract with the original lender says they have the right to do this. But even if it doesnt, they dont need it in the contract to do it. A debt is considered an asset by the person or agency it is owed to, and as such they have the right to sell it off if they see fit.
At least it's not like it was in America's past where they would put you inprison for not paying your debt ...
Most credit providers, especially if they're not getting paid by the person they've loaned funds to, will agree to sell that debt burden at a fraction of the actual amount owed, and then it's up to the new "owner" of the debt to try and collect.
Sadly, this is entirely legal. On a more positive note, there are all sorts of regulations which apply to debt collection - whether it's by the original lender or any proxy that may be attempting to collect that debt. If you're being contacted too frequently by phone, send a letter advising that they are to contact you in writing exclusively. It's the easiest way to stop the phone calls.
You see this a lot of older debts, so find out when your delinquency date was, and check the state Statute of Limitations. It may be too old for them to legally collect.
Other then that, just send them a cease and desist letter and tell them to go away, or sue you if they think they have a case.
Business 101.
This is not a new thing...it's just becoming a huge money-maker so a lot more companies are getting into it.
The agency buys your debt at pennies 3 - 15 on the dollar. When they do they can start reporting it fresh. Best deal - turn TV off , get 2 more jobs, save the money up. Offer in writing a deal for 25cents/dollar, get offer confirmed in writing before paying - to 'settle in full'.
visit www.daveramsey.com so you don't get bent over again.
How can I fix bad credit? If a collection agency is after my debt, how do I regain good credit?
I have some unpaid medical bills that have been sent to a collection agency. Does anyone know if I can set up a payment plan? And when I do pay off all of my debt, does anyone know how long it will take to have a good credit score again? thanks!!! =)
You should call and talk to the collection agency. They will be willing to set up a payment plan with you in order to get their money. If you begin paying the bills off, your credit score will begin to increase as long as you have other credit accounts that you pay on time every month.
bad credit card debt, sold to another collection agency. How long until goes away?
I was one of those dumb 18 year olds who accepted every credit card offer that came in the mail. I have all paid off now accept one. It went to collections in 2002 and was recently sold to another collection agency. I understand that after 7 years your debt is sopposed to go off your credit report. Now that this debt was sold does the 7 years start over or will my 7 years be over next year?
The 7 year reporting period begins from the date of delinquency. NOTHING can reset this 7 year clock. If you missed a payment on 1/1/2000 and never brought the account current, the negative mark must be removed 1/1/2007.
If this went to collections in 2002, it will come off your report this year or next, depending on when you actually became delinquent.
Is it worth paying a bad debt if it has already gone to the collection agency?
My husband has 2 debts that have gone to the collection agency. One is the result of a credit card bill from his ex wife for $3,500.00. The ex is suppose to pay this when the community property is settled. The other debt was incurred by himself for a cell phone for $490.00. He does not know if he should pay the bill for $490.00 now, or just wait till the larger bill is paid when the community property is settled. We hate to put out that much money for 1 bill, while his credit is still messed up from the much larger bill. Will it benefit him in the long run to pay the bill for $490.00 now? Help, we are confused. My (his wife) credit is excellent, so I have never had any experience with this before.
Your credit as new wife remains excellent. The bureaus look off of an individual SSN, so (as long as no one has stolen your identity) your history will remain excellent so long as you do what you've done.
Make sure you pull your free annual credit bureau, by the way.
Now, your husband... it is completely understandable to have bills tied up due to a divorce. Neither of you should feel ashamed or embarrassed, this sort of thing happens. However, the collection agency (vicious brigands they can be) wont' be happy until they receive the certified funds.
He has to pay the debts. Whether it's now in cash, on a payment plan, or down the road as garnishment of tax refunds and wages or even through a bankruptcy court, these debts must be paid. That is, of course, unless he's counting on the collection agency giving up.
The damage has bene done to his credit bureau already. He could make a decent case that the $3,500 is not his responsibility (unless he's a guarantor or co-signer, or it's otherwise in his name, then he has no legitimate excuse, unless the ex stole the card and used it without his consent - but then he'd need to prove it in court probably), but the collection agency won't listen to it until its paid. He could make arrangements to pay it (I'd recommend he take out a personal line of credit at a lower rate from a credit union and then pay back the credit union) and then make sure to pursue his ex for funds in the settlement.
Also, he should bear in mind that the settlement may not come for months, and may not throw the entire responsibility on her.
The cell phone bill is his. If you wait until community property is divided, then that probably leaves him with less money to pay it but the debt is just as large.
I know this is a tough way to start life together. Put a budget together, pay down those debts, and live leanly for a while. It'll be good to get it behind you. I wish you the best.
Can i get sued for collection agency bad checks ?
I failed to paid a collection agency which resulted in giving bad checks(post dated) to them of more than $500 each. Now that account has gone back to the credit card company and they have
sent it to a Legal Firm which incidentally also accepts payments for the debt. My question is can the Legal Firm sue me for the bad checks ?
and can the collection agency still sue me for the bad checks ?
what can I do with the debt collection agency?
I got one letter from direct legal and collections regarding my Orange bill. The reason I own Orange company is because this April I lost my sim card and someone found it and used my simcard to call internationally for over 1500 pounds, when I found out my simcard was lost, I immediately reported to Orange, but it's been 10 days and my bill was already that much. Orange could not help me at all with this huge bill and they just used terms and conditions all the time to let me pay. But I asked them why they did not stop my account when my bill was that much using the terms and conditions as well, they could not give me any answer. Now they do not want to communicate with me any more so they send my case to debt agency. At the moment, the letter asked me to pay immediately, otherwise they will issue country court claim which will cost 200 pounds more or someone will visit my house. I really do not know how to do this now. Anything bad will happen to me? Could anyone give me some advice?
Firstly, don't be so sure going to the County Court is BAD for you. Often the company initiating the action loses.
No one can "visit your house" at this stage. The bailiffs can only call after the court case, and after a breach of a court order, and with a warning beyond that, so don't fall for the threats.
I would take their letters and the bill to a solicitor, I think you shouldn't have to pay for the phonecalls made by a thief after you reported the theft. There is also a possibilty they would accept staggered payment of any money owed, since this is likely to be what a court would order anyway, in the unlikely event things go that far. Sometimes, after a period of keeping up payments, companies make an offer of a reduced bill in full settlement, if you can pay it off by a given deadline.
agency bad collection debt - News
Bad Time For Some, Others Cash In - The Moscow Times
The Moscow TimesBad Time For Some, Others Cash In "Next year will be a golden year for credit agencies," he said. "We've seen a huge jump in corporate debt collection, especially from European clients
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Americans Pulled Back Spending Before Economic Crisis - ACA International Americans Pulled Back Spending Before Economic Crisis International collections; debt solutions; immigration law solutions; trademarks and patents. Collection agency members provide a variety of accounts New Credit Card Rules Approved |
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Bankrupt and Banned - Washington Post Bankrupt and Banned He said he is making regular payments, including $100 last month, to a collection agency. Eaker, who works as a desk clerk at a storage facility and as a |
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Consumer Debt Disputes Rising - Statesboro Business News Consumer Debt Disputes Rising She got an attorney, who promptly filed a federal lawsuit against the collection agency for alleged violations of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Prohibited practices |
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10KSB: ISA INTERNATIONALE INC The Company currently utilizes outside collection agencies for the collection of the distressed debt receivables and utilizes one law firm on a contingency |
