RallyCap said:aggie04ci said:inappropriate?
This forum is for discussion of ways to use and leverage good credit.
This is not a forum for discussion of credit problems.
There are many such forums for that - creditnet.com being one.
You'll find plently of bad credit people there to help you.

Ignore people such as this OP, they probably just have problems themselves and feed off people like you to cover up their problems. Tons of questions like this have been posted in the fatwallet finance forum. Try some of the sites they give, but don't let their slander put you down.

Sorry that you are in this position but over a year with no payments doesn't seem like the hospital or the collection agencies are being unfair. Most auto loan companies will report a 30 day delinquency why should this creditor be any different? They waited over six months, seems pretty fair to this former credit buyer.

If you have the means to pay then your best course of action would be to negotiate them taking it off the bureau with paymment in full or an arrangement. Mind you they don't have to do it but it usually is negotiable.

Sorry OP if some of the people sound harsh here but most of them are just being honest to the facts.

civ2k1 said:I'm curious since it was the wife who was pregnant, if this should only appear on the wife's credit reports. OP technically wasn't pregnant (only by association).

No, if he was, he'd have enough $$ from interviews, etc. to pay off the debts...

Seriously,

Not all collection agencies turn you over to the collection bureaus immediately. Especially if they are smaller shops. Have you tried a lump-sum settlement with them? Often-times this is the best source for pulling any negative credit reporting and working in a discount for your portion at the same time.

I would call the hospital and other providers and discuss the issue with them. First, find out how much the insurance company pays for these services. Most times, hospitals and doctors only receive ex. $55 for an x-ray or $650 for an MRI from the insurance company, yet they bill $225 for the x-ray or $2,600 for the MRI or $75 for a consult. Are they charging you based upon the same contract or fee schedule that they have with the insurance company or are you paying the inflated bill charge. Why should you pay more than the insurance company would?

Use or try and find out the medicare or medicaid fee schedule for the services that they have provided and are seeking payment on from you. Once again this is putting you in a position to bargain and negotiate with them for these services and allowing you to have some reason for them to accept a lower amount. You are no different than anyone else and have the same ability to argue these points with them. Also send them a letter stating that you are disputing these charges to prevent any collection agency from threatening to put a negative on your credit. This makes it a legal issue which until it gets decided, it is up to them to file and go to court to show that the amount is owed. This will not usually happen unless the amount is over will say $1,000. In court, that is a second time for you to challenge the billed amount and show it is inflated and not a reasonable amount based upon other providers offering similar services in the area and that they receive this amount for these services. They will run into a problem on that issue since the fee schedule or contracted amount stated above can be used to show the amount they are normally paid as stated above.

Just my 2 cents! Good Luck.

WIthout reading all the posts I'll simply reply with my thoughts.

Immediately file a rebuttal to all three credit agencies. This rebuttal
letter has to be included to any creditor who pulls your credit report.
The letter will explain just as you did to us what happend.

Keep your records of payments and keep making the payments. If you can
not make a payment in full make a partial payment but make it regularly.
Also renegotiate your obligations again if you think you're going to get
behind. They're glad to help if they think they'll be paid.

Most businesses are not set up to accept payments because that amounts to extending credit. I would NOT WORRY. Simply read the posts here. Follow through with as many interim efforts as possible. And when it comes time to buy your house I think your bank or lending institution will understand.

I have had similar problems and simply explained what happened and if that/those are your only glitches you don't have a serious worrysome problem. Just do the best you can.

have you received any calls from the collection agencies? Are they knocking at your door?

I was told by a co-worker that he got dinged from a delinquent from his medical bills. However, he then proceeded to confuse me by telling me that he contested it and won. The reasoning was because medical bills cannot show up on your credit report? I didn't really believe him, but he is a certified consumer lender. I can ask him again tomorrow. Good luck with your situation.

My sister had this problem more than once. The first time, she did nothing. The collection agencies had her served by the sheriff, they took her to court, and her wages were garnished. The 2nd time she got smarter. She went to a non-profit bill paying organization that worked on her behalf with the collection agencies, setting up payment schedules. The fee for this was quite small in exchange for all the help they gave her. It sounds to me like you need some expert, experienced advice.