About Michael Brotherton Expertise Consumer/Debtor Rights Advocate.
Mike Brotherton is a negotiator with over 30 years experience in consumer lending and collections. Mike has 30 years in the credit and collections industry as a former loan officer, debt collector and manager of two finance companies over several years.
Mike is well versed in Loss Mitigation practices and the legal collection process. He has helped literally thousands of people over many years overcome serious financial problems such as foreclosure, creditor lawsuits and abuse by debt collectors. For more information about resolving your "financial emergency" visit www.financialemergency.com.
FinancialEmergency.com is a consumer web site which actively promotes Fair Debt Collection Practices and other consumer protection laws. We teach DEBTOR RIGHTS and enforcement of those rights. The more informed you are of your rights and the credit collections practices of creditors the more peace you can have dealing with your FINANCIAL EMERGENCY.
Most financial problems are fairly common and as such have some very common solutions. The key is understanding your rights in the collection process and how to enforce them if need be.
Primary business- Debtor Rights Advocacy and Debt Mitigation relating to foreclosure, creditor lawsuits, and other serious financial problems.
www.financialemergency.com (copy and paste in browser).
Experience Over 40 years combined experience negotiating disputes and resolving financial issues related to consumer debt, corporate issues and mortgage modifications.
Question Part 1: I had emergency hospital care and was not diagnosed with the correct diagnosis till my third day in the hospital. Total stay was 1 week. During the first three days I had seen several different doctors for the wrong issue and for further investigation. What I thought I had and what was ultimately my diagnosis, was initially argued by me from the beginning. End result was a longer stay and higher medical costs. What should have cost approx. $30 to 40 thousand ended up around $85,000 plus further treatment was required. My limited insurance paid out a small amount as well as applied their contract rate with the hospital in order to reduced the total amount owed. I don't feel that I should have to pay the whole amount of my portion due. What kind of letter and to whom should this be addressed to. So far I am looking at the COO of the hospital and the financial Dept.
Is this enough? What should my letter say?
Part 2: If I am forced to pay the whole amount and have limited means, is it wise to sign a contract put fourth from the hospital for a repayment plan? Or is it wise for me to send in a payment of my choice and risk collections?
If you have any suggestions, format letters, Websites, etc.,that would be great. Thank you for you input in advance.
Answer I would write the hospital administrator and voice your complaint, however I can tell you first that they will argue that medicine is not an exact science and sometimes through process of elimination they make their diagnosis. I know because i have gone through this personally with my son who has been in and out of the hospital for years resulting in well over a million dollars in medical bills. Thank God they forgave some of this debt.
On a positive note- the administrator may have the authority to forgive some of the debt and there may also be programs available to reduce the debt through the finance dept of the hospital.
As to what to write, I cannot say specifically but your explanation above may be sufficient. You may want to be a bit more specific and elaborate more.
Once a final determination is made make your proposal for payment in writing but do not sign a contract, just write a proposal and start making payments. Do not sign anything but make sure they put something in writing for the final tally of the amount owed.
Whether they agree to your terms or not it is likely that your account will still go to a collection agency if it is not paid within a short time, like 3-6 months. Just make sure they agree to your terms before this happens and keep a hard copy of their acceptance just in case the collection agency starts playing games.Just because it goes to a collection agency doesn't mean they will report it to the credit bureaus but it is possible.
