Expert: Ray A Miller - 9/3/2010

Question
I went to the ER a few months back and have since received notifications that the DR. who evaluated me is in a private practice and is billed separately from the hospital. I left the hospital before any actual results were given. I live check to check and I am unable to pay a 1200.00 bill. I came home to a NCO Financial collections letter stating that I need to pay the balance in full. I have 30 days to dispute. If no response is made they are stating they will assign my account to a collector with instructions to collect the balance... If I have nothing to my name but a truck is that in jeopardy of being taken from me? Do I pay NCO or OEP? How can I get a small payment plan without risking horrible credit scores for my future? I'm 20... I don't even have any credit. I don't want to have to work the next 30 years to remove this.

Answer
Short of making suitable payment arrangements with the Doctor or NCO, there is nothing you can do to keep this off of your credit for the next seven years.  Call the Doctor's office and see what you can to as far as an arrangement.   Sorry I do not have better news but this is the way it is.  I hope you have found this helpful.