Expert: Chris Ebert - 2/25/2011

Question
Hello. My husband incurred in medical bills prior us getting married in two separate occasions; each two years apart.  And also about ten years ago, he got divorced resulting in credit card and some more medical bills accumulated.  One collection agency is still trying to collect the 10+ yr old debt.  The most recent medical bill just sent a notice from an attorney office asking to either pay in full or arrange a payment plan.  My questions are: what's the best way possible to obtain the original amount owed to all parties (hospital, doctor, etc.); if we arrange a payment plan with one party, will we "wake up" the other creditors? (he can't afford to pay everybody at the same time); can a party split a debt into two and enforce collection after the first gets paid off out of the same account/source?; in what areas do I need to worry of from the spouse's point of view?

Answer
Aida,

1) Figuring out what the debt was for.
I would send the creditor a dispute letter. You can find a sample here:
http://www.henleycreditlaw.com/diy-credit-repair/  with the Sample Letter to the Creditors.

2) You should not wake up any other creditors by settling with one creditor.

3) As far as splitting up a debt, I can not answer that.

Chris Ebert
http://www.henleycreditlaw.com