Expert: Lisa Lindell - 2/27/2009

Question
my daughter was seen at the ER on feb 10, she was 17 i was with her and signed the papers. On feb 13 she turned 18. i have not paid the medical bill nor do i have the means to do so and cant afford medical insurance. i got a call from a medical collection company today asking for my daughter they insisted that she was responsible! i also made sure that i wrote minor child on the papers that i signed. this is freaking me out. she was not 18 on the tenth when she was seen. i live in florida. is this legal and what can i do to correct it? please help!!!

Answer
I am not a lawyer and should get get legal counsel.  However, minors can not be held liable for debts.  Collection agencies are the scum of the earth, real bottom-feeders.  I would write a letter and send it certified mail indicating to them that as a minor child she has no obligation for this debt.  Period.  From then on I'd just ignore them.
As the parent and responsible party, I'd send a separate letter directly to the creditor (the hospital/doctor/whoever you owe the money to) and try to negotiate a repayment plan.  Start by offering them thirty cents on the dollar and work from there.  I would not even have a conversation with a collection agency.