What gets me is that now medical bills are reported to the credit agencies when delinquent. I was in the hospital and apparently a physician was called in to consult. Never saw her. The first notice was months later when I got a bill from a collection agency. I called the agency to learn who the creditor was. That's how I learned it was Dr. X.
Of course, by now the orignal $115 bill had grown thanks to interest and collection fees and what not. The collection person threatened to shoot me, sue me, torture me and otherwise do all sorts of things to me.
I called the physican's office and talked to the person who handles the billing/insurance/weirdos/a**holes, etc and told her I was willing to pay the original $115 and she said no so I asked for the doc to call me. I gave her the choice of $115 or zero. Guess which choice she took?
I dutifully wrote a letter to the three major agencies. Couple years later, medical collection item is still on all three credit reports. I am sure there is undue damage to my score and what not.
I also wrote my Senators and Congressman. They put me on their automated beg-for-donations mailing list.
I feel like Rodney Dangerfield.
