I was in an auto accident in 12/03. My health insurance and auto insurance paid hospital bills, etc. I paid the balance in May, 04. Have not heard one more word even tho I still live at same address and work for same company. Now receive notice from collection agency! Could this be a scam of some type? Wouldn’t the hospital try to contact me over the years if I still owed? The bill is only $150.00 but it’s the principal of the thing. Do I fight it? Do I have a leg to stand on?
Thank you guys soooo much for your responses. I pay my bills and was totally shocked to receive a collection notice. And of course by the time I got home from work all the offices were closed so I couldn’t call and was steaming. I was so glad to get here to vent and you nice people gave me some sound advice and encouraging words. I am making my plan of action. Thank you Thank you Thank you

call the collection agency and the hospital first to find out what it is really about, talking to some one may shed some light on the whole ordeal. maybe it was mix up. if it is real, you can ask nicely if you can get a discount because they have waited so long to contact you.

Id like to make my own fashion brand, but i have fairly few information HOW TO. If you can help me, where i can buy or sew my own designs and print on them as well. mostly europe please! thanks

Though this is based in the US, the basics are the same all over — some good stuff in here:
http://www.fashion-incubator.com/category/newbies/

You might start with: http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/what-does-it-cost-to-prototype-a-bag-or-clothing-line/

Only if they’re covered in cheese.

vivienne westwood,
alexander mcqueen
john galliano
rodarte
(crazy headwear) philip treacy
hope this helps…

i want to get one of their tennis bags and some of their outifts. i tried going on the website but all they is like the couture/fashion pieces. i wanted to get the lacoste tennis collection. anyone have a link or a website they can share? thanks!

This site has Lacoste tennis bags:

www.worldtraveler.com

- – -

You can also use Amazon, and they will direct you to smaller online retailers that sell Lacoste items.

It was a MINOR $120 medical bill back in August 2005 (my employer was supposed to pay the bill, but never did so we had to and it took a couple months to pay it off because of the dispute between myself and my work). Anyway, I was looking into buying a house and just found out about this paid collection on my report. Is there anyway to remove it? My credit is flawless other than that collection. Please help! Thanks!

Sorry but as long as the information is correct it will show until the reporting time line runs out which is 7-years from the date of first delinquency.

What you can try is a letter of goodwill asking the collection company to please remove it, they don’t have to but it might help.

As long as it shows as paid it will not keep you from getting a home.

I recently had a $200 overdraft on my bank account and it was closed because I did not pay it in time. I recently recieved a letter from a collection agency saying I have to pay it in full. What will happen if I do not pay it and blow it off? Will I go to jail or get sued for the $200?

Doubt that you will be sued for that small debt but anything is possible.

What they will do is add fees and collection cost to that $200. Make a deal will the collection company; offer them half and maybe they’ll go away. Why don’t you just pay it so you don’t have to worry about it. If the collection agency does make a deal, get it in writing before sending the check/money order.

The collection agency will continue to call and send letters which will start to drive you crazy (at least it would me).

If you open an account again and you overdraw, be proactive an talk to the bank right away. A lot of times the bank will reverse some of the fees.

2 numbers from cell phone were called. One call I know for sure was from my cell co. as they left a message. There was no mention of debt collection in the message. Is this legal? Where I can I check online for this?

The cell phone company is calling YOUR contacts to try to contact YOU? If that’s the case, contact your local state’s consumer affairs division office. Usually, you can find them on the web by typing in your browser window, your home state’s name. That usually gives you several options for contacting your state’s various departments. Since each state has different laws regarding debt collection methods, you will need to find out what the laws are in YOUR state.

How long can collection agency try to get money after you? if there a time frame they will stop calling ? and if you dont pay at all, are they going to give up the account eventually?

Thanks!

Legally they can come after you until you die.

Weather they can collect is another thing. After the statute of limitations runs out they can still sue you but it will be thrown out in court when you show that the S.O.L. has expired.

It will stay on your credit for 7-years from the date of first delinquency and then it will drop off.

So, if you can wait out the S.O.L. and the 7-years for your credit to clean up there is nothing they can do except call and ask you to pay them.

O.B.T.W. after it drops from your credit, no body is going to come back and say you have to pay it if you want to buy a home because it will not show on your credit so they will not know about it.

I swear some people that answer these question work for collection companies.

I have done 1st and 3rd party collections. When I did 1st party collections I was supervising 5other people and training I loved it. Now I am a stay at home mom but I still want to do collections. Can anyone help?

If you would kindly QUIT CALLING MY HOUSE!, I could wait for the phone to ring, answer it, and find out that I got a job so I can pay you. Please help me, I’ll help you right back by paying this bill you are obcessed about collecting. Good luck!