Taking me to court?

by Anonymous
(Illinois)

I went to the hospital in June (2011) because I had fallen into a window and cut my arm open. They started sending me bills for hospital visit, but I just didn't have the funds to pay for it. A few months after the incident a debt collector agency started sending me mail notifying me they now have the account. Now a few months ago I was contacted by phone and they told me I needed to set up a payment option and have everything paid off by March or it would go onto my credit. The guy also told me that they were on the verge of taking me to court. He gave me no options. He said that I had to at least pay $90 dollars every two weeks (everytime I get paid). Well I gave them a down payment of $300 so I could pay less. He said the least amount he could take was &75 every two weeks. Now I am a single mom and don't have that great of job. I can't afford to pay this! I attemtped paying it a few times and then closed out my account because I couldn't afford it anymore. The guy starts calling me again and said that they have my paper work all ready to go to court because I backed out of my payments. I believe the amount I have left to pay is $1200? Anyways I tried to explain my situation and told him that I would attempt to pay it off when I get my taxes back and he agreed to that. Now he is calling me on my work phone AGAIN saying that they are about to process my paper work for taking me to court because I haven't paid and is trying to say I have to set up a payment to come out on the 29th (my expected taxes are suppose to be here on the 28th). I told him I can't risk that in case my taxes don't come in. Now I am trying to get things taken care of, but he is saying since I won't give him a check number that they will be taking me to court. Will he really take me to court? And again I believe I owe like $1200 and I live in the state of Illinois.

Comments for Taking me to court?

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Mar 04, 2012
 Taking me to court?
by: Debtcollectionanswers

You are in a difficult situation because there is no question that you owe the money and the collection agency is definitely putting a lot of pressure on you to pay.

There are a couple things you should do:

1. Use my
Free Debt Collection Worksheet to keep track of all of your conversations with the collector. Go back in time and document as much as you remember about your prior conversations. Keep this sheet by your phone/s. If you do get sued for the money you owe, the information on this worksheet should show the court that you have been trying to work out a way to resolve your debt and as a result, the judge may order the collector to negotiate an affordable payment plan with you.

2. Tell the collector not to contact you at work anymore. The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act gives you this right. Put your request in writing, make a copy of the letter for your files and send the original letter via certified mail with a return receipt requested.

3. Do not give the collector any information related to your bank account. If you do, you risk having the collector go into the account and taking the money you owe out of it.

4. Schedule afree consultation with a consumer law attorney. It's possible that the collection agency has violated some of your legal rights and if it has, you may be able to use that fact to force the agency to give you a payment plan you can afford.

5. If you are sued, do not ignore the lawsuit and contact a consumer law attorney right away for advice about what to do.

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