by Don Wilson
I receive email quite often asking me about medical bills and whether they are covered by the FDCPA or at what times the FDCPA applies? Will the FDCPA apply? Yes it will, but it also wont. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act third-party debt is the only type that is covered. To elaborate, I will go through the typical process of a medical bill and where your rights begin and end.
Starting at the beginning, you get medical service at the doctor's office. You leave the office without paying off your bill. When it comes to medical bills, technically your balance is due in full the day that you get your service. This means that you have a debt and you are delinquent on it already.
When you have a medical debt then you will probably get about three months for insurance to pay it given to you. Sometimes you don't get any time other times you get a lot. Three months is about the guideline for your grace period. If you haven't already given your doctor your insurance information then you need to do that. If you already gave them your policy information then give it to them again. Your better safe than sorry.
Next, first-party collections. This step doesn't always happen though and it might just go immediately to third-party collections. Payment arrangements are made easiest at this stage. At this point, if you can afford to make a settlement, make the offer here.
The final step prior to litigation is third-party collections. This can be skipped and the debt may go to an attorney. Whichever happens doesn't make a difference on your rights. At this point the FDCPA and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) apply. This is where the debt collectors come into the picture as well as your credit report. These actions are regulated by those federal acts for your protection.
Once a bill gets to collections and a credit report gets involved you get 30 days before the bill actually ends up on your credit report. Getting your bill paid before that time is up will usually result in it never showing up on your credit. You definitely want to try and do that.
The last part is the attorney. You want to keep out of the attorney step if you can. The FCRA and the FDCPA are still in effect. You will get documentation from the attorney that gives your 30 days to get on an arrangement with the attorney or go to court and possible fees and judgment. - 41115
Learn more about (http://beatdebttoday.com/blog/fdcpa-fcra/) Fair Debt Collection Practices. Stop by Don Wilson's site where you can find out all about (http://www.yoursite.com/subpage) Debt Secrets and how to get out of debt extremely fast.
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New Unique Article!
Title: Is My Medical Debt Covered Under The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act?
Author: Don Wilson
Email: donaldwilson23@gmail.com
Keywords: collection debt, fair debt collection practices, get out of debt, debt relief, debt, credit
Word Count: 425
Category: Finance:Credit
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