I just received a summons for $1,800 in medical bills. If I contact the hospital will they work out a plan to avoid the lawsuit?

Who brought the lawsuit - the collection agency or the hospital? If it was the collection agency, no point in contacting them to make payment arrangements because they may not own this debt anymore. Prepare & file a written response to the lawsuit before you contact the attorney for the creditor to discuss a settlement. You will have no leverage to settle unless you have responded to the lawsuit. And without leverage, the collector will want attorney fees and court costs in addiiton to the principal balance. Hope this perspective helps!

There is no way the hospital will "drop the lawsuit." They paid good money to get it filed. However, hospitals and collectors are usually very willing to take either a lump sum or a payment plan. This will help you to avoid what you really fear... garnishment of your wages and bank accounts or a lien attaching to your home. So do exactly what Ms. Bunce says. File an answer and the offer a deal. Remember, money talks and nothing else works. Good luck.

I recommend contacting whoever filed the lawsuit - hospital, collections agency or attorney - and informing them that you recently found employment and would like to work out a payment plan. See what happens before you start paying court costs or for attorneys. Disclaimer of California Attorney Although the above response is believed to be accurate, it should not be relied upon as any type of legal advice because the information provided is incomplete. It is intended to educate the reader and a more definite answer should be based on a consultation with a lawyer. No attorney client relation is formed with me without a written contract. Joshua P. Friedman [email protected] www.losangelescollector.com

Once again the out-of-state lawyers miss the point. A few years ago, then-Attorney General Mike Hatch sued the big hospital chains because they were suing their poor clients and not working stuff out with them. That lawsuit ended with an agreement that all but a couple of hospitals signed on to. Under the Hatch Agreement the Hospitals are requires to maintain a charity care policy and to work with people. If you contact the Hospital they are required to see if you are eligible for any programs, and to make voluntary arrangements with you. The Hatch Agreement only covers Hospitals, if it is the ER Doc's Professional Association, or the Ambulance company, or some other company that had something to do with your visit to the hospital, but is not the hospital, then it is just another creditor and whether they will negotiate with you depends on the collector they are using. Because it has a Court Date, I am assuming that it is a Conciliation Court Summons and Statement of Claim, rather than A district court Summons and Complaint. If it is Conciliation Court you don't have to make a written answer, but don't miss the hearing unless you have it all worked out and dismissed before then. If it is a District court Summons and Complaint you must Answer within 20 days or they can take a default judgment against you. Feel free to call me if you have more questions. Paul Weig Weig Law Firm, LLC (612) 501-4841 Weig Law firm is a debt relief agency according to the bankruptcy laws, and this is an attorney advertisement according to the Rules of Lawyer's Professional Responsibility.