18 Years old & an account handed over to a collection agency, bad credit?

[jroc38]

I recently just turned 18 and on a trip to the emergency room one time, my parents were not able to come so I had to sign the papers myself ( I was 17 then). The bill is in my name and my insurance has paid half of it, and I've made payments to the account several times within the past 3 months, but now I receive a letter saying that the bill has been turned over to a collection agency, yet my insurance and myself have paid on the account. I don't have credit, but will this damage my credit? And is the hospital's actions justifiable?

 

[seniorjudge]

I don't have credit, but will this damage my credit? And is the hospital's actions justifiable?

Yes and yes.

 

[FlaRiptide]

Since Jroc signed the papers when he was 17, would this not invalidate the contract (agreement to pay)? Unless he made payments after turning 18 then this would ratify the contract potentially making him liable.

 

[Stargazer100]

I was just going to say the same thing...doesn't the fact that jroc was a minor invalidate any "contract to repay"