I had a medical procedure 04/05/2010. Received notice on 04/11/10 of $16,226.00 for total charges from hospital being sent to insurance. Received EOB from insurance on 04/29/10 confirming $16,226.00 and my portion would be $396.71. Received bill from hospital on 05/17/2010 that I owed $396.71. Paid hospital $396.71 06/09/2010. I have ALL original paperwork and receipts for this.
Received bill from collections agency on 11/3/2010 that the amount I owed is $1611.98. I sent them all the above paperwork and asked for validation of debt. Received nothing.
Received bill from collections lawyer on 02/03/2011 that the amount I owed was $1803.47. I sent them also all the above paperwork and asked for validation of debt. Received nothing.
Received bill from the same collections lawyer on 12/13/2012 that the amount I owed was $2190.03. Again, I sent them all of the paperwork and asked again for validation of the debt. Received nothing.
Was served 03/11/2013 with a civil suit from the collections lawyer for $1611.98 + 376.13 interest + $250 attorney fees + all costs to date and all future costs of the suit.
I've spoken to the lawyer and asked again for the validation of the debt. All I have received from him was a print out (NOT from the hospital) showing $16,226.00 total and $2008.69 as Co-Insurance charges. I played Devil's advocate on myself and called the insurance company and they have absolutely no paperwork whatsoever supporting the supposed change in the amount I owed. Ditto for the hospital. No one, anywhere, can tell me why my portion of the payment went from $396.71 to supposedly $2008.69 (or the other three amounts I've received letters stating that I owe).
The collections lawyer has already asked for and received three continuances, so the absolute court date is next Thursday. I cannot afford to hire a lawyer, and want to know: Should I file for a motion to dismiss? If so, how would I go about filing that motion?
BTW - I have a THREE INCH BINDER absolutely stocked FULL of all the various medical bills and EOBs and my payments from this time frame of illness. I can PROVE that I pay the bills as they are given (and proven) to me. Just like I paid this one.
Received bill from collections agency on 11/3/2010 that the amount I owed is $1611.98. I sent them all the above paperwork and asked for validation of debt. Received nothing.
Received bill from collections lawyer on 02/03/2011 that the amount I owed was $1803.47. I sent them also all the above paperwork and asked for validation of debt. Received nothing.
Received bill from the same collections lawyer on 12/13/2012 that the amount I owed was $2190.03. Again, I sent them all of the paperwork and asked again for validation of the debt. Received nothing.
Was served 03/11/2013 with a civil suit from the collections lawyer for $1611.98 + 376.13 interest + $250 attorney fees + all costs to date and all future costs of the suit.
I've spoken to the lawyer and asked again for the validation of the debt. All I have received from him was a print out (NOT from the hospital) showing $16,226.00 total and $2008.69 as Co-Insurance charges. I played Devil's advocate on myself and called the insurance company and they have absolutely no paperwork whatsoever supporting the supposed change in the amount I owed. Ditto for the hospital. No one, anywhere, can tell me why my portion of the payment went from $396.71 to supposedly $2008.69 (or the other three amounts I've received letters stating that I owe).
The collections lawyer has already asked for and received three continuances, so the absolute court date is next Thursday. I cannot afford to hire a lawyer, and want to know: Should I file for a motion to dismiss? If so, how would I go about filing that motion?
BTW - I have a THREE INCH BINDER absolutely stocked FULL of all the various medical bills and EOBs and my payments from this time frame of illness. I can PROVE that I pay the bills as they are given (and proven) to me. Just like I paid this one.