u/Apart-Distance3899 — reddlx

Hello! Not sure if this is the right sub, but I really need advice.

My father had a stroke that led to emergency brain surgery in February 2024. Since the nearest option was a private hospital, we had to proceed there. We were able to pay around ₱2M with the help of family, friends, and guarantee letters from different government agencies. We also managed to pay ₱150k just so he could be discharged, and signed a promissory note since we don’t have any collateral—we’re just a working middle-class family.

As of now, we still have about ₱1.5M in unpaid hospital debt, and it has already been forwarded to a collection agency.

Has anyone experienced something similar? I honestly don’t know what to do anymore. My mom, who the account was under, recently passed away last March, so I’ve had to step up as her daughter. I’ve also been overthinking and worrying if we could face legal consequences, like getting jailed.

How do we even start asking for help, especially with a debt that’s been unpaid for a while? Any advice would really mean a lot.