u/James50128

We’ve paid 7k of our 12k medical debt due wife delivering baby 6 weeks early. Trying to negotiate down a little on last 5k but 3rd party collection isn’t budging. I’ve offered 250 a month and they claim no they’d rather sue. Will a judge take into consideration I’ve made an offer that I can afford and they rejected or does it not matter? I know it’s likely judge dependant, just curious in a typical situation. Also hospital shows us at 0 balance but I guess they somehow still own the debt and not the 3rd party collector?

We hit our max last year of 12,000 with wife having to delivery baby 6 weeks early. So far we’ve paid off 7k and the remaining 5k is now with a debt collector. Im trying to pay but hoping to negotiate it down a bit , no luck so far. Anyways on my chart it shows 0 balance and when I call the hospital claims it’s in collections and cannot discuss anything further. Collection coming has sent a letter threatening that the hospital is about to sue and they won’t accept my 250 a month offer. Minimum they’ll take is like 500 a month.
That being said my question is I can’t get a straight answer as to who owns my debt, the hospital or collection agency? It seems as though they’re a 3rd party but why would my hospital balance show 0. And if debt collector owns it I assume they’re just trying to scare claiming hospital is going to sue. Could the hospital still own the debt even if it shows me a 0 balance? This company website makes it seem like they’re 3.rd party and take percentage of what they get but again couldn’t they do that without it showing my hospital bill as 0? Sorry if this is confusing, don’t they legally have to tell me who owns my debt?

Third party is contacting us with paperwork saying the hospital is about to sue us over $5,000. We’ve already paid down 6k. Our max out of pocket was 12k. Hospital my chart shows $0 balance which leads me to believe hospital no longer has any skin in game? Can’t get a straight answer from hospital. Collections says they won’t negotiate on monthly payments because that’s what hospitals policy. I think collections is just trying to scare me putting hospitals name all over paperwork but no idea. Hopefully this makes sense. Thanks!