I went to the hospital for some tests. My doctors indicated that I needed them. I went to the hospital and when I received the bill I called to make arrangements for payment. Over the phone the customer service person from the Business Office accepted that I start paying $35.00 a month for a $430.00 bill and once I finish payment the specialist and the doctor I can increase the payment to $50.00. I did that - I paid the doctors and the specialist and I start paying $35.00 and later I increased to $50.00. Today I found out that the Hospital sent me to collections even that I was paying every single month $35.00 and I increased to $50.00. The worst part is that they placed the account on collection for $171.00 and never mentioned the actual account amount. I called the collection and I disputed the amount and the collections tells me that they do not received instructions from me but from Hospital, meaning that they forwarded wrong information and they do not update the account with the collection company. The worst part is that they payments are going to Valley Presbyterian Hospital not to the collection company and those individuals in Valley are not assisting in solving the problem that was reported by one of the credit bureau. I told Valley that was is the story with all those people that owe them thousands of dollars and do not pay and they keep coming to the hospital. They claim that the issue is with me and no other people. I met a woman that told me that she owes more than $20,000 to the hospital and she haven't pay and she keeps coming to the hospital because she needs medical attention and the hospital must take her in. Otherwise she can sue the hospital if something serious happens to her. I do not see how is that this hospital takes me to collection for $121.00 that I actually owe. ( I sent $61.00 this month and the balance should be $60.) and they keep complaining that I do not pay the bills. I v isited this hospital more than seven times since Breast Cancer and all my bills were paid (higher than the actual amount owe) and they never complained my monthly payments, now it is different. It looks that they changed due to the economic problems. I just hope that they look at the entire picture of how unfair is their behavior and that they appreciate when a person wants to make it right. I paid every month, they have the records and still that was not good enough. They placed my name in the credit report as being in collection. I am trying to find if my doctors are serving in other hospital and I will never visit this hospital again.
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