$110 medical bill in collections: pay or fight?

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My credit lives in the 775-825 range

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While important, creditors don't just see the # and stop looking; they will see a non-payment and that could have an impact on what they're willing to lend/offer.

When you called the hospital were they able to give you any information about what the charge was for? Have you reached out to the credit agency to discuss the charges? Tell them you are ready to pay but want to make sure you hadn't already paid the bill or that the charges are appropriate. If they push for payment first, ask them what their refund policy is if you make the payment, then find out that this was not a valid charge.

I had a bill like this after my appendectomy in 2019. I had a payment plan set up with the billing company, and paid off the balance in 4-5 months, but there was apparently another balance on a separate account that I was sent 1 bill in the beginning, then a notice of collections a year or so later, months after the automatic payments finished.

After going round and round with the billing company and the collections agency, I just decided to say 'frick it'. Since then, I've applied for 2 car loans and a couple
of credit cards and have had no trouble getting approved.

I'm don't think that Medical Collections under $500 even go on your credit report anymore

NerdWallet Article

I've got a benign tumor in my brain. Blood work often, injections weekly, MRIs biannually. Needless to say my bills are sort of all over. I had a very open conversation between the hospital and doctors office. I will pay all of my debts, but it will be on a payment plan, and the minute you send me to collections I will completely stop payment. My credit score is well into the 800s, I already have a low mortgage rate, and all vehicles I own are 2nd hand . It's forced the billing to consolidate my bill every few minutes which makes it much easier to keep up with instead of receiving 5 different bills every month.

If it's legit I would just pay the hospital online. I occasionally have gotten bills from collections but a lot of times it's hospital in house collection company because it never hits credit report. I just go online and pay the hospital/Dr. I don't talk to the collection folks at all or acknowledge receiving anything.

It’s frustrating that a random medical bill can just pop up in the mail. If I don’t remember receiving the service or even know the doctor then why should I pay.

There should be a statute of limitations on medical billing. Visible prices for every service as well. Just my wish list.

I’m pretty sure a law came into place at the beginning of 2023 that no medical bill under 500 can be sent to collections (this info is from the collection agency I use)

I had to take legal action against a Baton Rouge hospital in May 2023 over a $400 bill that I didn’t owe. I paid everything I owed and they sent the bill. When I asked about it, they told me it was because insurance denied a charge. Called the insurance company and was told they paid it but then the hospital billed it again, which they denied. I conference the hospital in with the insurance company, I listen to them discuss billing codes and payments, the hospital realizes the error. It’s done.

Fast forward to April 2023 and I’m told if I don’t pay it by May, I’ll be sent to a collections agency. I told them I’d sue if they did that. They reported to the collections agency and I obtained an attorney, who sent a strongly worded certified letter to the hospital threatening to sue them over multiple specific laws they broke by doing what they did.

I haven’t heard a single thing since then. Sometimes hospitals frick up and insist they’re right. It’s no surprise that they have Janshamekia Jupiter running the claims/billing department.

PAY IT


I had a $2,500.00 charge from my X wife going to a dentist 7 years ago that they stuck it on my credit.

It should have fallen off but apparently every time it changes hands they add it back as new debt.