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I know some states have clauses or laws that if you can only afford to make like 5-10 bucks a month on a bill thats gone to collection, they can't deny it. Is that the same in this state. Does anyone know. I've got a friend who is just barely scraping by and they keep demanding that a 5-10 dollar a month payment from them is just Unacceptable. Hell She's Stopped her Cable, Stopped her Internet, Just shy of stopping even her damn electricity just to make ends meet. I've set up some 12 volt Lights in her house and gave her a couple of my older Marine Deep cycle batteries that she can swap out while the one is charging etc...
It sounds like your friend could use some help. She may be eligible for some public assistance. She should try to find a reputable community credit counseling service. They would probably be the best resource for dealing with this kind of situation. The first link is to Consumer Credit Counseling of the Black Hills. If she is somewhere else in the state they might know where to refer her to. The other two links could help her find other assistance.
Its not that she has too much debt, SHe has Not enough Income, but yet just enough Income to prevent her from getting any of the other help, like the Food Stamps, Energy Assistance and such. I was talking to her today about it again and she said the collection agency that called even had the nerve to tell her she didn't need to buy a car when her job was less than 2 miles from home. She should be walking and forego the car in order to pay this medical bill of hers. The nerve of these bill collectors anymore is astounding.
Its not that she has too much debt, SHe has Not enough Income, but yet just enough Income to prevent her from getting any of the other help, like the Food Stamps, Energy Assistance and such. I was talking to her today about it again and she said the collection agency that called even had the nerve to tell her she didn't need to buy a car when her job was less than 2 miles from home. She should be walking and forego the car in order to pay this medical bill of hers. The nerve of these bill collectors anymore is astounding.
Hopefully she documents the calls and what was said. She might be able to get some help from SD Attorney Generals Consumer protection office. This isn't a agency out of Bismark ND per chance is it?
Its not that she has too much debt, SHe has Not enough Income, but yet just enough Income to prevent her from getting any of the other help, like the Food Stamps, Energy Assistance and such. I was talking to her today about it again and she said the collection agency that called even had the nerve to tell her she didn't need to buy a car when her job was less than 2 miles from home. She should be walking and forego the car in order to pay this medical bill of hers. The nerve of these bill collectors anymore is astounding.
I do not know the exact laws for South Dakota but most medical agencies will work with patients to help pay bills. Some will even write-off medical bills, if you can prove you are not able to pay the bill.
For other bills, the Salvation Army MAY help all you have to do is ask. I know our local Salvation Army will pay an occasional utility bill, if there is a proven need.
You might want to see a legal aid attorney although this may take a trip to the big city. If small towns are like the ones here, then you have to go into a larger city to take advantage of this service.
Hi SD - I completely agree with Blackhillsguy and rjl78 and Danny - they have great thoughts on this matter. I am not a financial person or an attorney or a medical billing specialist nor am I a resident of SD. However, I have a couple of thoughts. How long has she held this debt? It would be good to know if this is longer than the SD statute of limitations for debt? The reason I ask is that perhaps this debt has been bought and sold (one or more times) and that explains (but never, ever, ever excuses) these tactics used hoping that she won't know this info. Again, I would have someone appropriate consulting her on this, but I believe this info can be googled and so she can have it to ask (because I do agree - she needs to meet with someone).
Additionally, watched an episode of a financial guru a couple of years back, missed half of it due to work, but caught the gist of it (and never forgot). Someone should sit with her and write out something to say on the order of -- yes, I spoke with you earlier and this is what I have sent/am sending as I do monthly, I expect your balance to be paid off in (I don't care if it is 2020), now I need to end this call and say good-bye. They would have the right words. Essentially, this prevents them from getting too much info from this poor lady (why should they know she has a car unless they are specifically speaking with her as representatives of the car company that she has her loan with - and again if - and it is about a car loan delinquency).
Lastly, our most basic needs are food, shelter and clothing. That shelter means appropriate warmth and/or cooling as needed for the weather. I hope she doesn't stop her electricity to pay a medical bill. Again, not a collector, but these people are trained to speak a certain way for the purpose of collections. I really hope she can be convinced to speak with an advocate for her because she sure needs one. Also, to the documenting statement - I could not agree more (times, dates, length of call, what is said, etc.).
I am guessing any attorney is going to suggest bankruptcy... Maybe not. Check out the no cost solutions.
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