forgotten debt ..now what?

[brokeNconfused]

ok.. i got a call from a collection department. they were calling in behalf of a medical bill that is owed. It was like 300 or so.. the message was hard to hear and no call back number or caller id was left. i looked on my credit report and did not find any medical bill listed, but they said it has been reported.
I think this is a bill we paid long ago. I called the doctors we use and the hospital and cant get any answer abuot an unpaid bill. They called my house and left message for me so i know it was the right number.

question is.. i confirm at end of month and cant find debt. What do i do if it pops up later on my report? can i just pay it off if i have the $$$? do i have to let someone know about if i locate it ? its sounds small enough that i can get it paid with some savings effort.

[Flamingo]

Broke - Contact your attorney and advise him/her of this situation right away.

[brokeNconfused]

ive been trying to reach tem but no luck. Can i just pay it later outside of my plan?

[lrprn]

ive been trying to reach tem but no luck. Can i just pay it later outside of my plan?

Do not pay any creditor (listed or not) without speaking to your Ch 13 lawyer first. If he/she won't return your calls, make an office appointment. If your lawyer has an email address, send your question about this situation that way as well.

Keep calling every single day until you get a return call.

[brokeNconfused]

thing is that i have no idea if its my debt. Dont know where to find out. It was not on my credit report when i pulled it in March. Nobody has been to doctors in a year. Will plan extend if i find it after confirmation.? what happens if i find it and just pay it?

[lrprn]

thing is that i have no idea if its my debt. Dont know where to find out. It was not on my credit report when i pulled it in March. Nobody has been to doctors in a year.

Send the creditor a registered, return receipt letter asking them to validate the debt. Read up here to understand debt validation and why it's important - http://www.creditinfocenter.com/rebu...lidation.shtml

And here's an example of a debt validation letter you can customize to your situation - http://www.creditinfocenter.com/form...eletter9.shtml

Will plan extend if i find it after confirmation.? what happens if i find it and just pay it?

If the creditor was not listed on your original credit matrix when you filed, then the creditor must be added (usually costs less than $30) and then is given a specified number of days (usually 30-60) to file a claim or not. This may delay your confirmation, but you'll be making payments to the trustee the entire time anyway.

Paying a debt you left off your matrix right after you filed Ch 13 may trigger your trustee to take a closer look to see whether it's considered a preferential payment and whether to go after it. This is why you need to talk to your lawyer before doing anything with this debt.

[BigJohn]

ok.. i got a call from a collection department. they were calling in behalf of a medical bill that is owed. It was like 300 or so.. the message was hard to hear and no call back number or caller id was left. i looked on my credit report and did not find any medical bill listed, but they said it has been reported.
I think this is a bill we paid long ago. I called the doctors we use and the hospital and cant get any answer abuot an unpaid bill. They called my house and left message for me so i know it was the right number.

question is.. i confirm at end of month and cant find debt. What do i do if it pops up later on my report? can i just pay it off if i have the $$$? do i have to let someone know about if i locate it ? its sounds small enough that i can get it paid with some savings effort.

I believe when a collection agency makes first contact with you, they have to follow up within 5 days with a letter telling what the bill is all about. It sounds like the phone call was a 'fishing expedition'.

[brokeNconfused]

well we got the bill about a year and a half ago. Thought we paid everything. We never got a collection notice. No litigation, nothing on credit report. Now i call around and nobody seems to know what im talking about. guess ill have to just stay on it until i find out whats going on.

If this turns up later does it screw up a 13? if i need to have it added then? I just cant find anyone i owe right now.