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debt collection scams

Q&A: For estate executors, unpaid medical bills can be daunting

October 28, 2024 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: My wife is in the process of being named executor for her late sister’s estate. There are several medical bills, including some that have been sold to collection agencies. Our understanding is that any negotiations or settlements should be done with those agencies as opposed to the original medical organization. Is this correct in general as well as in probate situations?

Answer: If a bill has been sold to a collection agency, that’s the entity your wife will have to contact. However, not all medical bills are sold. Sometimes collection agencies work on behalf of healthcare providers. When that’s the case, your wife may want to contact the original provider.

As executor, your wife can and should hire an attorney to advise her on administering her sister’s estate. The estate will pay the cost for this advice and your wife will receive helpful, personalized counsel on dealing with every aspect of being an executor, including this one, which is particularly fraught.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently warned that some medical debt collectors are violating federal law by inflating bills, trying to collect on debts that aren’t owed, demanding payment for services insurance has already covered and lying about consumers’ rights to contest bills. The attorney can help your wife verify the bills are accurate and negotiate settlements.

Filed Under: Medical Debt, Q&A Tagged With: collection agencies, debt collection, debt collection scams, Estate Planning, medical bills, medical debt

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

October 13, 2016 By Liz Weston

phone-scammerToday’s top story: Protecting yourself from debt collection scams. Also in the news: Building a small emergency fund while living paycheck to paycheck, how Millennials can save for retirement, and how to stop wasting your frequent flier miles.

Spot Debt Collection Scams and Protect Your Money
Defending yourself from scams.

Saving $1,000 When You’re Living Paycheck to Paycheck
Building a small emergency fund.

Deck is stacked against Millennial savers: Here’s how to succeed
How to save and invest for retirement.

How to stop wasting your frequent flier miles
Don’t leave any miles unused.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: debt collection scams, emergency funds, frequent flier miles, millennials and retirement

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