New here! In trouble please help

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-21-2004
New here! In trouble please help
17
Sun, 04-17-2005 - 10:44am
Hi my name is Jennifer. I am a single working mom. I work two jobs and I really frugal. I have to be we don't have a lot of extra money. In Nov. my daughter had to go the the Childrens hospital. Thankfully she is fine now! but I have some bills my insurance wouldn't cover in the amount of 2500.00 which isn't much I know but I have no extra money and they gave me only two weeks to pay in full or I need to take out a credit card through 5th 3rd which works with them to pay it off. It makes me sick to take out a credit card for doctors bills when I am struggling to pay all my credit card bills. But at that time I got behind on my mortage payment. So I am now a month behind. Just about a week and half ago I sent my payment for last month and I was planning on by the first sending this month and hopefully getting caught up. But I recieved a letter in the mail saying I could no longer send partial payments when more than one month was due and I needed to remit the full amount or I may go into forclosure. I haven't been able to sleep all night. See in NOv. my mort went up by 300 dollars because they didn't figure enough in my escrow to pay my taxes. Ever since then it has been a struggle. I have no one I can ask for help. To loose my house would be devastating. I bought the house I grew up in.
I guess my question is if I pay the full amount in a few weeks and get caught back up do I still have the threat of going into forclosure? Is there anything I can do. I have called and told them my situation previously?? There is nothing more scary then the possibility of someone taking my house I worked so hard to get.
Any advice would be great. Thank you!

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Avatar for cl_phocid
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 04-17-2005 - 11:51am

If you're current with your mortgage, they will not foreclose on the property.

All my best,
Danni

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-21-2004
Sun, 04-17-2005 - 12:23pm
Thank you Danni for your reply. That is how I am treating the bills. Mort, food, heat and our health ins. first priority. With the medical bill I offered weekly payments and it was sent back saying they only accepted payments in full if I couldn't pay that within the deadline it would be sent to collections. Noone I have talked too has ever heard of such a thing. I think I will find great help in this board! glad to have found you and cant wait to get out of debt. Have a wonderful Sunday! jenn
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-23-2003
Sun, 04-17-2005 - 2:11pm
Delurking....I'm not sure at all but I was under the impression that there was some protection when it came to medical bills. If you were paying something that they couldn't send it to collections, this may just be how some hospitals operate as a courtesy I guess. Maybe something to look into but I definately wouldn't loose sleep over the medical bill. Catch up on the mortgage, worst case scenario is that the hospital sends you to collections where they will need to work out a payment schedule with you--just keep sending them what you were planning to and keep records of it. I'm certain they will cash the check. GL
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-20-2004
Sun, 04-17-2005 - 3:13pm

Pay your mort. and bills and what you have to pay first.

Pay what you can on the medical bills.

They WILL send you to collections, whether you are paying them
reguarly or not.

Every time you get a bill from the collection agency, give them
a call. Say you are trying to pay, you just don't have it all
right now. But that you are willing to pay.

You don't even need to set up a payment plan. They will do things
like send you a bill every week. Do your best to send a check each time,
even if it is $5.

Every time you get a bill, give them a call. Say you are sending what you
can, but you don't know what that amount is yet. Send them $5.

There might come a time, they send you 3-4 bills per month.
Each time, send them $50 on the first bill...5 on all the other bills.
1 on all the other bills, if that is all you have.

But don't ever fail to respond to one of their bills, even if it is a
$1 check.

AND every time you get a bill, call, and say as I said above,
I am going to pay, I just don't have it now, I'll send you what I can.

DO NOT put it on a CC.

I hope this helps.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2004
Sun, 04-17-2005 - 9:33pm

I'd retain an attorney before you paid anything at all.

Wasn't the consensus that they'd not pursue it on a legal basis if you were paying them even $50 a month?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-17-2005
Mon, 04-18-2005 - 12:10am
I agree, soon after my divorce one of my girls was hospitalized with food poisioning etc and there was a huge bill even with the insurance and I have since been dx with diabetes--and the other responder is correct--dont pay with any kind of credit card--as long as you send $5 or $10 until you can keep the basics (food, shelter, heat). I have wait until it got 94 degrees here before i turned on AC(live down south too) just to make sure I had the girls and I groc $$. The first three years is rough emotionally, after 8 yrs i am finally ready to get to the $$ recovery part and pay down debts. Its been so long but I will get there one day!
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-31-2005
Mon, 04-18-2005 - 2:49pm

Any account can be sent to collections even if a payment is made each month.

The original creditor may accept a monthly payment, if this agreement is made before the account is past due, but if the account is turned over to collections, any payment arrangement the original creditor made can be null and void.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-06-2004
Mon, 04-18-2005 - 11:42pm

Hello! You are so correct - I've had to deal w/medical bills in my life on this planet, many, many times. Even if they do go to collections, you can talk and/or write to them about your specific situation. My DP told me all they care for is the money, he is younger than I but has taught me many lessons regarding this financial world we live in. You do have options, especially since you have a child and or children. By the way, this is for the OP, just got so caught up and tried to hi-jack the OP. Sorry!

P.S. - PLEASE OP LISTEN TO WEENJEN. BTDT - without children. Number 1 - always try to keep a roof over you and yours head, everthing else is secondary.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Wed, 04-27-2005 - 9:54pm

Jennifer,
It makes me mad to hear hospitals doing this. The others are so right. Housing, food and utilities are more important. I do know of a way to possibly stopping this hospital from sending you to collections. If I can be of help, please email me. I do not think I can post it on this message board. I am going to check with ivillage and make sure it is ok, before I do anything against the rules.

Gina

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 04-28-2005 - 7:41am

Just weighing in to agree with the others that the mortgage should be priority #1. I would even go so far as to suggest a food kitchen, food stamps, or other non-cash way of feeding yourself and the children before you get further behind on mortgage. Clothing is important, but I have found that if I don't worry about fashion, I don't have to spend a penny on clothes, because I get given so much. If that doesn't happen, there are always thrift shops and Goodwill, and making do with what you have. The house, though--if you lose that, it's gone.

Once you are caught up on mortgage, they will not foreclose. It is expensive and a hassle for them to do so--they would much rather be getting regular payments.

We had an increase in our escrow this year too, but nothing like $300--ouch!! We bought our house recently, after getting our finances in good shape (we couldn't have bought any sooner--our finances were too much of a mess), so we haven't faced a problem with the mortgage. But I tell you, as I've said many times on this board, if it ever comes to it, I will fast for a week, turn off all the lights, and let them shut off my water before I will miss a mortgage payment.

Here's something you might try: have a yard sale. Go through your house, and put aside absolutely anything that isn't used on a daily basis or nailed down. Redefine what you need--look at everything and think, "would I rather have this, or the house?" Thin out your appliances, your dishes, your utensils, your electronics. Even your TV if you must. Sell it all. Take the cash and what you can from your paycheck, and get caught up on your mortgage.

Offer to clean a friend's house, mow a neighbor's yard, watch someone's children for a few hours--anything to bring in that little extra cash to start getting caught up again.

Let the medical bills go to collections if they must, but don't make any other payments or buy anything else until you are caught up on your mortgage. Then make sure you pay the mortgage before anything else every month.

I know you already know this, and are already doing it. I just wanted to reemphasize that point, because I think it's so important, especially in your case where the house has sentimental value as well.

Welcome to the board, and good luck. You can do it!

Blessings,

Heather

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