what should I tell bill collectors when I just don't have the funds to pay them?
466455
I would like to known that too
437414
oh man you're in trouble if you don't know what your bills are.....
504988
The best way to get creditors to stop bugging you is to pay your bills.  Your neighbors might thank you, too.\n\n__________ EDIT ________________\n\nI'm confused.  If you don't owe money, why are you worried about the collection agency finding you?  Wouldn't you be GLAD that they FINNALY got a hold of you through your neighbor so that you can clear up any misunderstanding and not have them harm your credit by reporting you as two months delinquent?
1107647
If you are still late in paying bill, you are still considered a bad credit risk, by most, if not all creditors.Who knows, you may luck out and find one who feels sorry for you, and take a chance with you.
103272
Once the bill collectors have them, they are already written off by the medical service provider, and they sold them to the collection agency for less than 10% of the face value.  At that point, the collection agency gets to keep any money they recover; none of it goes back to the medical care provider.  So the social assistance agencies can't help you pay any of these back.  You should search the web for advice on how to preserve all your rights when dealing with collection agencies.  If you don't have the money to pay the full bill, it is not profitable for them to sue you (even though they legally can), so they would rather negotiate a price that you can pay.  But get everything in writing and don't agree to anything over the phone.\n\nFor the future, if you have low income and don't have insurance, check with your county social service agency about getting catastrophic insurance with them.  You will fill out a financial statement, and they will set the premiums according to their guidelines.  Then if you need emergency or critical care, this will cover the physician fees when you are treated at a county hospital (the hospital can usually get reimbursed through medicaid for its charges, but the doctor's can't).  There are a lot of working people with low incomes who fall in this gap, and in most states, the county has the only agency to provide a little bit of a safety net.  (In states like California and New York, the state agencies may adequately fill this role).
125581
If you are poor (within a definition) all you need to do is write them a letter and say "I am not paying that bill"\nThey, by law must leave you alone or you can turn the tables and sue them for harassment.\nIt's great being a lawyer!\n(and, how else do you think we manage a National Debt of trillions?)
373079
If you paid part of the bill then you should be fine. You need to call the office & let them know when you can have the rest of the payment & go from there. Just hope you're not in a cold climate.
750477
Let me help you with this. I was once in your shoes. Take your paystub & a copy of monthly bills to the hospital billing office. Meet with a billing supervisor. Show them your financial statis. Tell them you are trying to pay them as fast as you can. They can help you with a payment schedule. If they get obnoxius or refuse to help. Go to an attorney & file medical bankruptcy. The hospital will usually try to help you rather than loose everything you owe them in bankruptcy procedings. Cheer up it's always darkest before dawn. Good Luck!
365693
The way to avoid this is to set the rules first. Tell the person that you are willing to pay for gas, food, etc. and you only have enough money  to buy your clothes and the rest is for bills. Also, I would take out the money before hand for my clothes and for the favor and put it in separate wallets to appear like I don't have that much money.
283808
nothing apart from the collection agency get a bit miffed off because they can't charge their fees!!
901211
Speak to the Citizens' Advice Bureau about FREE debt advice. There are some other charities that will offer you free advice about the best/quickest way to repay what you owe but I am unaware of any organisation that will administer your debt for you or give you a consolidation loan without making some sort of charge. \n\nCAB will encourage you to look at what all your income and outgoings are and devise a strategy with you, not for you, as to how you are to pay it all back. Meanwhile, write a holding letter to your creditors telling them that you are seeking independent advice about the debt. It will only serve to stall them temporarily. \n\nWork out your priority and non priority debts. Priority debts are ones which will affect your home or your liberty and include rent/mortgage, water, gas and electric and any other loan secured against your property. Non-payment of council tax can lead to imprisonment and so is a priority debt. All other debts are non-priority. It is vital that these are paid first.\n\nDraw up an honest list of what comes in to your household and what goes out and include everything, including newspaper money and pocket money for the kids etc. Don't try to hide an amount under the heading 'Housekeeping'. Debt companies know what to expect to see under all the headings based on reasonable amounts according to your home circumstances and trying to hide amounts under ambiguous headings won't work. \n\nYou then need to write again to your creditors and include the income and expenditure form. They should then come to an agreement with you although they are not obliged to. If you go to the CAB with this information, they can help you work out payment plans for each creditor and give you a standard letter to send. It may also carry more weight with the creditors if they know CAB are involved. \n\nCreditors are not obliged to accept your suggested payment plans and will be looking for some commitment from you that you are determined to clear your debt. Can you return the cards to the company, cut up? Can you sell some of your assets? Can you take on another part-time job specifically to pay them off? Could you rent a room out in your house? \n\nThere are other options like IVAs or bankruptcy depending on how much debt you are in but these have as many cons as they do pros and are not the answer for everyone, particularly if you own a house with equity. You could speak to CAB about these options but think carefully before going down these routes. \n\nYou are right to think about alternatives to taking out more debt. There are obvious problems if you cannot keep up repayments on bigger consolidation debts especially if they are secured against your home. I don't know your own circumstances, of course, but maybe going through the debt procedures above will concentrate your mind on how you managed to get into debt in the first place, the pain of being in debt and how hard it was to get out of it which will prevent you from ever going down that road again. I know that I learned that same lesson the hard way and am steering well clear of ever going there ever again. Consolidation seems like easier options but will anyone ever learn to change their behaviour or is it just a quick fix to allow the same thing to carry on all over again? \n\nAnyway, good luck. It seems like a pit you can never climb out of but it will get easier. Promise!
420986
Send a polite email saying it wasn't clear that you had to pay.\n\nAssuming you haven't used it then they may be ok with you.
791955
Listen Bill get all those bills and bring them to a financial adviser some banks offer this free sit down and talk and find which is the best way to pay these bills off..then go see your doctor and tell him what is going on he will give you something to help you ..you my friend may be heading for a nervous breakdown....keep in mind that your wife and children love you ..Bless You luv kara
856209
YES!  And sorry to say, but you probably won't get your issue resolved.  They are always right and you are always wrong.  That's will all of the bill people you have to call.  Good luck to you!
1017905
Somebody has to pay your bills.
989169
I would say contact your local Department of Social Services....they may assist in the bill, or pay all of it...or even suggest a location where this service may be free or at least on a reduced pay plan?  Good luck!
639111
the best advice is not to avoid the phone call from the bill collectors.  call them and explain honestly the situation - see if they can offer a payment plan that you can afford.  if they are not willing to work with you, go to a credit counseling service - they will offer advice free of charge.  also, check with your state on affordable health insurance - many states have implented programs so that no one has to go uninsured.  try calling city hall to see if they have such programs.  hope that helps.  best of luck.