What can i do about this medical debt?

[howamidoing]

What is the name of your state? Missouri
I am asking this question for my aunt. About 8 years ago, my aunt had back surgery. 8 weeks later, she received a judgment against her from a law firm for this bill. It was roughly 10,000. She wasnt released from the Dr. to work until 4 weeks after the surgery so needless to say she could not make paymets on this bill. Well, she has been making the agreed upon payments for 8 years. Which was 25 dollars a month. Well, she missed a payment back in January when we had that massive ice storm. They went in an garnished her checking ccount. Well, she is disabled and this caused her to bounce 2 checks. The bank released the funds, because they said that you cannot garnish disability. Well, is there a statute of limitations on medical bills? What can she do. They are harrassing her EVERY DAY! She is disabled and has a nervous disorder. Is there anything she can do to keep them off her back. She is making her payments, all except the one January. Why are they going after her so hard all the sudden. She had missed a few payments YEARS ago. They didnt harrass her or anything. Why all the sudden are they now? Thank you for your time.

 

[Ladynred]

Well, is there a statute of limitations on medical bills?

Yes, but since the debt has been reduced to judgment, the SOL is meaningless. The term of the judgment is 10 years, renewable every 3 years, and that is what your aunt has to deal with. They'll keep renewing until they get paid. $25/month is pretty weak on a 10K debt. No surprise they went after her bank account.

Why they're being so aggressive now .. there's no way to know, except that with the statutory interest that accures yearly (9%) on that judgment probably isn't even covered by her tiny payments. My bet would be the judgment amount due has grown rather than decreased. At 9%/year, over 8 years, that amounts to $7200 in interest added to the original 10K debt.

Is there anything she can do to keep them off her back.

Yes, file for bankruptcy - it will wipe out the debt and nullify the judgment. If your aunt's health is not good, bankruptcy may be the best answer for her to get some peace.

 

[TigerD]

What is the name of your state? Missouri
I am asking this question for my aunt. About 8 years ago, my aunt had back surgery. 8 weeks later, she received a judgment against her from a law firm for this bill. It was roughly 10,000. She wasnt released from the Dr. to work until 4 weeks after the surgery so needless to say she could not make paymets on this bill. Well, she has been making the agreed upon payments for 8 years. Which was 25 dollars a month. Well, she missed a payment back in January when we had that massive ice storm. They went in an garnished her checking ccount. Well, she is disabled and this caused her to bounce 2 checks. The bank released the funds, because they said that you cannot garnish disability. Well, is there a statute of limitations on medical bills? What can she do. They are harrassing her EVERY DAY! She is disabled and has a nervous disorder. Is there anything she can do to keep them off her back. She is making her payments, all except the one January. Why are they going after her so hard all the sudden. She had missed a few payments YEARS ago. They didnt harrass her or anything. Why all the sudden are they now? Thank you for your time.

LNR's advice is good. I am going to assume you are in the Springfield area. The people to talk to about BK in Springfield are Roger Torp and Angela Acree. Judge Acree is in an excellent attorney.

DC