Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Tennessee

Re: hospital bill, collection agency?

First of all, you have the right to tell the collection agencies and the creditors that you will not pay a collection agency but you will do your best to pay the original creditor - directly. This takes the collection agency, which is paid to bug you, out of the loop. The hospital itself probably won't call you repeatedly as long as you are making some sort of effort to pay something each and every month.

You can also tell the collectors you don't want to be called any more, that you are working with the original creditor. They have to respect that.

Don't argue with them - they will try to draw you into a shouting match, as you probably already know.

it IS important to call the original creditor and tell him your problem, and put in writing to them, asking for a reply agreeing to your terms, how much you promise to pay.

Good luck.