considering suicide

[Rumpole]

I'm 22,000 in credit card debt. I had a medical bill turned over to collections in the past week.

I feel so frightened, so overwhelmed. I can;t see any way out. I have no family, no one to talk to, no one to advise me. I fear the credit card debt is insurmountable.

[napsterkct]

hi take it easy

[Amerikaner83]

I can guarantee you there are people who frequent this board with a heck of a lot more debt than you. I can also guarantee you that you can get out of it easier than you might think.

Give details about your situation - 22K in CC bills may seem like a lot, but it's not all that bad. A medical collection? No problem, how long ago did it go to collections?

NOTHING is worth one's life - especially not something as stupid as a bit of debt, trust me.

[Rumpole]

Right now all I can do is cry. I just found out yesterday that a medical bill went to collection. It is about 400 to 500 but don't know how much they add to the original bill.

My CC's are almost maxed out but would have enought to pay the hospital bill. One of the CC's has gone to 18.25%, I'm sure the rest will follow when a collection shows up on my credit report. I'll never get them paid off.

Please anyone, where do I start.

[scorch]

Originally Posted by Rumpole

Right now all I can do is cry. I just found out yesterday that a medical bill went to collection. It is about 400 to 500 but don't know how much they add to the original bill.

Based on my own experience, they can add as much as -100%

[Amerikaner83]

first of all, calm down.

Secondly - talk to the hospital tomorrow. NOT the collection agency, the HOSPITAL. Tell them you can afford to pay them, and then go ahead and do it. Then call up your CC companies and tell them you want to make payments on your cards but the interest is too much to maintain and you want to be proactive before you default on the cards. Ask for their hardship dept. They have plans that cut yoru interest and what not if you agree to not use the card for awhile...get on one of those.

thirdly - Don't use the card! Even if you're NOT on one of those plans I mentioned above, not using the card is your best bet.

[Rumpole]

Amerikaner

I would have to use the cc to pay the hospital, but that would be the very last charge.

[Amerikaner83]

in y our other thread didn't you say you were able to pay it? If you meant use the CC, then dont do that, certainly. Do as Scorch alludes to, call them up and see what they can do. explain your situation and you may be very surprised - I"ve had a doctor agree to 50 a month for a year before, paying them directly.

[scorch]

Yea, haggle with them.

[Rumpole]

can the hospital choose to take it out of collections?

I am current with my cc payments.

[scorch]

Originally Posted by Rumpole

can the hospital choose to take it out of collections?

Yes.

[Amerikaner83]

just because it's in collections, doesn't mean the hospital sold it...they usually don't do that for a LONG time, like months/years.

They can take it out of collections if they want to. They can zero it out if they want to. That doesn't happen (zeroing) very often, but the point is that you do have options, especially if the hospital just recently handed it over to a CA.

[Rumpole]

Amer

Thank you, I do have 100 available in checking and should be able to pay another 200 in cash in 2 weeks.

I do believe my income will be a little better in the coming months. Originally I had worked out with the hospital to pay 100 per month but did not religiously keep up on my part of the bargain, I believe I have paid them about 300.

Because I did not keep up with the first plan I'm scared they won't give me a second chance.

[cporemsk]

Being harassed by bill collectors can be quite stressful, but the era of debtors' prisons is over.

Even if you owed hundreds of thousands of dollars, your creditors cannot have you put in jail, and they cannot kill you. YOU ARE NOT YOUR DEBTS. The worst thing that can happen to you is that your credit score will drop, which means you pay a higher interest rate when you want to buy a house or a car. This is not a life-and-death situation.

Others have posted some great advice for you -- keep your chin up, take everything one step at a time, talk to all of your creditors. Everything is negotiable.

[cporemsk]

One more thought... if you're feeling down about your debts, listen to a great radio show with Regis Sauger. He's got such a down-home way of explaining credit issues, and you may even smile at some of his stories.

Go to blogtalkradio (dot) com, and do a search for "Credit Professor." Sit down with a cup of tea and listen to the Old Man -- you may feel much better.

[saint al]

Because I did not keep up with the first plan I'm scared they won't give me a second chance.[/QUOTE]

I cannot give any more good advice than has been given except to say that no matter how things look you are very precious to God. I have my own debt problems which use to be around $16,000.00, I was a single parent, and could'nt pay my bills for a few years. God has bless me to find friends here to help give advice on what to do what to read and research, so please loook up and look ahead to better days it want happen over night but take it a day at a time and start educating yourself. God Bless You!

[docniss]

Hey, definitely calm down, it is not that bad though I know it seems that way right now. A couple of years ago my family had $80k in cc debt ( mostly business related) and $7k in medical. I have totally resolved those issues with the creditors with almost no $ out of my pocket. I am now in the process of repairing my credit. PM me if you want more help, but ending your life is the wrong way to go.

[trueq]

$22,000? That's all? I have business/personal default 30 times that plus an unidentified amount of identity theft.

I had the same feelings, but you soon realize there are so many things more important in the world.

Your situation can be fixed fairly quickly compared to mine with BK or a payment plan.

OR negotiate!!!

I'm willing to bet the medical provider will take 50-60 cents on the $. (assuming all $22,000 is medical debt)

Borrow the $11,000 from a credit card to wipe out medical issue. If credit card issues then become too much, you could always negotiate that down as well. The possibilities are endless on this front.

I will tell you one thing from my experience...I am much better off for it!!!!

(In terms of negotiating skills, legal skills, better investment diligence, decision making, just to name a few...)

I've been sued several times and nothing is more satisfying than beating a professional bar lawyer in court! I may end up in front of our State Supreme Court on one (or 2) issue(s) in the next 24 months. No matter what the result, the experience is its own reward. How many non-lawyers get that experience?

What we think are the biggest challenges at the time turn out to help define and shape who we are.

If I could trade all the financial challenges away in exchange for giving up what I have gained in terms of knowledge and experience.....

I would say, "What? Are you kidding? Not in a million years!"

[Rumpole]

Thank you all I finally cried myself to sleep, which is what I guess I needed. Don't feel as bad as I did this morning.

a company named Kadent has the hospital account

[cinnamngrl]

hang in there!

I hope you will feel up to calling the hospital on monday, but even if you don't; send them a payment that you can afford and call them a couple of days after that.