Medical debt is a common problem for people in Oregon, and you may be one of many that has to budget a chunk of your income toward a monthly payment for services over and above what you pay for health insurance coverage. Even if you are working to pay off a bill, you could be the subject of illegal creditor harassment. We at The Law Office of Kim Covington often provide advice and support for those who are struggling with the financial aftereffects of seeking medical attention.
According to KTVZ.com, thousands of Oregonians may be the subject of creditor harassment from medical debt collection companies. If you have received a call regarding a medical bill that you have already taken care of through payment or bankruptcy, or that you never owed at all, you are not alone. A state consumer group, OSPIRG, reports that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has received over 11,000 complaints of this practice. Aggressive collection methods may be nothing short of harassment, and one of the CFPB’s functions is to prevent or put a stop to the wrongdoing by examining complaints and addressing unfair practices.
Medical bills may not necessarily affect your credit score because some companies do not see this type of debt as a warning that you may not be able to pay off future debts on time. However, it will show up on your credit report, and many complaints have been filed with the CFPB regarding this impact. More information about ways to deal with health care expenses is available on our web page.
