medical bills and credit score

[powderfinger]

So, I forgot (yes, honestly) to pay a 120.00 medical bill to my Doc. I was reminded when after 90 days I got a letter from a collection agency letting me know they had turned my account over to them. I paid the collection agency within the 1st week of getting my notice in the mail.

Question: Is this going to mess my credit up? It was only 120.00 bucks, and I paid it immediately. Common sense says, it shouldn't mess it up, but then again, common sense doesnt apply to the financial and credit "industry". Any experiences with this?

The answers I got here HAVE to be better than the fools on Yahoo Answers I just Googled.

[Selta]

You went 90 days past due and the doctor themselves didn't try to call you? Most of the time they start calling at 30 days past due. It'll likely show up with a red mark for being 90 days past due, but then will show as paid off before the next billing cycle.

[powderfinger]

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

You went 90 days past due and the doctor themselves didn't try to call you? Most of the time they start calling at 30 days past due. It'll likely show up with a red mark for being 90 days past due, but then will show as paid off before the next billing cycle.

Nope, the DRs office never called me. Not once. They did send subsequent billing statements, but no phone call. I had no idea they would get their panties in a wadd and throw me to the dogs so fast though.

[L-A]

It doesn't sound like you forget often, and a single time won't alter your score (FWIW, the score you have if you use credit regularly should mean "pays in full within schedule").

[Selta]

Originally Posted by powderfinger

Nope, the DRs office never called me. Not once. They did send subsequent billing statements, but no phone call. I had no idea they would get their panties in a wadd and throw me to the dogs so fast though.

You really shouldn't ignore billing statements.

[powderfinger]

Originally Posted by L-A

It doesn't sound like you forget often, and a single time won't alter your score (FWIW, the score you have if you use credit regularly should mean "pays in full within schedule").

In my 30 plus years, ive only forgot to pay 1 bill once in my life... this was it.

[MJ5150]

It would be at the discretion of the collection agency to report your situation to the credit agencies. Seeing how you did not go late with them, they probably won't. But keep an eye on your report because it still can be reported as collection activity.

-Mike

[powderfinger]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

It would be at the discretion of the collection agency to report your situation to the credit agencies. Seeing how you did not go late with them, they probably won't. But keep an eye on your report because it still can be reported as collection activity.

-Mike

Well, when I called the agency, the rep. said this will not affect my credit. However, put as about as much faith in the word of one of these insitutions as I do the words that come of a lawyer or politician's mouth.

[Selta]

Do you keep an eye on your credit report? I'd just get it and see if it shows any past due / collections marks, and if so try to work with the people on that. Just know that it can be a real pain... I had an incorrect mark on mine (was showing 90 days past due for a credit card I had closed a year+ before) and I had to fight tooth and nail to get it removed. Probably spent 10 hours on the phone talking to various people...