Dizneydawn, I agree with a lot of what you said. However, not only did the OP come on here asking for advice, but she also came with an attitude that somehow the hospital "owed" it to her to reduce the fees, cough up the paper work, or even write off the entire bill. I think that gets a lot of people angry, especially when many of us who have insurance still have to pay a lot of money for medical expenses.
I agree with you- 100%. Like I said use tough love - hold the person accountable - I am the one who said she should swallow it all and the legal fees and thus salvage her credit plus be a heck of a learning lesson.
Believe me - I get it. People who don't work with hospitals are part of the reason after my son's injury I got to collections over something that won't be mine to cover when all said and done.
I was frustrated like so many of you. You though - through the frustration offered solutions. That is what I am asking for - people all screw up. Posting here is not supposed to be judgement day. Don't feel sorry for her. I don't care.
Just don't throw public humiliation on top of it.
Maybe some responses were harsh, but I don't think you can expect to come on here, a Disney board where you've posted about your recent trips and ticket upgrades, and ask for sympathy about a bill you've obviously ignored and let get out of control for a long while now.
I again agree. I don't think I showed sympathy - just a solution offering.
What I have sympathy for is not what she did to herself but what was compunded by others.
Sure, probably 99.9% of people on here owe something to someone, but I don't see taking out a mortgage and paying it every month on time the same as ignoring a medical bill for services already rendered and hoping it just goes away. Not the same - but not being able to afford a trip has many contexts and I know people who think I am an idiot for going on any vacations until my mortgage is paid in full. So what for one person is being fiscally responsible - for another person might mean justification of being berated.
If we open up that can - all of us could get harrassed because someone will always object to how we spend our money. You could post about how should you go about finding coupons or codes for a discounted stay - and someone else could say you are cheating Disney and if you did not get it honestly - don't borrow others. If you can't afford to go at 100% cost - don't go at all.
You could ask for someones advice on how to get an X-box for the least amount of money since you just lost your job and want to still get your kid their dream gift this Christmas. Someone could then say you are a fool to buy the kid something that big when you just lost your job.
It's a slippery slope passing judgement. That's all.
If my mortgage was behind or even if we had credit card debt, I could not justify going on a trip to Disney World, and I would feel silly for asking for "support" when the reason I'm in the situation I am in is because I made a series of bad decisions.
I took advice as support - not condoning her actions.
I posted early on and gave the OP my advice. I think its late, but maybe not TOO late to do something about the bill. I think the attitude that it will just "go away" got her in way over her head, and I think maybe these "unsupportive" posts might be what she needs to realize its the past decisions (including taking a vacation rather than paying overdue bills) that got her in this situation, and if there's any chance of resolving the issue and saving her credit, she better do something NOW.