DEBTOR FAQ

The questions below are for general purposes only. If you do not find the information you are looking for or need to speak with someone in our office, please contact us at (601) 933-2520 and we will be happy to assist you.

Q. Why did I get turned over in the first place?

A. Accounts are turned over for collection for a variety of reasons. The most common reason is simply not responding to monthly statements or sending small partial payments without a formal agreement to pay. Other reasons in no particular order could be broken payment arrangements, not returning phone messages from the creditor, mail returned or disconnected phone, or conveying an indifferent attitude about the debt. Frequently the age or balance of an account dictates client's decision for collections.

Q. Why am I asked to pay in full?

A. The time to make payments is when the creditor had the account. If adequate payments would have been set up and paid as agreed, the creditor would have received all the money. Now that the account is with a collection agency, the creditor is paying our fee. You are asked to pay in full to minimize the further loss of time or revenue to the creditor.

Q. What if I can't pay in full?

A. If you do not have the money in your bank accounts, you will be expected to try to borrow to pay in full. If you cannot borrow the money, you should be prepared to provide a copy of the denial letters to us.

Q. What if I don't have the credit to borrow the money?

A. If you have no credit established, this may be a great opportunity to get credit established. In our credit society, the only way to establish a good credit rating is to borrow money and pay it back. You may try to see if a relative will cosign for you. Please remember the cosigner is responsible to pay if you do not.

Q. What if I can't borrow the full amount?

A. You may be in this situation if you have no credit or a few blemishes on your credit report, or if the balance you owe is beyond your borrowing capabilities. You should find out how much the lender will agree to loan you. Talk to one of our account representatives. We are often willing to accept what you can borrow as a down payment. You may not be required to make payments to us for a mutually agreed period of time, while you are making payments on your loan. After the agreed period of time, if you have paid your loan as agreed and established good credit, you should be able to borrow the balance or at least another down payment. The bottom line is, if you talk to us, we will work with you in this situation to assist you in establishing good credit.

Q. What if I can't borrow at all?

A. Many of the consumers we deal with fall into this category. We are not unreasonable. Simply provide us with loan denials or a financial statement showing your inability to borrow or pay off the balance and we will work with you in setting up a payment plan to fit your budget. Most people we deal with find if we work together, we can find a solution. Communication and cooperation is the key to setting up a successful payment plan.

Q. Why do you need to ask me all those financial questions?

A. You are asking us to take payments when the balance in full is due. If you were to borrow the money from a bank or finance company, you would be asked all the same financial questions. The questions help determine your financial picture and your ability to make a payment that is fair to the creditor and not unreasonable for yourself. If you would like to submit a financial statement and/or propose a payment arrangement, please go to the contact us area of this website. Please keep in mind that all payment arrangements are subject to review every six months and are to be increased as your ability to pay improves.

Q. If I'm making payments are you charging me interest?

A. We do not charge interest on open accounts unless the creditor requires us to do so because your agreement with the creditor allows it. Interest is awarded by the courts and charged on legal accounts.

Q. Will you report me to the Credit Bureau?

A. As a rule, yes. We do report to all 3 National Credit Bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian) if your collection balances have not been paid in full within 30 days. We continue to report regularly to reflect payments and balances. In addition, all lawsuits filed are a matter of public record, and Credit Bureaus typically report these items on their own in your credit report. The collections, once reported, will remain on your credit report for minimum of seven years, even if the balance has been paid in full.

Q. Why won't you file my insurance?

A. If you have valid insurance and you gave your medical provider the correct information at the time of service or soon after receiving services, it is safe to assume it has already been filed and denied or delayed for some unknown reason. The medical provider has already done everything possible that they can do to get payment from your insurance company. If you really believe your insurance will pay, you should pay the balance and collect from your insurance yourself. Review your EOB (Explanation of Benefits) to see if payment was denied, or approved to your annual deductible or to verify your co-pay balance.

Q. Why won't you talk to my mother, brother, or some other person who is helping me with my bills?

A. By law, we can only talk to a third party with your permission. Simply write to us and tell us who we can talk to and tell us how we can reach them, or have them call us.

Q. Should I pay you or the creditor?

A. Our preference is that you pay us since we now have the account. If you pay the creditor, there is the possibility another account may be credited if you have others not placed for collection. There are also delays, sometimes long delays, in reporting the payment to us when you pay the creditor. To insure proper and timely credit, pay HFS and note your HFS account number(s) on the face of your check or money order.

Q. You sued me, why?

A. The decision to file a lawsuit is based on our belief of your ability to pay, and you not doing so. It usually is a result of a broken payment arrangement or a lack of response to our mailings. It could also be as a result of our belief in your ability to pay in full or borrow to pay in full and your refusal to attempt to do so. In most cases, the decision to sue is a result of a lack of communication and/or cooperation.

What if I have a dispute?

A. If you have a dispute, please click on this link and complete the form provided.