Hug a Collection Agent

I finally forced myself to call and set up payment plans for all of my medical bills-four more to be exact. At the rate I’m going, the medical bills will take approximately 25 months to pay off. Plus, I have new ones that will be coming in for all kinds of recent tests and exams (can’t wait to get those).

I put it off for a while because setting up payment plans and paying bills creates a ton of stress and worry for me. I guess sometimes I just wish they would go away, but putting off bills just makes things worse. Besides the extra fees incurred, I might as well add a banner to my credit report that says, “Loser”.

I joked with a co-worker that the bill collectors always ask, “How much can you pay?” Honestly, I want to tell them that I can probably afford a quarter a month, but I know they won’t accept that. So I set up the payment schedules according to what I thought would keep them happy and still allow food for my daughter.

As I was speaking to each collection agency/attorney’s office/medical facility, I wondered if the collection agents have the worst job on earth. I mean, a lot of people probably aren’t friendly or happy and making someone pay something they don’t want to has to suck, especially with people out of work and everything else going on. I have to say that every person I spoke to today was pretty friendly though, I’m sure they’ve heard their share of excuses and sob stories so I refrained from that. I also tried to be as reasonable as possible. After all it’s my fault I’m struggling with medical bills, not theirs. No one made me feel like an ass for having these bills or tried to force me to do anything. It sure makes things a tiny bit less stressful when I feel like someone is trying to work with me.

At the same time, I have credit card payments coming up…and that’s a whole different story.