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Post by anneinwa on Apr 4, 2018 4:19:01 GMT
I received a call today for my MIL. As I told the woman on the phone I do All her talking for her. That wasn’t good enough. I then told her I was POA and the only person she could talk to. She refused without me faxing proof of the POA to them.
Based on the little she did tell me, which was just the name of the company, , it is most likely a Debt collector. I have managed financial for last 4 years and a finacial person for many before that. I asked they send a written letter and she refused saying I need to fax the POA first. I can think of maybe one thing from my time that it could be for and that is something that should have been settled with insurance documention (an ambulance ride). There is a chance this could be a very old debt as well that was bought out.
I can’t put MIL on phone. She can’t communicate. Income is limited and it goes all to her care minus the little she gets to keep each month for incidentals.
What would you do at this point? Fax it? (I don’t feel comfortable with that). Ignore it and see if they contact her again?
Is there anything they can really do to her at this point? Go after her small savings? Take from her monthly income? What are her rights in getting information without me having to pass on POA information to a company I can not tell if legit?
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 8, 2024 14:16:15 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2018 4:30:41 GMT
I received a call today for my MIL. As I told the woman on the phone I do All her talking for her. That wasn’t good enough. I then told her I was POA and the only person she could talk to. She refused without me faxing proof of the POA to them. Based on the little she did tell me, which was just the name of the company, , it is most likely a Debt collector. I have managed financial for last 4 years and a finacial person for many before that. I asked they send a written letter and she refused saying I need to fax the POA first. I can think of maybe one thing from my time that it could be for and that is something that should have been settled with insurance documention (an ambulance ride). There is a chance this could be a very old debt as well that was bought out. I can’t put MIL on phone. She can’t communicate. Income is limited and it goes all to her care minus the little she gets to keep each month for incidentals. What would you do at this point? Fax it? (I don’t feel comfortable with that). Ignore it and see if they contact her again? Is there anything they can really do to her at this point? Go after her small savings? Take from her monthly income? What are her rights in getting information without me having to pass on POA information to a company I can not tell if legit? I would do nothing. They can send a letter about the account to your MIL, you can open it and deal with it at that time. They aren't wanting to send a letter because then they can get charged with mail fraud. They hope a phone call will rattle people enough to get them to turn over money. Don't pay without a written invoice of what is owed and why it is owed. eta: They can't go after her income or savings without written proof the bill is owed and legit so they are going to have to mail something to someone first. They don't need POA information to mail her an invoice. They aren't responsible for who opens her mail. |
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Post by anneinwa on Apr 4, 2018 4:34:05 GMT
Thank you.. now searching by the phone number and one of the complaints was about a debt collection for same ambulance service that I believe settled. Am guessing I should check in with them at least and see if my second letter mailed didn’t make it? She shouldn’t owe a dime for ambulance rides givenher coverage.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 8, 2024 14:16:15 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2018 4:41:12 GMT
Thank you.. now searching by the phone number and one of the complaints was about a debt collection for same ambulance service that I believe settled. Am guessing I should check in with them at least and see if my second letter mailed didn’t make it? She shouldn’t owe a dime for ambulance rides givenher coverage. No. Leave it alone. If it is a legit bill they will mail an invoice again. They don't have to mail it to you. They can mail it to her. Your worry is what scammers live on. |
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Post by alexa11 on Apr 4, 2018 4:45:50 GMT
I would ignore it.
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Post by anneinwa on Apr 4, 2018 4:52:59 GMT
Thank you.. now searching by the phone number and one of the complaints was about a debt collection for same ambulance service that I believe settled. Am guessing I should check in with them at least and see if my second letter mailed didn’t make it? She shouldn’t owe a dime for ambulance rides givenher coverage. No. Leave it alone. If it is a legit bill they will mail an invoice again. They don't have to mail it to you. They can mail it to her. Your worry is what scammers live on. One of her addresses is here, the other is the adult family home. I’m trying to get everything to be delivered here. I will check with them again for mail. It never goes to her, it is handed to me. I will leave it until I see an invoice from either the company or the debt collector. |
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tenakee
Full Member
Posts: 222
Aug 9, 2014 2:05:19 GMT
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Post by tenakee on Apr 4, 2018 4:58:44 GMT
Annie, it sounds like you're taking some good advice, so nothing to add there.
But I wanted to say you're absolutely wonderful for taking care of her and for trying so hard to do it right. Big hugs.
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Post by anneinwa on Apr 4, 2018 5:08:03 GMT
Annie, it sounds like you're taking some good advice, so nothing to add there. But I wanted to say you're absolutely wonderful for taking care of her and for trying so hard to do it right. Big hugs. Thank you. It’s not an easy job at times. |
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Post by jenjie on Apr 4, 2018 9:51:38 GMT
Annie, it sounds like you're taking some good advice, so nothing to add there. But I wanted to say you're absolutely wonderful for taking care of her and for trying so hard to do it right. Big hugs. This. Thank you for taking such good care of MIL. |
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Post by Really Red on Apr 4, 2018 11:55:29 GMT
You are a good DIL. I work for an insurance company and you would not believe the people we get who say they are POA for their elderly parent and are not. That said, however, we would NEVER cold call them and expect them to fax us something. We would always follow up in writing.
I would do nothing and wait for written information. If the company settled, then this collection agency may be trying to get something for nothing from you by intimidation.
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Post by Zee on Apr 4, 2018 12:07:18 GMT
I wouldn't fax anything and I've never known a bill collector who refused to mail documentation. So I'd let them mail whatever it is they're wanting.
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Post by mikklynn on Apr 4, 2018 12:14:18 GMT
I agree with the others, do nothing.
You are a wonderful woman to care for your MIL.
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Post by peasapie on Apr 4, 2018 12:16:59 GMT
Agree with the above - let them send by mail. Debt collection people can be very annoying.
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CeeScraps
Pearl Clutcher
~~occupied entertaining my brain~~
Posts: 3,826 
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Post by CeeScraps on Apr 4, 2018 12:42:54 GMT
It smells of scammer to me.
Does your MIL live with you? If she doesn't what about a PO box for her mail and you have the key? Would that help you?
Her phone....could you set it up so calls are forwarded to you instead of ringing at her home? Although I say this and I don't know how it would work if you needed to call her.
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Post by anneinwa on Apr 4, 2018 15:07:01 GMT
It smells of scammer to me. Does your MIL live with you? If she doesn't what about a PO box for her mail and you have the key? Would that help you? Her phone....could you set it up so calls are forwarded to you instead of ringing at her home? Although I say this and I don't know how it would work if you needed to call her. She lived with us for 3 years and is in an adult family home now. No need for a P.O. Box and the few calls she will get already go to me (unless the dr office calls the adult family home). Pretty much non verbal stage four dementia so no decisions are being made by her. She hasn’t been able to give full name and birthdate for at least 5 years. I guess I could hand her the phone if I was there and they called again but it could cause stress for her. (Eta- Joking about handing her the phone - she wouldn’t be able to answer any question they ask). |
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Gravity
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,229
Jun 27, 2014 0:29:55 GMT
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Post by Gravity on Apr 4, 2018 15:16:57 GMT
Do not hand her the phone if they call again. If they do call, ask for them to mail their documentation to her. If they refuse, ignore them and do not talk to them again.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Apr 4, 2018 15:20:33 GMT
Ignore it. I know people who have gotten calls from collection places looking to try to collect on debts that had long been settled.
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Post by pierkiss on Apr 4, 2018 15:20:44 GMT
I would do nothing. They can send a letter/bill and you can pay it or fight it then. I would not be losing sleep over this.
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Post by anneinwa on Apr 4, 2018 15:23:18 GMT
Do not hand her the phone if they call again. If they do call, ask for them to mail their documentation to her. If they refuse, ignore them and do not talk to them again. I was joking about that. Should have made that clearer. She could not even give them her name or answer a question. Therefore I assume the could not do anything. Plan on not doing anything unless I get written communication. |
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MizIndependent
Drama Llama
Quit your bullpoop.
Posts: 5,836
Jun 25, 2014 19:43:16 GMT
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Post by MizIndependent on Apr 4, 2018 15:51:22 GMT
Tell them to go pound sand. Block their number.
Debt collectors (especially of zombie debt) are just...ugh. I would NOT send them anything as that may constitute validation of said "debt".
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Post by anneinwa on Apr 4, 2018 15:58:22 GMT
Tell them to go pound sand. Block their number. Debt collectors (especially of zombie debt) are just...ugh. I would NOT send them anything as that may constitute validation of said "debt". I was getting ready to put that number on silent this morning. There is a slight chance that it s a legitimate recent debt but it should be since I have mailed in paperwork twice saying she is on whatever insurance they needed to waive the charge... of course she has taken many ambulance rides so who knows which one it might be. |
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CeeScraps
Pearl Clutcher
~~occupied entertaining my brain~~
Posts: 3,826
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Post by CeeScraps on Apr 4, 2018 16:44:51 GMT
I'd tell them if you want something you will send me paperwork!
Not the same at all, however I had a bill from the hospital that needed to be paid by insurance. I told both sides (hospital/insurance) what had to be done to get their money. I flat out told them that if they wanted the money they had to jump through the hospital's hoops. Gosh.....after I got stern with both of them it got taken care of.
So........get crabby if you want, but I still smell scam!
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Post by librarylady on Apr 4, 2018 16:59:40 GMT
Thank you.. now searching by the phone number and one of the complaints was about a debt collection for same ambulance service that I believe settled. Am guessing I should check in with them at least and see if my second letter mailed didn’t make it? She shouldn’t owe a dime for ambulance rides givenher coverage. No. Leave it alone. If it is a legit bill they will mail an invoice again. They don't have to mail it to you. They can mail it to her. Your worry is what scammers live on.  |
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Post by papersilly on Apr 4, 2018 17:00:21 GMT
i got the same kind of call a few months ago. i am my dad's POA. i told the caller that i am not aware of any outstanding bill and they wouldn't tell me what bill it was for HIPAA reasons. i have paid his bills for over 10 years now and i know nothing is late, past due, or delinquent. they told me to fax the POA to them. i told them to send my dad the bill first. i have not heard from them since or has he received anything in the mail.
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Post by annabella on Apr 4, 2018 18:51:23 GMT
I would do nothing.
I would just pretend you are her when you answer the call. Too complicated to explain you are speaking on her behalf.
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