I'm looking for some advice once again.

Courtney Chaffee

December 4,2023 at 9:08PM UTC

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I'm looking for some advice once again. I fell at my last job in April. I left their employment in May. Just after leaving, I received a bill from one of the hospitals I went to after my fall. I sent the notice to the HR Director and she said emailed back that it was taken care of. Well, shame on me for not ensuring it was done. At the end of October, I received a letter from a debt collector for that bill. I immediately reached out to the HR Director. She said it was taken care of now and let her know if I get a bill. Well, I called the hospital and they did not hear from her. I've been going back and forth with her trying to get all the claim details since then. Continuously, she keeps pushing me back a day or two. Since this is a nonprofit, I reached out to the Board Director and haven't heard back. I don't think he checks the Board email too often, would it be unprofessional to reach out to him on LinkedIn to ask him to check the Board email? I know once he's involved it will be solved quickly. I just want this done ASAP and I'm not sure who outside the organization I can contact for help.

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BethBDecember 4,2023 at 11:02PM UTC
It’s not that it would be unprofessional. It would not be the most effective solution. Pick up that phone and call.
Courtney ChaffeeDecember 5,2023 at 12:16AM UTC
Unfortunately, I do not have contact information for the Board President. Otherwise, I would have called him. The only contact I have would be to his work's office and since that work is unrelated to his volunteer time, I'm hesitant to call there (and they have more than one location so I might not even call the right place).
My phone calls to my previous place of employment go unanswered and when they are answered, the staff are directed to send me to voicemail (confirmed from an employee there).
Yvonne EvansDecember 7,2023 at 1:27PM UTC
You may need to contact your state worker compensation commission. I would start there. Good luck.
Penny Guthrie BeasleyDecember 7,2023 at 1:29PM UTC
Your HR director is probably being told by their WC carrier that it’s been taken care of unless they are self insured. You should have been given your claim number and contact information for your adjuster. I would contact the adjuster and send them the bill. If they are self insured, I don’t know the process.
AnonymousDecember 7,2023 at 1:45PM UTC
FYI on the bill collector. They can reach out to you and will continue to reach out to you. However, the info can not be used to affect your credit score. ( New law in the US). Doesn't mean it won't show on the credit report, but can not be used in the calculation of your credit score.
At this point, I would say the recourse for you is to contact an attorney. I would contact one of those 1800 groups that advertise all over the place that say they will help you with workman's comp. Let them go at it with the company to get the bill paid. Most likely they will figure out how to get some additional money for you.
AnonymousDecember 7,2023 at 1:45PM UTC
I would start looking for an attorney that handles workers compensation laws. This is impacting your credit score which has far reaching implications and takes forever to clear up. Meantime, you're going to want to check your credit score and see if you can get an * added onto this bill pointing out that this was part of a worker's compensation claim and the party responsible has not fulfilled their duties.
Kathy Llano-SierraDecember 7,2023 at 2:08PM UTC
Contact the worker's comp company directly. It doesn't matter if the employer is a Non Profit, all employers by law should have a Worker's Comp policy for their employees and they are fully ware of that. Please make sure an actual claim was filed by the employer. If an initial claim was not filed contact an attorney. Find out if you can make payment arrangements for the collection agency until this settled. I hope this helps. I wish you luck.
AnonymousDecember 7,2023 at 2:40PM UTC
File through workers comp - do NOT ever make a payment. in terms of credit it can’t be used against you for not paying and you’ll likely never see a dime from your former employer if you do start paying.
if need be contact the board member
AnonymousDecember 7,2023 at 3:00PM UTC
yes, it's ok to message the Board Member thru Linked In (or call her/him at their work number). It's ok to do whatever you need to do to get this problem off your back. Keep copies of everything. I don't see a need to get an attorney for this...they've already admitted liability by saying "it's been paid"...so just keep pestering and keep notifying the hospital so you don't end up in collections.
AnonymousDecember 7,2023 at 3:36PM UTC
Did you sign any workman comp paperwork? Did you tell the emergency room this could be the case? Call your state, your job does not have to pay it. In Ohio you have up toa year so try quickly.
Barbara ThompsonDecember 7,2023 at 3:36PM UTC
It may be a nonprofit, but if it’s big enough to have HR department, there are a couple of other actual managers in charge. Why skip to board Pres, and not the actual CEO?
AnonymousDecember 7,2023 at 6:22PM UTC
Contact the bill collector and provide them with the HR persons information. Document the dates and follow up with a letter to both the bill collector and also the company and specifically the Board Director referencing the previous conversations and committments by them that it was taken care of. Set in the letter a deadline for a response and send it registered mail. If you do not hear back contact your OSHA (occupational safety) local branch and ask for their help. Also contact the companies insurance carrier as well. If you still get nowhere seek help from an injury attorney who may pro-bono help you here.
Coach Nancie Kay ShumanDecember 7,2023 at 8:07PM UTC
I had this happen at a job. I was told that since there was no Disability claim, they hadn't done anything with the bills. I gave the collection agent all the info for the company and their representative, asked for it to be removed from my credit history, etc. They did and I never heard from them again.
As someone below mentioned, be sure to document everything, follow up your convo with the agency with an email and CC both the HR director and anyone else who might be relevant to the conversation. Ask for dates to follow up and calendar it.
Good luck.