Do they have the right to pass this to collections?

Okay, I had a baby in December. Since then I've steadily made payments on my hospital bill. They sent me a letter and said that the payments weren't enough to qualify for a monthly installment. I talked to them on the phone at least three times and explained that I have three hospital bills and a doctor bill that I'm paying on, and in the first few months of 2008 I have several other bills like car tags to renew, taxes to pay, not to mention that my home owner's insurance has went up and therefore my total mortgage payment went up and that's why I couldn't commit to anything over the payments I was making right now. They said that my payments were fine and have been accepting each payment. Today I get a collections notice in the mail for that hospital bill. Can they do that even though they are accepting my payments?

Note: I'm reposting this question in another catagory because no one answered me last night.

Okay, D. Thanks.

Well I don't know where you live but the Laws are different in every state. But most generally they have to accept what you offer. If they accept that offer they don't send it to a collection, But some of them can reall be funny about what they accept. I once had a company tell me what I offered to pay wouldn't even pay the intrest. And then he told me the laws were different in his state and I wouldn't like it. Well when I called my atty. He said that they could no refuse my payment if I was making and effort. I would contact an atty and just ask them because they may be able to lead you in the right direction. But it doesn't seem like they could do that to you if you have been paying and they have been accepting your payments. Hey keep me informed I will talk to my atty and see what he says to and let you know. Have a good day and keep your chin up...

If it is not paid in full they can send it to collections...there's lots of interesting stuff in the papers you sign and never read when you go in the hospital.