Patrick Austin is a licensed attorney with a background in data privacy and information security law. Patrick received his law degree at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School, where he served as the Editor-in-Chief for the National Security Law Journal.
Co-Founder of SoloSuit George Simons, JD/MBA
George Simons is the co-founder and CEO of SoloSuit. He has helped Americans protect over $1 billion from predatory debt lawsuits. George graduated from BYU Law school in 2020 with a JD-MBA. In his spare time, George likes to cook, because he likes to eat.
Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.
Summary:
Most medical debt collectors are willing to negotiate to settle the debt for less, especially if you can set
up a lump-sum payment. Make a fair offer that’s a bit less than your maximum ability to pay, and be prepared to
negotiate before reaching an agreement. Use Solo to streamline the settlement
process.
Consumer debt is associated with overspending on credit cards or living above your means. But the Kaiser Family
Foundation found that about 23 million Americans owe at least $250 in medical debt. If the name NPAS Solutions shows
up on your credit report, it probably means that one of the healthcare centers NPAS Solutions works with believes you
owe a medical bill.
In this article, we'll talk about your rights, what to do if you’re sued for medical debt, and how to settle debt with
NPAS. But first, let's discuss who NPAS Solutions is and what they do.
Settle debt with NPAS Solutions
You can negotiate debt settlement at any stage of the collections process. SoloSettle makes it easy.
If you have medical bills to pay, you may find yourself between your medical providers and your insurance company in
an uncertain and confusing situation. Understanding the costs of various procedures and what is and isn't covered by
insurance can feel like full-time detective work. The problem becomes complex if you receive care from multiple
providers.
If an NPAS debt collector contacts you, ensure they're not trying to collect incorrect bills.
Verify your medical bills are accurate (names, insurance, and address) and that you received the treatment listed.
Ask your provider for a plain language explanation for anything unclear on your medical bill.
Coding errors often appear on medical bills, leaving patients with more significant financial responsibilities than
expected. But TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian offer one free credit report annually. You can access the reports at
AnnualCreditReport.com.
Monitor your credit report because mistakes can happen.
If you owe the debt, NPAS Solutions can collect the debt from your health insurance company. But before payments,
explore your other options below.
What is NPAS Solutions?
The National Patient Account Services, Inc. (NPAS) is a third-party debt collection company based in Louisville,
Kentucky. In addition to collecting debts, NPAS assists healthcare facilities in the management of patient bill
portals and billing process services. NPAS Solutions has been in business for more than 45 years and maintains an A+
rating with the Better Business Bureau.
If you're trying to contact NPAS Solutions, use the following information:
Phone number: 866-258-1104
Address: 111 Corporate Office Drive Ste 200, Earth City, MO 63045
Mailing address: PO Box 505606, Saint Louis, MO 63150-5606
Who does NPAS Solutions collect for?
NPAS Solutions has been a leading provider of patient collection services for the healthcare industry since 1980 and
is part of the National Patient Account Services, Inc. family. This means that NPAS Solutions collects for:
Hospitals
Medical providers
Healthcare professionals
Read NPAS Solutions reviews online
Learning about what other consumers have shared about their debt collection experience with NPAS Solutions is a smart
decision, especially if you are contemplating reaching out to the debt collector to discuss the collection matter.
Solo is here to help. Take a moment to check out these real online reviews:
National Patient Account Services, Inc. reviews on Yelp.
Objectively speaking, the online reviews of NPAS Solutions are relatively mixed (i.e., some good, some not so good).
Despite the mixed reviews, it is recommended to take proactive steps to engage with NPAS Solutions in an effort to
resolve your debt collection matter. It is quite common for debt collectors, including those affiliated with NPAS
Solutions, to be willing to resolve your debt issue in an amicable manner, such as through a negotiated debt
settlement.
Of course, if the prospect of contacting a debt collector to negotiate sounds like nails on a chalkboard, then
consider using SoloSettle to negotiate online and resolve your debt
through our cutting-edge digital settlement platform.
Understanding your rights under the FDCPA
Third-party debt collectors are governed by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The act forbids any debt
collection tactic that is abusive or deceptive. The act specifies:
NPAS Solutions may not harass, threaten, or call you repeatedly.
NPAS Solutions must be honest about its identity and intentions. Collection agencies must inform you in writing
that they are collecting a debt from you.
NPAS Solutions cannot threaten you with arrest and cannot threaten legal action if they do not intend to take it.
Calls from NPAS Solutions must be during business hours, not before 8:00 am, and after 9:00 pm in your time zone.
If you are a victim of any of these actions, you may be entitled to compensation. You can even file a lawsuit against
NPAS and receive up to $1,000 per violation of the FDCPA.
Send a debt validation letter to NPAS
You must issue a Debt Validation Letter within 30 days of receiving the call from NPAS Solutions. The Debt Validation
Letter asserts your rights under the
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Besides, receiving a Debt Validation Letter will cause many debt collectors
to quit.
The letter requires NPAS to:
Show proof of debt.
Stop contacting you for any other reason.
Report the debt as disputed.
Using a debt validation letter, you can
avoid errors like receiving aspirin and discovering later that they charged for the entire bottle ($50) instead of one
tablet (roughly $4).
Negotiate to settle your medical debt
If you have medical debt, you can settle it for less than you owe. Debt settlement requires effort and
engagement with the debt collector.
It is recommended to start the debt settlement process as soon as possible before the debt goes into collection.
Thanks to the three credit bureaus, you have more time before medical debt in collections appears on your credit
reports. Six months is the current time frame but will extend to one year.
If you're negotiating or paying back a medical debt, this can give you more time to work with your provider or
collector to find a mutually beneficial payment solution.
Below are some recommended steps you could use to try and settle your debt with NPAS Solutions:
If NPAS Solutions escalates the situation and serves you with a Summons and Complaint for a debt collection
lawsuit, then it is important to file a timely response so you avoid getting hit with a default judgment. Why?
Because a default judgment would hinder your negotiating position during settlement talks with NPAS Solutions.
After you’ve responded to the debt collection lawsuit, take the time to assess how much you can afford to pay
toward the amount owed without negatively impacting your ability to pay other necessary living expenses. Consider
using the following debt settlement formula: Amount available to settle = (monthly income – monthly costs) +
savings)
Once you’ve identified your settlement parameters, contact NPAS Solutions to convey your settlement offer.
Generally speaking, your opening offer should be less than the maximum amount you can pay. Why? Because this will
give you some wiggle room to negotiate upward in the event NPAS Solutions declines your initial offer.
Be prepared to go through multiple rounds of negotiations.
If you have success in reaching a debt settlement agreement, make sure to get the terms in writing.
To gain more insight about these tips and others that may help you on your debt settlement journey with NPAS
Solutions, take a moment to watch the following interview with a consumer rights attorney who shares the best tips for
negotiating debt settlement with collectors like NPAS Solutions:
Respond to a debt lawsuit against NPAS
If NPAS Solutions is suing you for a debt, you should have received some legal documents in the mail called the court
Summons and Complaint. The Summons notifies you of the lawsuit, and the Complaint lists the specific claims that NPAS
is making against you. The first step to winning your case is to respond to the Summons and Complaint by filing a
written Answer. Here's how.
Follow these three steps to respond to a debt lawsuit against NPAS Solutions:
Answer each claim listed in the Complaint document: The first and most important section of your
Answer should focus on responding to the claims listed in the Complaint document. You can admit, deny, or deny due
to lack of knowledge. Most attorneys recommend denying as many claims as possible.
Assert your affirmative defenses: An affirmative defense is any legal reason that NPAS's case is
invalid. A common affirmative defense to mention in a debt lawsuit case is the statute of limitations on debt. If the statute of limitations on a
debt has passed, the NPAS cannot sue you for the debt. There are several other affirmative defenses you can bring up
to strengthen your side of the case.
File the Answer with the court, and send a copy to NPAS: After you've drafted your Answer, you
should file it within the court's deadline. The deadline to respond to a debt lawsuit is anywhere from 14-35 days, depending on which state you live in. Make a copy of the
Answer and send it, via USPS certified mail, to the attorneys representing NPAS.
Some creditors, banks, and lenders have an internal collections department. If they come after you for a debt, Solosuit can still help you respond and resolve the debt. Here’s a list of guides on how to resolve debt with different creditors.
If the thought of going to court stresses you out, you’re not alone. Many Americans who are sued for credit card debt utilize a Motion to Compel Arbitration to push their case out of court and into arbitration.
Below are some resources on how to use an arbitration clause to your advantage and win a debt lawsuit.
Do you keep getting calls from an unknown number, only to realize that it’s a debt collector on the other line? If you’ve been called by any of the following numbers, chances are you have collectors coming after you, and we’ll tell you how to stop them.
Knowing your rights makes it easier to stand up for your rights. Below, we’ve compiled all our articles on federal debt collection laws that protect you from unfair practices.
We’ve created a specialized guide on how to find debt relief in all 50 states, complete with steps to take to find relief, state-specific resources, and more.
Debt collection laws vary by state, so we have compiled a guide to each state’s debt collection laws to make it easier for you to stand up for your rights—no matter where you live.
Don’t have time to go to your local courthouse to check the status of your case? We’ve created a guide on how to check the status of your case in every state, complete with online search tools and court directories.
Forgot to respond to your debt lawsuit? The judge may have ordered a default judgment against you, and with a default judgment, debt collectors can garnish your wages. Here are our guides on how to stop wage garnishment in all 50 states.
Debt settlement is one of the most effective ways to resolve a debt and save money. We’ve created a guide on how to settle your debt in all 50 states. Find out how to settle in your state with a simple click and explore other debt settlement resources below.
Not sure how to negotiate a debt settlement with a debt collector? We are creating guides to help you know how to start the settlement conversation and increase your chances of coming to an agreement with every debt collector.
We give a factual review of the following debt consolidation, debt settlement, and loan organizations and companies to help you make an informed decision before you take on a debt.
You can represent yourself in court. Save yourself the time and cost of finding an attorney, and use the following resources to understand legal definitions better and how they may apply to your case.