<prompt> Human: Hey guys,TL;DR - Hospital billed me 125 a few months ago for something I disagreed with, couldnt tell me why, referred a 425 debt to collections, then gave me a check for 425. ---Last November, I had an MRI and an Xray done on my knee. I paid my 1500 deductible out of my HSA, and asked if I owed any more debts like co pay. They told me no, so I went along my merry way. This July, I received a bill from the same hospital for 125. The bill didnt list the procedure, only an account number, and a provider who I didnt recognize. I emailed the hospital billing department asking for more information and never got a reply. I called their billing department, got a Hello, billing dept? and gave my name and account number and asked for more info and the lady hung up on me without another word. I emailed two more times and never got a reply. I didnt pay the debt because the hospital wouldnt reply to my inquiries about what it was I owed them money for. Eventually, they referred to collections. When I got the letter from collections, they actually said the debt was even more: 425. I wrote them a formal validation request and FCRA letter asking for all the proper documentation and notice not to contact me until then, etc. etc.That was 34 days ago and I havent heard back from the collector yet. However, I did just get a check for 425 from the same hospital dated about two weeks after the debt would have been sent to collections.What it sounds like to me is that the hospital realized that they were billing in error after they sent it to collections and gave me a check to pay collections with. But Ive never heard anything back from the collections agency.It seems like my correct choice would be to hold onto the check or cash it and set the 425 aside and give the debt collector a chance to validate the debt as I requested. So do I seem correct in my assumptions here? After what timeframe can I assume that the debt collector has decided not to pursue? Whats the right thing to do with this money Im assuming its not just mine to keep?  <response>: Not a lawyer.Do not cash or deposit the check or send it to the collection agency or return it to the hospital -- keep it.Do not pay any other bill to either the hospital or collection agency. Write a letter to the hospital asking for an itemized bill. Continue to dispute that you owe the collection agency -- do not pay them anything.Contact your insurance company and ask or copies of all their paperwork on the bill and insurance claimpayment.Keep the check at least until you have, in writing, proof you dont owe any more money to either the hospital or collection agency.The check is a tacit acknowledgment that you owe the hospital nothing and that they wrongly referred your account to a collections agency; however, without that stated in writing, they could claim sending you the check was the mistake.Protect yourself first. The hospital can always stop payment on the check but, until the issues regarding any bill or amount are clearly resolved with written confirmation regarding both the hospital and collection agency, your returning the check would be you forfeiting evidence of an error that you could need to protect yourself in the event of litigation.You should also dispute the bills -- both -- with the three major credit reporting agencies. To protect your credit rating, you could send them a copy of the check -- emphasis on copy -- as evidence there has been an error along with indicating you are trying to get it cleared up.Keep copies of all bills and correspondence you receive and copiesrecords of any correspondence and other communication you have on this. Small problems unattended can become large ones. 