<prompt> Human: Hey guys so sorry if this has been discussed before but I was hoping to get some help. About 2 years back my wife had to go to the ICU due to kidney failure. She was still under her parents insurance at the time so most of it was taken care of I thought all of it was. However today we got a letter in the mail stating we had about 5300 that was just sent to collections. She also got a call from them asking for her name which she gave them when they said they are calling about a debt from the hospital she was at she got scared and hung up. Now I dont ever remember getting any type of bill in the mail for this stuff and we did move since she was in the hospital but changed our addresses at the post office. So idk how we never got a notice or anything. Im just not really sure what to do from here. We have about 3000 in savings and Ive read collectors may negotiate down but I dont even know how to go about that and if that will even be enough to offer. Please help this really blind sided us and we dont really know what to do.If this is the wrong sub for this I apologize just looking for some advice  <response>: Tell them they need to validate the debt and that youre not agreeing to the charges. Chances are the impact is already present on your credit. Research the things that collection agencies can or cannot say legally in your state. Seek advice from legal council if you have the means and if it is not real debt you owe wait til they bring you to court and immediate launch a counter suit. 