What about having those "other people" who don't have health care pay a tax if they choose not to get it? Is that too sophisticated a solution for you...

Be careful.  I was left with an $8,500 balance after St. Joseph Hospital in Tacoma got $24,000 for a two hour visit by my husband after an accident to which he walked out of the hospital - no wheelchair. This was in 2010 - middle of recession,  husband and I both self -employed struggling to keep our house. I paid what I could on the first statement then was offered a 3 payment in 3 months to pay off.  They sent me to ARStrat who didn't send me statements every month but when they did I paid immediately. They reported me to the credit bureaus after a few months for not paying monthly. We had NO notice that they would do this and have never had anything in collections before. That dropped my husband's over 800 credit score by 100 points preventing us from getting refinanced so we could free up money to pay this only outstanding debt!  We're furious!

I kept getting calls from this number, but was unfortunately never near my phone to answer. Since no VM were left, I assumed it was some sort of spam phone call. By the third time I missed the same number, I decided to call back. I spoke to a polite gentleman who told me that they were a collection agency for a few places, such as Swedish. Swedish and I had bumped heads previously because I did not know that the doctors were not automatically included in insurance, you had to file that separately. I had a pretty ugly brawl with a Renton collection agency and they ended up owing ME money, because the woman would not listen as I tried to explain that there had been an insurance mix-up. As far as I knew, since the visit had been a year ago, my insurance had it all covered.

The guy looked me up by my phone number and couldn't find me, he said it must have been a mistake calling me. I thanked him.

I get ANOTHER call from the number a few days later. I pick up, and it's a woman trying to collect a debt with Swedish. I guess my insurance paid only 90 of the 700 dollar bill- to sit in a waiting room.

- It has been almost a year since I have been to Swedish
- This is my first knowledge of this bill
- You are not leaving me voicemails
- I call back and I cannot "be found"
- When I am trying to comply with the woman and ask for more information, she conveniently disconnects. That was on Wednesday, today is Saturday, I have not heard back since.

I'm simply going to call Swedish or my Insurance from here, when I get the time. Having dealt with these types before I am not interested in being pressured into paying what I might not owe. And I don't appreciate the complete lack of professionalism in their look up system or whatever the heck it is they are pulling on their end.

Collection for St. Franics hospital.

I got a phone call from these people, called number from ID, could not talk to LIVE person, Found out they are Arstrat, number to reach live person to correct wrong number calls - 425 656 3300.
I called gave number they dialed, said they had the wrong person and number, they removed phone number from call list.

Bill Collector - keeps calling even though I asked to be removed.  Someone with my last name ran up a bill, they keep calling me looking for the bugger, & I keep telling them to FO&D.

State Attorney General's Office is my next outgoing phone call.

a collections company can not call no more than 2 times before noon or after noon.

I work for a collections company, by FDCPA law, once you have told them to remove the number, they have to remove it or you can sue them. try to get the name of teh employee and ext/agent number. if a collections company call to your work place, you can do the same thing. we can not call before 8am or after 9pm. Its against the law!!!!!!

These people keep calling my NEW number even after I've asked to be removed from the list. Any actions I can go about to stop them???

This call was from a company called Arstrat (in Kent) about a debt collection for St Joe Hospital.

Collection call for a Swedish Hospital (Ballard Campus) ER visit.

2 calls from this #, both times it is made to sound like  a "good" call??????NOT ME...

I recieved a call from this company several times.  They didn't leave a message why they were calling.

Idiots left a message in SPANISH. Because it's automated the number to call back was cut off. Doesn't anyone send a BILL any more?

Its Swedish Medical center in Seattle, wa.

It's a collections group.

debt collector for a hospital. Told them they could call the White house for my payment. Well considering the Govt is taking all of my money to pay for other people's health care.

Got call from this number. Compete silence on the other side, then hung up.

Got a call from this number, complete silence on the other end.

I get calls from this number several times a week.  They don't leave any messages and I don't pick up their call when I see an unidentified 800#.  After sampling a few of the above comments it's clear they think I owe them some money, which I don't so good luck to them.  My attitude is catch me if you can.  They appear to be an unethical operation.

Did not mention what company she is representing.

Several pewople have mentioned the "Do Not Call" list. This has nothing to do with bill collection. teh DNC list is for sales calls.

Unfortunately been getting phone calls both at my landline and cell! Sent them a letter stating my situation and will be paying them as soon as I am able! Yes, they are a collection agency for Mount Carmel Hospital! bummer

A perky young woman called and left a message saying it is not a solitation.  I google the the number she left and it is a solitation from Swedish/Providence Hospital.  Never been a to a group health or to Swedish hospital or to any hospital in King County WA

Second time talking to a live person from this company.  Get regular messages, STILL, from these folks on my work blackberry.  Their inital message is quite hard to understand and I could not understand the company name.  There is no indication what the purpose of the call is about either.  When calling back the 800 number, the lady admits it's about collecting a debt and to enter my "WID."  Because I have no WID I was able to talk with a live person.

The first person said she cleared it all up for me.  This was probably 3-4 months ago.  Today, after apparently satisfied that I wasn't who she was looking for, the lady said she has "deleted this phone number."  Somehow I doubt this is the last time I'll hear from these folks.

I and my family are users of Providence Hospital systems but have never received any "past due" notices from them because we have never been delinquent on any payment.  This is harassment in my view and I'll be notifying Providence of such.

I got a call on my work phone (listed on the "No call list") with the recorded message stating something about "...do not hang up, this is an important business call, call 1-800-934-3549 for ..."
I have just moved to this area from Texas 5 weeks ago and owe no money to nobody around here.

I got an automated call from this company, which they told me was called Arstrat. Everybody I spoke with was helpful or friendly.  They were trying to collect on a debt from St. Joseph's hospital in Phoenix.  The debt was 90 days past due so it was a valid phone call and when I asked about my credit I was informed that they are a non-reporting agency (meaning they do not affect your credit if you pay).  Seems like a legitimate company, no threats or harassment (other than the constant phone calls).

Debt collectors...  They also buy old debts from other companys to try to collect. I have had this problem for yrs now. Someone else either on purpose or by mistake, listed my phone number on some form of credit which he has obviously defaulted on. No information they have is me, except for my phone number which I have had for 25 years!  This is the 5th or 6th company that has harrased me over this guy! I argued with the 1st 3, but then did my research...  If you are being harrased, do your research and report them to the FTC when they break the rules!!!

DO YOUR RESEARCH HERE: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf

If asked, THEY MUST give the address of the company.. (They won't.. REPORT THEM!)  If asked not to call, and correspond by mail, THEY must do it!  (IF NOT REPORT THEM!)  If you tell them to talk to your attorney, by law, they can ONLY talk with your attoreny, NOT you.. (If they talk to you again...  REPORT THEM!)

I've worked too hard all my life to be debt free for some dumb a** to put my ph No on his credit, then to be harrased by these guys...  ARRG!!  lol

I'm sure when I get done with this set, they'll sell the debt again, and I'll start all over...  :(

Do your research, PLAY by the rules, and TURN the tables on the harrasement!!

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISION FAIR PRACTICES...  800-USC-1600  WEBSITE:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf

First they listed their number, when informed whoever they were looking for was not at this number, they then resorted to having a unknown called tactic. Meaning they started to block their caller ID. funny thing is, they are calling a cell phone thats on the Do Not Call List.

Never heard of until now, nor done any business with Swedish Hosital, Providence hospital or even Group Health.

Spoke to a live person by calling the 800 number they left as a message, several times. Each time they said sorry for the bother, we will remove you from our list. never happened. I get 2 - 3 calls a day from them. One lady I spoke with said they have a computerized dialing machine and she could not find the number in the system, so she did not know why i would be getting calls from them.

As always, i reported them to the FTC. i suggest people do the same for everytime they get calls from callers selling things, or wrong debt collection agency calls, or bogus sales/scam calls.

Called today but didn't say what they were from. Sounded iffy, and didn't leave a company name, only personal name, which sounded like "Chicago" or something like that.

Just called them and turns out they also collect for St. Joseph Hospital, which unfortunately I do owe.  Bummer :(