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Unpaid hospital bill in Ireland

  • 27-12-2009 2:02pm
    #1
    cherok
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1 ✭


    Hi folks!

    Hopefully this is the right section of Boards.ie to write on this matter.

    I was going through some papers (Christmas cleaning) and realized that I did not pay for a hospital bill in Ireland (lived there for over a year). I am a Finnish guy, moved back to Finland in the beginning of 2008 and totally forgot about the bill in the hassle of moving.

    It was a case of an allergic reaction and I was taken in with an ambulance, got released the same night. The bill amount was 66 euros if I remember correctly. I believe that was the standard amount back then?

    Now, should I contact the hospital and ask about it? Or just let it be? As I said, it has been nearly 2 years and I haven't heard anything about it.

    If I contact them now and they tell me it was indeed unpaid for, are they going to want interest on the amount? Or will they just be happy to see an honest person with a conscience?

    Or has it been written off already?

    Thanks for any input, I never wanted any trouble in my life, and don't wanna start now!


Comments

  • #2
    DundalkDuffman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 735 ✭✭✭DundalkDuffman


    Likelihood is that your bill went through the hospital billing system, invoice and several reminders and after a period of time when it remained unpaid it got shipped off to a debt collection agency who then wrote stronger letters to your old address threatening all sorts. When it still was unpaid then likelihood is that it is sitting on someones desk in an accounts department in the hospital awaiting writeoff. The 66 was the government A&E charge up to the end of last year.


  • #3
    Tom Young
    Legal Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 4,338 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tom Young


    This is not legal advice.

    Seeing as you are aware, write a cheque or send a money order clearing the amount which you have confirmed with the hospital, they will be able to confirm the interest, if any. Any interest you want to add by yourself should be in the order of around 8% per annum, on average.

    Instead of interest you might also consider making a donation to some charity etc.

    66 Euro is a low amount and they're unlikely to chase you more for it, I'd discharge the amount as I think you will be inclined to do given the tone of your post.

    Tom


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