Collection agencies are the scum of the earth. Some of them are just pure scams. I had one tell me I still owed a hospital because my insurance only paid part of the bill and tried to talk down to me telling me I owed the unpaid balance. And I needed to have someone smarter then me explain how that works. Sooo I told him no you need to explain to your customer the hospital, and YOU need someone to explain to you. that my insurance provider has a signed contract with the hospital to accept in full whatever they pay as full payment under my insurance contract. Last I heard from them also. That was a good policy blue cross had back in the day.