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Can a debt collector take my car with a lien on it over unpaid medical bills?

Long story short I had breast tumors removed and with that about $1500-$2000 in medical debt. Can't afford to pay it right now but got sent a debt collector letter. Preschool classroom aide.

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JesseInTX · 51-55, M

Contact your lender and explain the situation. Most lenders are understanding if you communicate with them and will call off a repossession. But yes, they can repossess the vehicle legally.

Souls

@JesseInTX No, they can NOT!

JesseInTX · 51-55, M

@Souls uhmmmm yes they can. If you default on payments to your lender they can. Read your purchase or lease agreement.

Souls

@JesseInTX They can NOT put a lien on your car over unpaid medical bills! Your car can only be repossessed if you break the terms of your contract with your lease/loan for instance not paying your car note!

JesseInTX · 51-55, M

@Souls Don’t make the payments then they can repossess. Doesn’t matter the reason you don’t make the payments. That’s written into your contract. Communicating the reasons to the lender they have the option of rolling the payments to the end of the loan.

Souls

@JesseInTX You're missing the whole comment it has went right over your head!

JesseInTX · 51-55, M

@Souls you are missing the point. You take out a loan, you enter into a contract with the lender. Violate the terms are you’re subject to default.

Souls

@JesseInTX Again you're trying to debate when I have already stated above! The question was "Can a debt collector take my car with a lien on it over unpaid medical bills?" No, legally they can NOT! Your car can only be repossessed if you break the terms of your contract with your lease/loan for instance not paying your car note! which again I have already stated above!

JesseInTX · 51-55, M

@Souls you’re missing the point. The debt collector is the lender on the vehicle. The lien the OP has isn’t a lien over medical bills. She can’t pay her contractual obligation to her lender on her vehicle because of medical bills. She can’t afford the payment to the lender. The medical bills aren’t a lien against her loan. A medical debt cannot be used as a lien on anything. It can hurt your credit report if it goes to collections, but even that has been modified.

JonLosAngeles66 · M

@JesseInTX not correct. If the debt collector chooses to go all the way they can put a lien on her bank account and garnish her wages.

JesseInTX · 51-55, M

@JonLosAngeles66 nope. Not true at all. That only available in certain circumstances and auto loans are not allowed unless you put it up as collateral against another loan.

JonLosAngeles66 · M

@JesseInTX I wasn’t talking about the car loan. I don’t think you understand her question is about the medical debt really. They can’t take her car but they could put a lien on her bank account or garnish her wages.

Souls

@JonLosAngeles66 Exactly the reason why I stopped replying to his comments 🤣

JonLosAngeles66 · M

@Souls like a dummy I stepped right into it. Lol