Hi this is my first post I've spent hours reading and I have a rather odd problem and long story about it.

I have a son who is now 19 yrs old, he lived with us briefly when he was 18 about 7 months total until we had to get a protective order on him for abusing his brother and attacking me. He is mentally ill and he was attending his senior year in High School until he got expelled. We had medical insurance on him until he got expelled and the policy we had does not cover mental health problems.

We took him to the State's Community Mental Health Center(MHC) for treatment after he assaulted a 15 yr old female at school. We were told because he was 18 he is considered an adult and the responsible party for the bill. We filled all the forms out and listed me as his Emergency Contact with home and cell numbers. Home number was changed after son was removed from home. His "Co-pay" for visits was only $2 which is the minimum for those with no income or low income. He drifted between the Psychiatric Hospital and being homeless months on end. I got the bills which were all addressed to him and I sent them back return to sender not at this address, which is true, but they kept coming so I went to his probation officer and said he needs to take care of this, I stopped getting bills from the (MHC) after that. He continued to use their services because he was court ordered to. In July of 06 he skipped out of the state and his probation.

Fast Forward to 2007 I get a voice mail on my cell phone asking for "Jim Jones" and that he call back this number at extension such and such and speak to so and so with ref#. I am thinking OK why would I get a call for my husband on my cell phone he never gives it out then it dawns on me I bet they are looking for "Jim Jones Jr.". I search the phone number and find it is NCO one of the dirtiest CA in the world (have had dealings w/them in past) I call them and tell them that the number they are calling is the wrong number for "Jim Jones" please stop calling , I am assured they will stop.

Well they are now calling everyday telling me I know this is his mother you are responsible for his bills, you signed the financial responsibility form so pay up and call us. Well I never signed it I have copies of ALL forms that were filled out at MHC and I have talked to the billing office manager who has said I am not responsible for it and put me on conference call to NCO and informed them I am not responsible, but the calls are continuing. I have no contact information for these people I noticed they have several offices and when I called to ask for the addy they wanted to know my REF# sorry aint happening you arent getting my phone number because I know they have caller ID and would hook that number to the account. I have not gotten any correspondence from NCO about the account, I do know where it was mailed to and the girl there has been sending it to him.

So am I legally responsible for his debt even though he was 18 at the time he started the services?

What steps if any can I do to stop this from affecting my credit? that I just got fairly well cleaned up because I believe NCO has my SS#

I recently got an addy for son how best to approach the CA with the new information without it coming back to me? Somehow son got into the military with outstanding arrest warrants and psychaitric problems so the addy I have is for his basic training.

I am at a loss here truly where do I go, what do I do ?

Thank You,
Christine

Whychat has said in the past that you are not responsible unless the child was under your insurance or you signed for responsibility.

bbjbd~ Thanks for the reply, son was on insurance for medical until he was expelled from High School and then he could no longer be carried and unfortunately even though we thought laws were passed psychiatric care was not covered.

I am sending the collection agency; NCO a certified return receipt letter telling them nicely to bug-off and stop blowing up my cell phone or I will send them a bill for the overage minutes, trust me I will. I am including the recent information I found through his Myspace page on how to contact my son. I did talk to the Billing Office manager at Mental Health and she said nowhere nohow did I EVER sign for responsibility for the account and that she would take care of NCO calling me all the time, yet it hasn't stopped.

I am just praying this does not end up on my credit record or even on husbands since he is a Sr. and son is a Jr. its happened before especially if they pull by name and not SS#

Moseynme