German hospital wants to take me to court ,help !!!

[Natek]

Hi , I have received a letter from debt collectors last week. They want to take me to court if I won't pay €600 to German hospital. Back in September I was taken to the hospital by the ambulance when I was on holiday in Germany. I didn't have any documents on me so they just took my details by asking my name and address back in UK. They didn't even tell me I will be charge for anything,neither the hospital they took me to and made me pay €300 for! It was doctor's decision to transfer me there or thought I said it wasn't not me calling ambulance myself . Few days after I returned to the country I got a bill for €590 from Germany. I ignored it , I didn't think they will be able to find me here especially my name and address was not even spelled right. But now they said if I won't pay in 7 days they will take me to court ! What to do ? I don't have £500 to pay them ,please any advices ???

[ostell]

Re: German hospital wants to take me to court ,help !!!

Did you have travel insurance? Did you have a EHIC card?

[Kati]

Re: German hospital wants to take me to court ,help !!!

Hi Natek ... As ostell has already asked about travel insurance and EHIC card, I'll just add this link - http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?...intPageId=1738

Hospitals in Germany are slightly different to those in the UK, in that you are expected to pay for certain services (such as your hospital stay and ambulance transport). These charges are usually only small (between €5 and €10) and you can often get your costs reimbursed by the NHS when you return to the UK