ORLANDO, Fla. — Hundreds of Central Florida families will receive a yellow envelope in the mail this week that offers big relief from debt collectors.
Action 9's Todd Ulrich got Channel 9 to buy $1 million worth of medical debt for $12,500 from RIP Medical Debt, a national charity, in order to forgive the debt of about 1,000 families in need.
The charity selects families based on economic need.
[ Read: Action 9 exposes medical debt trap targeting Central Florida families ]
About 600,000 families in Central Florida are chased by debt collectors, experts said.
Older debt is often sold for pennies on the dollar.
Collection agencies sometimes promise that a small payment now will erase one's debt, but experts advise against believing them.
"A small payment -- even a dollar or two -- can renew the statute of limitations on a $1,000 or $3,000 debt, and now it's legally enforceable when it was not previously," consumer attorney Jared Lee said.
[ Read: WFTV buys $1M in medical debt to help Central Florida families ]
Consumers' legal obligation to pay medical debt is five years in the state of Florida. But if they make a small payment, the debt will last another five years.
Consumers don't have the power to negotiate. All agreements need to be made in writing.
Click here to donate. Every $10 donated eliminates $1,000 of medical debt in Central Florida.
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