Which statement is a typical response by patients during collection calls?

• A. I can't pay this bill now.
• B. Please extend due date to next year.
• C. We'll never pay this bill.
• D. We can discuss a payment plan later.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that patients commonly express financial constraint during collection calls. When someone says they can’t pay the bill right now, it signals a present cash-flow issue but an openness to work out a solution. This is the opening for the collector to explore affordable options, such as a payment plan, and to gather information about how much they can realistically pay now and over time. It reflects a realistic, common stance in collections: immediate payment isn’t feasible, but there is willingness to discuss arrangements.

In contrast, asking to extend the due date to next year tends to push the conversation into an unrealistic long-term deferment, which isn’t typically a natural first response in a live collection call. Saying “we’ll never pay this bill” shuts down dialogue, and saying “we can discuss a payment plan later” is more evasive and less of a direct indication of current affordability. The straightforward expression of not being able to pay now is the most typical starting point that prompts a plan-based next step.