Activists and community members are asking Mecklenburg County in North Carolina to think of alternatives to wage garnishment to recoup payment for overdue ambulance bills, according to WBTV.
The unpaid bills involve Medic, an ambulance service operated by the county.
Medic announced that effective Oct. 1, it would garnish wages for bills at least 120 days past due. It also plans to get help from the county tax collector to resolve debt.
According to WBTV, the county has racked up $123 million in unpaid ambulance fees since 2012.
Activists and community members said they fear the new debt collection approach will negatively affect lower-income people and asked the Board of County Commissioners to come up with other ideas to address the issue, the station reported.
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