I got one of those bills today that tend to turn into collections. It's for an emergency room trip for my daughter. At the time, due to a screwup of epic proportions involving agencies in two different states, my daughter's insurance had been cancelled without me being notified. Long, complicated story, but by the time I found out, I ended up with a bill for a couple thousand dollars that I'm going to have to eat, because neither of the offices that screwed it up would or could do anything for me. So I was feeling very sorry for myself getting stuck with this bill, and thinking how much it sucks that I now have to pay $41 a month for what feels like forever.
And then I realized - I just made sure this doesn't go to collections. I didn't shove it into a drawer and forget to deal with it "later" like I used to with stuff like this. I will never have to write letters asking for a PFD or goodwill. No begging someone to take this off my report. So yay! 
Starting Score: EQ 539
YAY indeed!! Great way to think about a unpleasant sitatuion. I used to have collection letters coming in every day and now since I have paid all my outstanding bills, the only things I get in the mail are coupons, it's a nice change of events.
last month I got a random medical bill from 2009...first time I had ever seen it or knew of it...this was before I joined here...
thankfully I paid it when it was due and thats one less hole I'll have to dig myself out of