Hey everyone,

I hope you're all doing well. I've found myself in a bit of a pickle and could really use some advice. So, here's my story:

A few months back, I had this unexpected medical situation that landed me in the hospital. Long story short, the bills piled up, and I struggled to keep up with payments. It wasn't that I didn't want to pay; it was just a rough time.

Now, what worries me the most is that these collection agencies got involved. They've been calling me non-stop, and it's getting on my nerves. But what's even scarier is the thought of my credit taking a nosedive because of this mess.

I've been losing sleep wondering if do collection agencies report to credit bureaus right away? I mean, I can't afford to have my credit score plummeting while I'm already dealing with health issues and financial stress.

If any of you have been through something similar or know how this works, please share your experiences. Can collection agencies really report to credit bureaus right away, or is there some kind of grace period? I'm genuinely worried about the impact on my credit score, and any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.