Is Credit Bureau Collection Services, Inc. Calling You?*

If debt collectors are contacting you constantly about an overdue credit card account, phone bill, or other obligation, you may feel like declaring bankruptcy to make the harassment stop.

Before you take that drastic step, however, consult a consumer attorney, because it is illegal for collection agencies to harass indebted consumers.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) was passed in 1977 to protect indebted consumers from abuse and harassment by third-party debt collectors. Since then, using methods like the following to settle a debt have been illegal under federal law.

• Using profane or obscene language
• Calling you at work when your employer does not allow such calls
• Threatening legal actions that they have no intention of taking
• Failing or refusing to identify themselves as debt collectors
• Telling you that you can be arrested for not paying your debts
• Making threats they have no intention of following up on, such as garnishing your wages or suing you

Company Profile: Credit Bureau Collection Services, Inc.

If you are being called by Credit Bureau Collection Services, Inc., information about the company is below.

Credit Bureau Collection Services, Inc. is a collection agency located in Columbus, Ohio. It was established in 1997, is managed by its President, Larry Ebert, and operates 10 call centers throughout Ohio, Michigan, New Hampshire, Florida, Pennsylvania and New York.

In March 2010, Credit Bureau Collection Services, Inc. was fined over $1 million by the Federal Trade Commission for reporting inaccurate credit information and pressing consumers to pay debts they frequently did not owe.

Litigation records retained by the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website also confirm that many consumers who felt they were being harassed by Credit Bureau Collection Services, Inc. turned to the court system for protection and compensation.

Alleged Violations Against the Company

Courtney Schmarje, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated vs. Credit Bureau Collection Services, Inc. d/b/a CBCS **

According to PACER, on or about March 14, 2012, Credit Bureau Collection Services, Inc. sent a collection letter to a Wisconsin resident regarding a debt owed to AT&T Southwest.

This letter, which appeared to be computer-generated, made reference to a “Collection Fee” of $188.18, although she was not aware of anything in Wisconsin law or her contract with AT&T Southwest or Wisconsin Law that allowed Credit Bureau Collection Services, Inc. to add a collection fee.

Feeling harassed by Credit Bureau Collection Services, Inc., she hired a consumer attorney and filed a class action lawsuit against the company for allegedly violating the FDCPA in the following ways:

• Using false, deceptive, and misleading means to collect a debt
• Attempting to collect an amount not supported by law or the original creditor agreement

Hire an Attorney

The phone number for this collection agency is:

• 1-614-222-5500
• 1-614-223-0688
• 1-877-886-7331

If you see any of these numbers on your caller ID, be aware that you are being called by Credit Bureau Collection Services, Inc. If they try to increase an alleged debt by adding on collection fees, hire a consumer attorney.

If you file a claim against Credit Bureau Collection Services, Inc. and win, a judge could order the company to pay $1,000 per violation, making the company`s decision to harass you an expensive one.

*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be constructed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Credit Bureau Collection Services, Inc., or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.

**Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case 2:12-cv-00564-RTR from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Division.