Are You Being Called By Credit Information Bureau, Inc.?*

Are you dealing with a debt collector who won’t leave you alone? Who calls you day and night and embarrasses you at work? Before you contemplate filing bankruptcy to stop the unwanted contact, learn more about how the law protects you as an indebted consumer.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) was passed over 40 years ago to protect consumers who were being harassed to the point of bankruptcy. While it permits debt collectors to collect a legitimate debt, actions like those below are illegal.

• Shouting at you over the phone and making threats
• Pretending to be police officers to scare you
• Calling you at work although such calls are prohibited by the company
• Trying to collect a debt after you refuse to pay
• Reporting incorrect information to the credit bureaus
• Adding illegal fees to the original debt

Company Profile: Credit Information Bureau, Inc.

If you are being called by Credit Information Bureau, Inc., here are some more company details.

Credit Information Bureau, Inc., which also does business as Credit Bureau of Connecticut and Avantus, is a debt collection agency located in West Haven, Connecticut. It was founded in 1927, has 21 employees, and is managed by its President, Louis R. Capobianco. Legal records viewable at the PACER website confirm that consumers who believed they were being harassed by Credit Information Bureau, Inc. stood their ground in court.

Alleged Violations against Credit Information Bureau, Inc.*

According to PACER, in or around February 2011, a Florida consumer learned that Credit Information Bureau, Inc. was reporting an alleged debt to the credit bureaus. It regarded an invoice that he had refused to pay, and was followed by a collection letter in June 2011. He sent in a dispute letter but the debt remained as reported.

Feeling harassed by Credit Information Bureau, Inc., the consumer filed an FDCPA lawsuit against the company for allegedly violating his rights by:

• Using harassing and abusive means to collect a debt
• Failing to inform the credit bureaus that the debt was in dispute
• Using false, deceptive, and misleading means to collect a debt
• Misrepresenting the legal status of the debt
• Threatening to take action that cannot legally be taken

The matter was later dismissed.

Hire a Consumer Lawyer

The phone numbers for Credit Information Bureau, Inc. are:

• 1-203-931-2000
• 1-800-243-0120

If they appear on your caller ID at any time, be aware that Credit Information Bureau, Inc. is on the line. If they report incorrect information to the credit bureaus and ignore your written dispute, act on your rights by hiring a consumer lawyer and filing a claim against Credit Information Bureau, Inc. Collection agencies that violate the FDCPA can be ordered to pay statutory damages and cover legal fees, so you have nothing to lose by standing up for yourself.

Additional Resources

• Has a Debt Collector Used Abusive Language?
• Has a Debt Collector Reported False Information on a Credit Report?

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case 0:13-cv-61378-WJZ from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

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 Information Bureau, Inc., or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.