Credit Bureau of Lancaster County , Inc. (CBLC) is a third-party collection agency based in Pennsylvania. CBC has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including making false statements and failing to verify debts. If you have been contacted by this debt collector, make sure you understand your rights before responding.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Credit Bureau of Lancaster County, Inc. is a legitimate collection agency founded and incorporated in 1944. The BBB established a profile page for CBLC in 1977.CBLC is listed as a collection agency and credit reporting agency.Buzzfile estimates CBLC’s annual revenue at $2.9 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 35 employees.
According to its website, CBLC“was part of a wave of credit bureaus popping up around the United States aimed at serving local businesses and professionals, acting as clearing houses for lenders.” Currently, CBLC “offers a unique combination of over seventy years of experience and the latest in today’s technology.”
CBLC offers a variety of credit-related services, including third-party collections; billing services; employment screening; tenant screening; business credit report services; and their “Loan Solution” service. CBLC’s third-party collections division offers “full-service contingency-based collections,” including a collections staff trained by “certified FDCPA trainers, bilingual collectors, and medical collectors”; skip tracing; credit reporting; a manual call platform; secure electronic payments; and online client access. CBLC’s billing services division provides first-party outsourcing, including accurate utility and service billing; posting and depositing payments; handling customer service calls; account maintenance; customer activity tracking; customized statements and reports; delinquency notices; and optional collection of delinquent accounts.
CBLCs employee and tenant screening services provide property managers and employers with reports that include credit reports; criminal background record searches; Social Security verification; Department of Motor Vehicle records searches; education verification; employment verification; and national sex offender searches. Their business credit reporting division helps “businesses that need… to evaluate the creditworthiness of consumers.” CBC’s Loan Solution is “the fastest way to get from application to approval for Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit.”
CBLCs collections division cites compliance via “ongoing FDCPA, HIPAA and FCRA training.” They also cite membership in several professional associations, including the American Collectors Association International, the Mid-Atlantic Collectors Association, the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management, the Consumer Data Industry Association, Inc., the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Healthcare Finance Management Association. However, they do not provide a consumer resources page with links and references to laws and enforcement agencies.
Who are we? We are Lemberg Law, a Consumer Law Firm
Lemberg Law is a consumer law firm helping victims of collection harassment and abuse. We are ranked A+ by the BBB. We’ve helped more than 15,000 consumers stop harassment and recover money from debt collectors. Harassed? Abused? Misled by a collector? Call our Helpline today! There is no charge unless we win.
The BBB has closed 7 complaints against Credit Bureau of Lancaster County in the preceding 3 years, with 2 complaints closed in the past 12 months. All Of Those complaints alleged problems with billing and collections. Since April 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 20 complaints against CBLC. Justia lists at least 2 cases of civil litigation involving CBLC.
Credit Bureau of Lancaster County, Inc.
PO Box 1271
Lancaster, PA 17608-1271
Telephone:(717) 397-8144
Website: http://www.cboflanc.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely CBLC would sue you for a debt you may not owe or they cannot validate. However, debt collection agencies are known to have summoned debtors to court and garnish wages after a default judgement. Contacting an attorney BEFORE this could possibly happen would be a smart move. We’ve helped thousands of consumers fight back against unscrupulous debt collection harassers. Find out if we can help you too today!
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Unlawful Debt Harassment? Learn the Law & Sue the Collector.
Absolutely. Here are some Sample Complaints
Complaints against Credit Bureau of Lancaster County commonly cite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of debts and the accuracy of information reported to the credit reporting agencies. In February 2017, a complainant indicated that she had written to CBLC “requesting validation of debt,” including “any outstanding medical bills with the name and hospital/medical provider to which they claim” she owed money. In addition, she stated that “under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), to protect her… privacy and medical records from third parties, she asked for a HIPAA authorization signed by her to authorize… third-party… access to any records of any medical account.” The complainant stated that CBLC responded by sending “6 vague print outs” that have “not validated or provided a contract or signature,” not “authorizing them or any 3rd party to access any part of her medical information.” The complainant stated that because CBLC “failed to furnish debt validation and …an authorization or signature…she would like the item removed as it is reporting to…all 3 credit bureaus and negatively affecting” her credit. In addition, she stated the “information was…shared illegally… without her informed consent.” In response, CBLC indicated that they “are a contracted Business Associate under the HIPAA rule and are authorized under HIPAA to engage in… collection activity with her creditor.” They also provided an accounting of their efforts to send the complainant debt validation, including their receipt of her correspondence disputing the debts and indicating her refusal to pay. CBLC concluded by stating that her “accounts have been verified and remain as disputed.”
In January 2017, a complainant alleged that Credit Bureau of Lancaster County charged her “for the same debt on two different accounts simultaneously.” She claimed that she only had “one delinquent account from a medical bill.” After checking her credit report, she indicated there were two items for the same amount causing “double damage to her credit since they are reporting the same account twice, which is an FCRA violation.” In response, CBLC indicated that there was no mistake, and that the complainant owes two bills for the same amount. The complainant rejected the attempted resolution and requested validation of both accounts.
Federal laws protect you. The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) regulates the behavior of collection agencies by prohibiting actions such as the use of abusive or threatening language; harassment; or the use of false or misleading information to collect a debt. The FCRA regulates how collection agencies and creditors report delinquent debts to credit reporting agencies. Additional consumer protection laws include the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA).
But here’s the rub: If you want to enforce your rights, or recover money for violations — you need to sue. These laws provide individuals like you with a means to seek monetary damages in court. For example, the FDCPA allows consumers who have been violated to recover damages of up to $1,000, plus attorney fees and court costs.
You may have a case, if…
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“We were so impressed with how the attorney listened to us and understood the position we were in. Thank you for stopping the calls. The check was a nice bonus, but mostly we’re glad we’re not being hounded anymore.”
“Thank you for standing with me Lemberg Law. I was so afraid I could lose my job because of a caller who called my job number 4 hours straight back to back. He not only harassed and threatened me but also abused workmates who received the call when I wasn’t around. Since I solicited for your services, I’ve had a peace of mind, and I’m happy because of the few dollars I got as a settlement.”
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Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
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I received a call from Credit Bureau of Lancaster County. They are trying to collect from me for service at Lancaster General hospital. From services that I supposedly received on Nov. 6 2004 I moved to Puerto Rico in 1990. Pleased help me. I call the hospital and they told me that I don’t own them any money.