CBJ Credit Recovery Inc is a debt collection agency, which receives a lot of consumer complaints to our law firm for debt harassment. Find out who they are, why they might be calling, and how you can stop them.
CBJ Credit Recovery, Inc. (CBJ) is a third-party collection agency based in New York state. CBJ has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including harassment and failure to verify debts. If you have been contacted by CBJ Credit Recovery, make sure you understand your rights before responding.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), CBJ Credit Recovery, Inc. is a legitimate collection agency, founded in 1935 and incorporated in 1965. The BBB established a profile page for CBJ in 1986. CBJ is listed as a collection agency that uses the alternate business name, Credit Bureau of Jamestown, NY. Buzzfile estimates CBJ’s annual revenue at $1.5 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 13 employees.
According to its website, CBJ Credit Recovery “is a full-service accounts receivable management firm focused on providing cost-effective, results-oriented solutions.” CBJ “forms a collaborative partnership with clients to confront the challenge of accounts receivable by improving the return on receivables and effectively managing costs while providing quality services and maintaining clients’ community reputation.”
CBJ Credit Recovery offers a full range of collection-oriented accounts receivable management services. Their first-party services utilize a “professional, diplomatic approach to customer contact that improves cash flow and enhances customer relationships.” These services include “early-out/self-pay recovery; insurance follow-up; pre-collect; pre-disconnect; pre-charge off; and bilingual outsourcing services.” CBJ’s third-party services take “a customer-oriented, problem solving approach…to resolving delinquent balances” and include a dedicated management team; experienced collection representatives; initial data scrub and scoring; a detailed letter series; effective telephone contact; credit bureau reporting; advanced skip tracing; comprehensive reporting; and online client account access. CBJ also provides a letter service as “a great cost-efficient solution for low balance, past due accounts.”
CBJ Credit Recovery utilizes “advanced technological capabilities including…collections software, predictive dialers, call recording, call monitoring, interactive voice response (IVR), and automated call distribution systems.” They cite optimized “efficiency while ensuring security and confidentiality of client data.”
CBJ Credit Recovery indicates its affiliation with the International Association of Credit and Collection Professionals (ACA International) and MDHBA, a healthcare receivable management association. Their Consumers tab provides contact information, but they do not provide links or references to consumer protection resources, laws, or 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 6 complaints against CBJ Credit Recovery in the preceding 3 years, with 1 complaint closed in the past 12 months. All of those complaints allege problems with billing and collections. Since February 2016, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 2 complaints against CBJ. Justia lists at least 5 cases of civil litigation involving CBJ Credit Recovery.
CBJ Credit Recovery, Inc.
117 W. 4th St.
Jamestown, NY 14701-5005
Telephone: (716) 664-4490
Website: http://www.cbjcredit.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely CBJ 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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Absolutely. Here are some Sample Cases
The BBB has posted an Alert on CBJ’s profile page warning site visitors of an emerging pattern of complaints. The Alert states:
“BBB opened an investigation on the business in regard to a pattern of complaints about associates of the business breaking federal laws of the FDCPA. The business has not responded to BBB.”
Complaints about CBJ Credit Recovery commonly cite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of debts and the accuracy of information reported to the credit reporting agencies. In April 2017, a complainant indicated that she had sent CBJ numerous letters and made countless phone calls to show them that the bill that [they had] sent to…[her] was not valid.” The complainant indicated that the medical services she had been billed for were covered by her insurance network, which she had allegedly verified through her daughter’s pediatrician and CBJ Credit Recovery. She also claimed that she had never received any bills directly from the doctor’s office. The first bill she received was directly from CBJ and indicated that “they would put this matter on hold as …[she] explained in detail what was going on.” Subsequently, she sent them proof of her claim and documentation of her earlier correspondence, but when she contacted a manager to discuss whether the billing error had been corrected, the manager only “asked if …[she] had proof that the bill was paid.” The complainant stated that the manager clearly was not listening to her. The complainant indicated her belief that CBJ’s conduct violated the FDCPA, especially because the $313 bill was now appearing on her credit report, lowering her score by 80 points and interfering with her ability to secure a loan.
In July 2016, a complainant indicated that that he received a collection notice from CBJ Credit Recovery for an item he had paid the previous March. Regardless, the item was appearing on his credit report as late as July, but when he contacted CBJ to discuss the error, “the customer service was terrible.” He was made to feel like he was inconveniencing them, and management representatives were unavailable. They told him the reported item was most likely the result of an error and that he should visit an “alternate website and pull…[his] report again.” They told him that if the item still appeared on his report, that he should print it, mail it to them, and they would address it at that point. “They were extremely rude and not of any help,” and placed the burden of correcting reporting errors on the complainant. In its response, CBJ Credit Recovery continued to deny they had any responsibility in ensuring the accuracy of information reported to the credit reporting agencies.
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.
Your debt harassment checklist:
“We realize that ours is just one small case among many – and many more serious – but are heartened by the fact that you accepted it and represented us with a professionalism that belied the small dollar amount.”
“If you are unsure about this company…DONT BE!!! They are for real when they say they are here to help you. It only takes a few short minutes of your time to talk to a rep. I was a skeptic, but you did everything you said you would! I can’t say thank you enough!”
”Lemberg Law has saved me from the endless calls, and harassing voicemails. They really do go to bat for you. I didn’t know that debt collection agencies can end up paying your legal bill. What a surprise, to receive free legal help. I’m very grateful for all the hard work they did to finally give me my life back.”
“I would recommend your company to anyone. You have the debt collectors off my back, and I will finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Throughout the entire procedure your employees were courteous and professional. I was blown away by their efficacy also.
We can absolutely help. Call us today.
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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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