CDI Affiliated Services, 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.
CDI Affiliated Services, Inc. (CDI) is a third-party collection agency based in Idaho. CDI has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including failure to verify debts and attempting to collect debts not owed. If CDI has contacted you about past due financial obligations, make sure you understand your rights before you take action.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), CDI Affiliated Services, Inc. is a legitimate collection agency founded in 1976. The BBB established a profile page for CDI in 1983.The BBB lists CDI as a collection agency and credit reporting agency. Buzzfile estimates CDI’s annual revenue at $3.9 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 40 employees.
According to its website, CDI was founded originally as Credit Data Idaho, Inc. A second company, Credit Bureau of Pocatello, Inc., (CDP) was founded in 1956. CDP and Credit Data Idaho, Inc., merged in 2005 to become CDI. “In today’s ever-expanding marketplace…CDI provides successful and ethical collection services in Idaho and beyond.”
CDI provides “collection services to the medical, utility, and consumer retail industries serving the Inland Northwest’s most prominent businesses.” As a full-service collection agency, CDI offers “standard collections” that include sending accounts “through a national bankruptcy database to ensure that the consumer or associated accounts have not been included in an existing bankruptcy; and… through the US Postal Service’s National Change of Address database to ensure quicker, more efficient delivery of… initial, attorney-certified letters.”
Subsequently, collection staff place calls to consumers, and after 30 days, CDI reports“unpaid accounts to the credit repositories.” In addition, “when accounts require legal attention, they transition to CDI’s legal team for further recovery efforts.” CDI also offers customized collection services, first-party pre-collect services; and “Flex Pay Solutions, a…premier self-pay management program for medical accounts.”
CDI utilizes the Ontario FACS Collections Management System; an “automated dialer and Artiva manager to provide… staff with up-to-the-minute calling statistics”; “an interactive voice response system to allow consumers 24/7 access to CDI for the latest account information”; a client web portal; and customized monthly reports.
The CDI website does not provide any detailed information about its regulatory compliance policies. Their Consumers page provides a list of Frequently Asked Questions, but does not provide any links or references to consumer protection resources, laws, or enforcement agencies. The Consumer Documents and Links page provides downloadable forms for third-party payment, email, and fax consent and authorization. Beneath these forms, there isa link to the Ask Doctor Debt page on the website of the International Association of Credit and Collection Professionals (ACA International).
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.
As of February 2019, the BBB has closed 6 complaints against CDI Affiliated Services in the preceding three years, none of them closed in the previous 12 months. Allof those complaints cited problems with billing and collections. Since April 2015,the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)has closed 9 complaints involving CDI. Justia lists at least 1 case of civil litigation involving CDI.
CDI Affiliated Services, Inc.
1451 Hartman St.
P.O. Box 4068
Boise, ID 83711
Telephone:(208) 322-3000
Website: http://www.cdresource.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely CDI 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 CDI Affiliated Services cite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of debts and the accuracy of information reported to the credit reporting agencies. CDI’s responses often cite very specific adherence to legal guidelines without addressing the central issues in consumer complaints. In May 2016, a complainant stated that he had discovered two collection items from CDI on his credit report—“one has a balance of $17 and the other $87.” The complainant stated the he had “sent a total of 6 letters to…CDI—3 per account.” He also stated that because of “the low balances, the…letters were sent certified.” He included “an offer to pay the balance in exchange for removal of the information off his credit report.” He also stressed that he had “no acknowledgement of what the accounts were even for.” The complainant stated that he “got no answer from CDI,” so he “sent 2 more letters, 1 per account, …asking for validation of the account… because he had… no documentation” regarding either bill. Again, the complainant stated that he got “no response… from” CDI. The complainant sent a third letter,again “demanding validation,” but he still had “received nothing.” He had also “disputed this information with Experian… via an electronic submittal from CDI to Experian.” He stated that Experian “seemed to have info that the account belongs to” him. However, when he “asked Experian to send him the documentation they received from CDI to keep for his own records,” CDI allegedly “provided NONE to Experian or” to the complainant. In response, CDI stated that “the complaint appears to address two issues: one regarding the issue of leveraging factual, valid, and properly reported data that is reporting on a consumer’s credit report for a payment of any kind; and that the consumer sent a number of letters to CDI and disputes to the credit bureaus disputing the accounts and received no response.” As for the first concern, CDI stated that they “do not leverage any reported data for a payment of any kind” and would have “attempted to validate the account from the client.” As for the second concern, CDI stated that when they receive such requests, they normally send a response with “validation documentation or, in the case of applicable interest or fee balance, …a list of fees and the balance amount.” CDI also stated that “any subsequent disputes, unless additional valid information is provided by the consumer in their dispute, are kept in their correspondence files, with… no additional response…required.”
In July 2016, a complainant stated that “CDI had validated and reported erroneous information to the credit bureaus in violation of the FCRA and FDCPA.” The complainant had “attempted to resolve this matter with them” but alleged that CDI was “uncooperative.” The complainant stated she did not “want to have to file a lawsuit in order for them to do the right thing, but…will if necessary.” The complainant’s letter to CDI requested a detailed debt validation, disputed the debt, and requested that all future correspondence be done in writing. In response, CDI said the deadline for the “consumer’s request for validation of the debt has expired” and that her “validation request could be considered irrelevant at this point.” However, they agreed to investigate and to remove inaccurate information from her credit reports if necessary.
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…
“With your help the nagging collection calls have finally ceased! I was thrilled I was also able to get damages from the collection agency. I am unable to adequately express my joy. I am so thankful I made the call.”
“When I first emailed the office, I was not exactly sure what they could do for me. I had an idea, but they responded back with everything I could expect to take place. I never believed I would be receiving a check, it was definitely a silver lining. I highly recommend them to anyone seeking customer legal services.”
“I just wanted to let you know we received the check from your office on now and I wanted to take some time to inform you that we really appreciate all of your efforts in this matter.”
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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