Credit Adjustment Board or CAB 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.
Credit Adjustment Board, Inc. (CAB) is a third-party collection agency based in Virginia that specializes in collecting delinquent healthcare and commercial debts. CAB has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including threatening to take actions that cannot legally be taken and attempting to collect debts not owed. If CAB has contacted you about past due financial obligations, make sure you understand your rights before taking action.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to theBetter Business Bureau (BBB), Credit Adjustment Board, Inc. is a legitimate collection agency founded in 1957 and incorporated in 1961. The BBB established a profile page for CAB in 1967. The BBB lists CAB as a collection agency. Buzzfile estimates CAB’s annual revenue at $2.4 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 25 employees.
According to its website, CAB “has established itself as a preeminent commercial and healthcare collection agency by offering advanced technology tools and professional and knowledgeable staff.” In addition, “CAB was founded on the principles of honesty, integrity, and hard work.”
CAB’s main focus is on the collection of delinquent healthcare bills. In addition, CAB accepts collection accounts from oil, gas, and HVAC companies; property management firms; transportation companies; government agencies; and commercial and industrial business-to-business accounts.
CAB cites strengths that include 24-hour-a-day client access to claims in “real time”; professional skip tracing “linked to 23 different databases…to find the most up-to-date profiles of the debtor available, including bank account information”; contingency-based rates, with no fee for accounts that are not collected; and a “proven record of performance.”
CAB cites membership in several professional associations, including the International Association of Credit and Collection Professionals (ACA International) and the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). However, their one-page website does not provide any details about their regulatory compliance polices or any links or references to consumer protection resources, laws, or enforcement agencies. In addition, their online payment portal does not identify them as a bill collector.
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 14 complaints against Credit Adjustment Board, Inc in the preceding three years, with 8 complaints closed in the previous 12 months. Most of those complaints cited problems with billing and collections. Since May 2015,the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)has closed 15 complaints involving CAB. Justia lists at least 1 case of civil litigation involving CAB.
Credit Adjustment Board, Inc.
8002 Discovery Drive, Suite 311
Richmond, VA 23229
Telephone:(804) 649-0761
Website: http://www.creditadjustmentboard.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely CAB 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 Complaints
In March 1998, in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, a judge issued a memorandum in a case alleging Credit Adjustment Board had violated certain provisions of the FDCPA. In this case, the plaintiffs were a husband and wife. Together, they had received dunning letters from CAB in an effort to collect two debts from a radiology lab—one debt of $7.77 and another debt of $3.05. “The letters received by the two plaintiffs were identical” and contained the following language:
“An important matter demanding your immediate attention has been reported to this office. You should contact this office not later than June 20, 1996 to conclude this matter.
“IMPORTANT: To stop further action, pay your account in full to this office. Return this letter with your payment in order to receive proper credit.”
CAB included the required validation notice “below this portion of the letter, which is double-spaced in the actual letter… in single-space type, in the same style and size type font as the rest of the correspondence.”
The plaintiffs charged that CAB’s letters violated FDCPA Sections 1692e, 1692e(5), 1692e(10), and 1692g. They stated that the collection letter “contained language that contradicted and overshadowed the debt validation language.” Section 1692g requires that the validation “language must be prominent and placed in such a way as to be noticed by the unsophisticated consumer…. In addition, the notice must not be overshadowed or contradicted, in form or content, by other messages or notices appearing in the collection letter or subsequent correspondence within the validation period.”
The letter in this case advised the plaintiffs that they “should contact this office not later than June 20, 1996 to conclude this matter.” That date fell just 7 calendar days after the date of the letter, but the FDCPA requires collection agencies to inform letter recipients that they have 30 days to dispute the debt. In addition, the statement, “To stop further action, pay your account in full to this office,” was judged by the court to be “both misleading and false,” in further violation of the FDCPA. These statements were also determined to have violated the FDCPA’s prohibitions against threatening “to take any action that cannot legally be taken or that is not intended to be taken” and against the “use of any false representation or deceptive means to collect or attempt to collect any debt or to obtain information concerning a consumer.” Thus, the court found in favor of the plaintiffs and awarded each plaintiff $300.00 plus court costs and attorney fees.
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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Been harrased that I will lose my job if I dont make payments. Tha I have to make $5000 up front. So I made 2 payments of $100 already. Then I got another call from the same company again with the same collection. And I thought I’m already making payments why are they calling me for the same collection.