Credit Bureau Data, Inc. (CBD) is a third-party collection agency based in Wisconsin. CBD has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), such as threatening to take actions that cannot legally be taken and using false or misleading information in an effort to collect a debt. If CBD has contacted you about past due collection items, make sure you know your rights before you respond.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Credit Bureau Data, Inc. was founded and incorporated in 1979. The BBB established a profile page for CBD in 2004. The BBB lists CBD as a collection agency, billing service, and credit reporting agency. Buzzfile estimates CBD’s annual revenue at $2.8 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 30 employees.
According to its website, CBD “effectively provides collection services and… achieves exemplary results for…clients.” CBD’s “record of success shows that their philosophy of treating people with respect and dignity has financial benefits.” CBD is “uniquely able to provide all the capabilities of the largest firms, plus the personal attention and individualized service that allows them to seamlessly work with client organizations.”
The CBD website does not provide any detailed information about the types of businesses or industries for whom they collect debts. Credit Bureau Data provides third-party services in four areas: accounts receivable management; outsourcing; check services; and credit reporting. Third-party collection are handled by CBD’s accounts receivable division and include “a modular dialing system totally integrated with the collection database”; a “professionally trained staff that obtains the required information to negotiate reasonable payment arrangements within…clients’ specifications or guidelines”; “convenient payment options”; multilingual collection representatives; and litigation support.
CBD also offers “outsourcing services to assist clients with the follow-up and collection of their non-delinquent accounts.” CBD’s “Check Re-Presentment Service… is an automated, consumer friendly, electronic process to collect returned checks.” And CBD’s credit reporting division provides “personal attention and fact-checking services along with information from their own database that may not be included in traditional credit reports.”
Credit Bureau Data is affiliated with several professional associations, including ACA International; ACA Government Services Program; ACA Healthcare Services Program; Wisconsin Collectors Association; Women’s Business Enterprise National Counsel (WBENC); American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM); and the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce. Their Consumer FAQ page provides some basic information about consumer rights under the FDCPA. Their Resources page includes links to the federal free credit report website; the Federal Trade Commission’s website on identity theft protection; the Wisconsin Office of Privacy Protection; and ACA International’s Ask Doctor Debt website.
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 September 2019, the BBB has closed 1 complaint against Credit Bureau Data in the preceding 3 years. That complaint was closed in December 2018 and cited problems with billing and collections. As of August 2013, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 7 complaints involving CBD. Justia does not list any cases of civil litigation involving CBD.
Credit Bureau Data, Inc.
518 State Street
PO Box 2288
La Crosse, WI 54602
Telephone: (608) 785-2222
Website: http://www.cbdlax.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely CBD 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!
Get Free BBB A+ Attorney. Call 475-277-1600 NOW
Unlawful Debt Harassment? Learn the Law & Sue the Collector.
Absolutely. You can sue a debt collector. Here is a Sample Case Complaint:
Complaints against Credit Bureau Data cite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of debts and the accuracy of billing and accounting procedures. In May 2016, a complainant stated that he had a debt that he was being sued for. The complainant had set up a “payment plan…and a payment amount was agreed upon between the debt collector, the complainant, and” a debt settlement resolution company. The complainant said that for some reason, “the creditor stopped payment without notification,” and that now they are suing him “for the total amount of the bill,” rather than “taking the $210.00” payment they had agreed to earlier. In addition, he claimed that even though the arrangement was originally set up with CBD, the creditor now has begun using a law firm. He said that he continues to “write a personal check to this law firm, but when they cash… it, the check clears at” CBD. The complainant also said that CBD is “still seeking the total amount even after he had provided proof to the court system.” CBD responded by stating that they “believed they had acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law.”
In December 2018, a complainant stated that Credit Bureau Data was inconsistent in its billing methods. When he was first contacted by CBD, they allegedly told him that the bill was for a certain amount, but “months later, the amount had changed, and CBD was trying to collect for a different amount.” In response, CBD stated that they had “sent the consumer a notice … showing the amount owed was $125.00” in early July. They stated that the consumer had made a payment through their web portal, and that they did not speak with the consumer until just prior to the complaint. “During that call,” CBD allegedly “informed him of his outstanding balance…and instructed him how to pay with their online portal.” According to CBD, the complainant “said he would do that and then hung up.” CBD said that his claim against them is not true, and that they are “treating this matter as closed.” In addition, the consumer has a “balance remaining unpaid.” CBD stated that the “consumer should contact them directly with any proof that he doesn’t owe the outstanding balance.” There was no indication of whether the complainant accepted the proposed resolution
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…
“I used to get up to 15 calls a week from several collection agencies. It got so bad I felt like I should just get a new phone number to make it quit. Happily, I discovered Lemberg Law. They immediately put an end to the calls. Now, when my phone rings I do not dread it.”
“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.
“Prior to contacting you, we had tried repeatedly to handle this matter without threatening litigation. In the end, not only were they unapologetic, but they were dismissive – even of an attorney friend who called on our behalf. Sincerest thanks for resolving this matter for us!”
We can absolutely help. Call us today.
Share your story
Have you had a bad experience with this agency’s debt collectors? Sound off and share your experience with other visitors in the comment box below.
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."
See more posts from Sergei Lemberg