ComplaintsforCredit Bureau Associates of Georgia

• Initial Complaint

  07/05/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am respectfully requesting an explanation of all charges and a pay for deletion on my credit report. I owe $100 more and I’ve paid $406.99. ****** has been very rude on the phone and I’ve been respectful. I haven’t gotten a call since January. It should not be a problem to pay for deletion. Please send an detailed explanation of all charges and payments

  Business response

  07/15/2024

  Our agency takes complaints of this nature very seriously. We have reviewed the account in great detail and determined that no violations have occurred in our office and that the consumer’s complaint is unfounded.
  
  Our agency had been in communication with the consumer about their unpaid balances in our office and various payments had been made toward their total balance owed, but the balance was not paid in full. Our representatives reached out to the consumer prior to the remaining balance of $100.00 being reported to their credit file and provided the consumer with a timeline in which the payment needed to be received to prevent reporting. The consumer failed to make their payment within the timeline provided and the balance began reporting as an unpaid collection balance as a result.
  
  Our agency received a call 6 months later from the consumer demanding a “pay for deletion” letter and he was informed that was not an option. The consumer claims to have been respectful, but our records show that they used profanity and derogatory language during that call and our representative disconnected the call, as per our company protocol. When the consumer continued to call and make demands, he was informed once again that the account was not eligible for a deletion based on our agreement as a data furnisher and that if the balance was paid it would be updated as a paid account on his credit file.
  
  After reviewing the account associated with this complaint, our agency is unable to assist the debtor with their desired resolution. Their unpaid utility debt remains active as a collection account in our system. Should the consumer decide to pay their balance in full, it will be updated with the credit reporting agencies as “paid”. We are unable to violate our contracts with the CRAs, which require us to report accurate information regarding how consumers pay their outstanding debts. Any future requests for a “pay for deletion” will be responded to in the same fashion, as that is not an option.
  
  It appears that this consumer is dissatisfied with the way that the credit reporting system functions for all consumers and may need to direct their complaint to the credit reporting agencies instead of our office.
  
  Our agents stand ready to assist the consumer with resolving their remaining balance of $100.00 and will update their credit file to reflect their account status as “paid” should they choose to resolve the account. 

• Initial Complaint

  01/17/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I’m not liable with for the debt with ***** *** ****** ******. I do not have a contract with the collection agency CBA OF GEORGIA INC they did not provide me with the original contract as I requested. ***** *** ****** ****** was paid via insurance.

  Business response

  01/18/2024

  This complaint that has been filed with the BBB is the first formal, written correspondence that our agency has received from the consumer. We are choosing to respond in the same fashion that we would if we had received a written dispute letter from the consumer in the mail.
  
  As of the date of this response to the BBB, our agency has mailed a written dispute response to the debtor using the address provided. The response contains full validation documents and details, including a copy of the consumer’s signed agreement to pay any balance owed after insurance has processed.
  
  We have attached a copy of that dispute response communication to the debtor along with this response to the BBB with certain sensitive data redacted.
  
  Our client’s records show that the original claims associated with this debt were filed in the amount of $1200.00. The consumer paid $80.00 at the time of service. The consumer’s insurance remitted payment of $74.54 and adjusted $425.46, leaving the patient with a balance of $620.00. That same outstanding balance remains active in collections as of the date of this correspondence.
  
  Our agency takes complaints of this nature very seriously and stands ready to assist the consumer with resolving their valid, unpaid balance that remains in our office.
  
  Payment plan options are available and any of our representatives will be happy to assist the consumer with options to get the balance resolved and updated on their credit file.
  
  We can be reached at our toll-free number ***** *********

• Initial Complaint

  12/01/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I am not liable for this debt with **** ***** ******** ***. I do not have a contract with CBA of Georgia INC, they did not provide me with original contract as I requested.

  Business response

  12/01/2023

  This complaint that has been filed with the BBB is the first formal, written dispute that our agency has received from the consumer. We are choosing to respond in the same fashion that we would have if we had received a written dispute letter from the consumer in the mail.
  
  As of the date of this response to the BBB, our agency has mailed a written dispute response to the debtor using the most recent address available. The response contains full validation documents and details, including a copy of the consumer’s signed application for utility services as well as the final bill associated with their account.
  
  We have attached a copy of that dispute response communication to the debtor along with this response to the BBB.
  
  Our agency takes complaints of this nature very seriously and stands ready to assist the consumer with resolving their valid, unpaid balance that remains in our office.
  
  Should the consumer choose to call our office, any of our representatives will be happy to assist them with options to get the balance resolved and updated on their credit file.
  
  We can be reached at our toll-free number ***** ******** ** ** **** ** **** ** *** ***** ******** ** ******
  

  Customer response

  12/04/2023

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ******** **********

• Initial Complaint

  09/08/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am not liable for this debt with ****** ******** I do not have contract with CBA OF GA INC, they did not provide me with the original contract as I requested and have violated my Consumer Protection Rights.

  Business response

  09/08/2023

  This complaint that has been filed with the BBB is the first formal, written correspondence that our agency has received from the consumer. We are choosing to respond in the same fashion that we would if we had received a written dispute letter from the consumer in the mail.
  
  As of the date of this response to the BBB, our agency has mailed a written dispute response to the debtor using the address provided. The response contains full validation documents and details, including a copy of the consumer’s signed application for utility services. We have attached a copy of that dispute response communication to the debtor along with this response to the BBB with certain sensitive data redacted.
  
  Our agency takes complaints of this nature very seriously and stands ready to assist the consumer with resolving their valid, unpaid balance that remains in our office.
  
  Payment plan options are available and any of our representatives will be happy to assist the consumer with options to get the balance resolved and updated on their credit file.
  
  We can be reached at our toll-free number ***** ********.
  

• Initial Complaint

  08/23/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I'm not liable for this debt with **** *** *******. This debt is paid. I never had a contract with CBA NG.

  Business response

  08/28/2023

  Our agency takes complaints of this nature very seriously. We have reviewed the account in great detail and determined that no errors or violations have occurred in our office. The debt that the consumer states is paid, was indeed paid. It was resolved through our agency. Payments were made to our office by the consumer, over time, to clear up the collection balance that was owed to the original creditor.
  
  There is no requirement for a consumer to have to have a direct contract with a third-party collection agency in order for their outstanding debts to be reported to the credit bureaus. Our agency has a service agreement with the original creditor to collect their unresolved account balances. The original creditor placed the account associated with this complaint in collections with our agency and has provided a copy of the signed contract that they entered into with the consumer, who failed to pay them as agreed.
  
  As such, this complaint is unfounded.
  
  The consumer involved with this complaint was liable to the original creditor for an outstanding balance. That balance was placed in collections with our agency. They failed to pay their collection balance prior to it being reported as a collection account on the credit file.
  
  The balance was ultimately resolved three years after it was placed in collections and it is currently reporting accurately as a paid account that has been disputed.
  
  This complaint that the patient has filed with the BBB is the first formal, written correspondence that our agency has received from the consumer and we are choosing to respond to the consumer in the same fashion that we would if we had received a written dispute letter from the consumer in the mail.
  
  In response to this complaint, on August 28th, 2023, our agency has mailed a written dispute response to the debtor using the address provided to the BBB. The response contains full validation documents including a copy of the consumer’s signature agreeing to pay in the original creditor for the services rendered. We have attached a copy of that dispute response communication to the debtor along with this response to the BBB.
  
  Our agency makes every effort to correct legitimate errors and to assist consumers who may have incorrect information showing up on their credit files, but that is not the case in this instance. We are unable to comply with the consumer’s requested settlement, as doing so would violate our agreements with the credit reporting bureaus. Our agency intends to continue to report accurate information, as we are required. 

  Customer response

  08/28/2023

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because I never enter a contract with CBA. Therefore they have no right to hold me hostage.  There is no contract agreement between me and CBA although I paid the balance they were holding.  My contract was with ******* ***********.  If this was ******* *********** with the collection, then I'm ok. But I never entered in to a formal contract with CBA and this should be against the law for them to hold my credit hostage as a result. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ****** ****

• Initial Complaint

  08/09/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am Not liable for this debt with CBA OF GA INC. I do not have a contract with CBA OF GA INC. They did not provide me with the original contract as requested

  Business response

  08/10/2023

  The collection account associated with this complaint results from healthcare services provided to this consumer in 2019. Our client’s records show that their services were rendered in response to injuries associated with an auto accident. They also show that the patient was originally represented by an attorney and that a settlement on the case was expected, but did not occur. Our client’s records show that the consumer signed an “Irrevocable Assignment Lien and Authorization for Insurance Benefits and Attorney” document which made the consumer fully responsible for the balance due.
  
  Since being activated in collections with us, our agency has communicated with this consumer on various occasions. The account was not resolved and began reporting on their credit file as an unpaid collection. Since the initial reporting, our agency has received multiple online disputes for various reasons, including Identity Fraud, but no proof has been provided and no police report regarding the alleged fraud has been received.
  
  Upon receipt of the online disputes, our agency reviewed the account for accuracy and verified the account as being an accurate balance owed by the consumer based on the documents provided by the original creditor as well as communications with the attorney who previously represented the consumer.
  
  This complaint which has been filed with the BBB is the first formal, written correspondence that our agency has received from the consumer and we are choosing to respond in the same fashion that we would if we had received a written dispute letter from the consumer in the mail.
  
  We have mailed a written dispute response to the debtor using the address provided to the BBB. The response contains full validation documents, including a copy of the consumer’s signature agreeing to pay, as well as their signed medical lien document. We have attached a copy of that consumer dispute response along with this response to the BBB with certain sensitive data redacted.
  
  Our agency takes complaints of this nature very seriously and stands ready to assist the consumer with resolving the valid, unpaid balance that remains in our office. Payment plan options are available and any of our representatives will be happy to assist the consumer with options to get the balance resolved and updated on their credit file.
  
  We can be reached at our toll-free number (**** *********
  

• Initial Complaint

  07/10/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am writing to file a formal complaint against Credit Bureau Associates (CBA) regarding the violation of my rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) - 15 USC §1692(g)b – Validation of debts. I am deeply concerned about the unethical practices and breaches of privacy that I have experienced during my interactions with this company. Firstly, CBA has egregiously violated my HIPAA rights by unlawfully accessing and disclosing my personal health information without my consent. As a consumer, I trust that my sensitive medical data remains confidential and protected. However, CBA has demonstrated a complete disregard for privacy regulations by improperly obtaining and sharing my health-related information, which is a clear violation of HIPAA. Furthermore, CBA has also violated the FDCPA's provisions, specifically the requirement for debt validation. Despite my repeated requests for verification and validation of the alleged debt, CBA has failed to provide me with any substantiating evidence. I responded back to a letter from CBA and the company returned the document to sender claiming that the address was incorrect. I had previous correspondence going to this address before and now they’re stating it’s not a valid address. This behavior not only undermines my rights as a consumer but also raises serious concerns about the accuracy and legitimacy of the debt they claim I owe. These actions by CBA have caused me significant distress, anxiety, and concern over the mishandling of my personal and sensitive information. Moreover, their failure to adhere to debt validation procedures has resulted in confusion and a lack of transparency, leaving me in a state of financial uncertainty. I believe that CBA's actions are not only unethical but also indicative of systemic issues within their organization. They must be held accountable for their violations of HIPAA and the FDCPA.

  Business response

  07/19/2023

  Our agency takes complaints of this nature very seriously. We have reviewed the account in great detail and determined that no errors or violations have occurred in our office and that the consumer’s complaint is unfounded.
  
  The debt in question is associated with healthcare services rendered in March of 2020. The original creditor placed the unpaid account with us, their contracted collection agency, on June 10th, 2021. The records provided to us by our client show the debt to be valid and owed and our client has confirmed that status during our subsequent investigations.

  Our agency has received more than forty online disputes from this consumer regarding the debt. The account has been investigated, re-investigated and determined to be valid and reported as such. The balance owed is a patient responsibility amount left after the consumer’s insurance was filed by the original creditor. We have received no documentation or evidence from the consumer that shows our client’s records to be incorrect.

  Our agency has provided the consumer with full validation documentation along with our response to their written dispute received 06/29/2023. A redacted copy of that validation communication has been attached to this response for the BBB to review.
  
  Even after receiving validation, the consumer has continued to dispute the account and has made it abundantly clear that they have no intention of paying this balance. In fact, they have threated to take legal action against our agency as well as the major credit reporting bureaus during the course of their many online disputes. See the attached “Pre-Arbitration” documents addressed to Experian and Equifax which were included with the consumer’s most recent online disputes that our office has received about the debt.
  
  Due to the facts that the consumer continues to refuse to acknowledge the balance owed, even after receiving full validation, claims to potentially be litigious and because no payment is forthcoming, we feel that we have now exhausted our efforts to get this issue resolved for our client.
  
  As of the date of this response to the BBB, we are making an agency decision to delete the account from the consumer’s credit file when we submit our update to the bureaus on July 25th, 2023 and to close the account completely in our office. We are returning the account to the original creditor and are no longer pursuing the consumer for payment.
  
  While the complaint was based on inaccurate information and our agency adamantly denies any wrongdoing, we are choosing to delete the account.
  

  As a result, the consumer’s desired settlement has been achieved.
  
  

  
  

  Customer response

  07/20/2023

   
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  This third party agency knowingly purchased sensitive/protected information from an alleged source. This company ethics and morals has caused severe emotional distress, and financial distress due to the reported inaccurate information. While I do understand that the third party agency will delete the file from the credit bureau I’m demanding a settlement payment of $2,500 for the time it spent me to get this issue rectified along with the emotional distress this has caused. This is a  serious concern regarding the handling of my personal information, specifically in relation to a debt that was purchased by your agency. My  sensitive health-related information has been mishandled, and I believe this constitutes a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).According to my understanding of HIPAA regulations, it is imperative that any organization handling protected health information (PHI) adheres to strict guidelines to ensure the privacy and security of individuals' medical data. The unauthorized disclosure or improper transfer of such information is a direct breach of my rights as a consumer, and I am deeply troubled by this incident. Furthermore, I see that you  are planning to send the debt back to the original creditor. While I understand the legal process of debt collection and transfers, it is essential to note that your agency's actions in purchasing and handling my debt may have violated my rights under both HIPAA and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). I have also attached a copy of my most recent equifax report that currently shows the account still listed. 

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ****** **********

  Business response

  07/21/2023

  As stated in our previous response, our agency has handled this account properly and no wrongdoing has occurred. Our agency has coded the collection account for deletion and the consumer simply needs to allow time to pass so that they can see the update on their side. Our response clearly stated that the account will be submitted for deletion on Monday, July 24th, 2023, which is our next scheduled date for credit reporting. The consumer's desired settlement has been achieved and the collection account has been closed. Our agency does not intend to have any future communication with this consumer and any additional additional complaints about their closed collection account in our office will be responded to in the same fashion.  

• Initial Complaint

  07/03/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am not liable for this debt with ********** ********** ** *******. I do not have a contract with Credit Bureau Associates Of Georgia, they did not provide me with original contract as requested,

  Business response

  07/13/2023

  The collection account associated with this complaint results from healthcare services that were provided to this consumer in February of 2021. A balance was left as the consumer's responsibility after the healthcare provider filed the insurance information that the consumer provided to them. The insurance company denied the claim. The reason that the insurance company provided for their lack of payment was because the healthcare provider was out of network.
  
  Our client, the healthcare provider, has provided copies of internal notes as well as explanations of benefits showing that they did their due diligence in billing according to the insurance information that was provided to them and that upon receipt of the insurance company's denial, they spoke to the consumer on multiple occasions about the denial.
  
  According to those notes, the patient claimed multiple times that he was in contact with his insurance provider and they would be reprocessing the claim. The claim did not get paid and the practice was unsuccessful in their attempts to obtain payment from the consumer, so the account was placed with our office for collections according to the terms of the signed financial policy that they had on file for the patient. 
  
  Since being activated in collections with us, our agency has communicated with this consumer on various occasions, but the account was not resolved and began reporting on his credit as an unpaid collection. Since the initial reporting, our agency has received an online dispute stating the reason for dispute was that the patient was a victim of a natural disaster. Our agency reviewed the account for accuracy and verified the account as being an accurate balance owed by the consumer.
  
  This complaint that the patient has filed with the BBB is the first formal, written correspondence that our agency has received from the consumer and we are choosing to respond in the same fashion that we would if we had received a written dispute letter from the consumer in the mail.
  
  We have mailed a written dispute response to the debtor using the address provided to the BBB. The response contains full validation documents including a copy of the consumer’s signature agreeing to pay in the event that his insurance did not. We have attached a copy of that dispute response communication to the debtor along with this response to the BBB with certain sensitive data redacted.
  
  Our agency takes complaints of this nature very seriously and stands ready to assist the consumer with resolving the valid, unpaid balance that remains in our office. Payment plan options are available and any of our representatives will be happy to assist the consumer with options to get the balance resolved and updated on his credit file.
  
  We can be reached at our toll-free number ***** *********

• Initial Complaint

  11/23/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am not liable for this debt with ********************** and I do not have a contract with ****** plus they did not provide me with the original application like I asked. Account No: ****** Amount Disputed: $97.00

  Business response

  12/20/2021

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2021/11/29) */ ********************************************************************************************************************** This complaint is the first and only dispute that our agency has received from this consumer. This account was activated in collections on 06/29/20 and remains unpaid in our office. We have contacted our client and they have confirmed the balance is accurate and still owed. A detailed review of the records associated with the account in question shows that a contract between the consumer and the original creditor does in fact exist and the outstanding balance is valid and due after services received. The account is currently coded as a broken payment plan in our office due to contact being made with the consumer prior to the credit reporting occurred and a promise to pay the balance was issued by the consumer on 07/14/20 stating that they intended to resolve the balance on 07/22/20 upon our return call. Our attempts to reach the consumer again were unsuccessful until 08/18/20 when the consumer stated that they could not pay until 08/22/20 and requested a call back after 10 AM that day. All of our subsequent calls to the consumer were ignored or disconnected upon notification of the reason for the call. Our records show multiple attempts to reach the consumer again with multiple voicemails left encouraging the consumer to return our calls and resolve this balance prior to the account reporting on the consumer's credit file in January of 2021. Our agency is considering this complaint as a formal, written dispute and we have generated a dispute response including full validation and mailed it directly to the debtor at the address provided. The response includes a copy of the signed financial policy with the creditor along with a breakdown of the charges and the balance due. A copy of that additional information will be included for the BBB to review once this response has been submitted. The collection account under complaint remains unpaid as of the date of this response and the valid balance continues to report on the consumer's credit file as unpaid, but will be notated for the bureaus as disputed but verified, moving forward. Our agency stands ready to assist the consumer in resolving their unpaid balance so that their credit file can be updated to show that the balance has been paid. Our contact information is below: CBA PO Box 1095 Ellijay, GA 30540 800-606-2254

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩