Consumer complaint received 2025-07-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: Creditors Bureau Associates
State: GA

Complaint narrative:
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  CERTIFIED MAIL  RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED \nCredit Bureau Associates \nXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXSubject: FORMAL DISPUTE & DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE DELETION OF INACCURATE MEDICAL DEBT \nDear Compliance Officer, \nPursuant to my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C.  1681 et seq.), I am formally disputing the inaccurate and unverifiable medical debt currently being reported on my credit file. I demand that your agency conduct a lawful and thorough reinvestigation, as mandated by federal law, and remove this account immediately. \n### DISPUTED ACCOUNT INFORMATION: \n- Creditor/Collection Agency Name: Creditors Bureau Associates\n- Account Number: XXXX  Amount: XXXX Date of Service: XXXX  LEGAL BASIS FOR REMOVAL & PREVENTION OF REINSERTION \nThis account must be permanently deleted based on the following legal grounds: \n#### 1. VIOLATION OF THE FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT (FCRA)  FAILURE TO REPORT ACCURATE INFORMATION ( 1681e(b)) \nThe FCRA mandates that credit reporting agencies maintain maximum possible accuracy in consumer credit files. Given the high error rate in medical billing, per the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports, the burden is on the credit bureau to ensure the accuracy of this reporting. This debt, as listed, contains inconsistencies and/or unverifiable information, rendering it inaccurate and unlawful under FCRA  1681e(b). \nIf this account remains on my report despite its clear inaccuracies, your agency will be in willful violation of federal law and subject to legal action under FCRA  1681n, which provides for statutory damages of up to $1,000 per violation, as well as actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees. \n#### 2. VIOLATION OF THE FCRA  FAILURE TO PROPERLY REINVESTIGATE DISPUTED INFORMATION ( 1681i) \nThe law is unequivocal: upon notification of a dispute, you must conduct a reasonable reinvestigation within 30 days and provide a complete response. However, the CFPB has sued both XXXX XXXX XXXX for engaging in "sham investigations" by failing to conduct meaningful disputes. Given this precedent, I demand a full and proper reinvestigation, including: \n- A complete and detailed accounting of your verification process, including the identity of the furnisher and the precise method used to validate the debt. \n- A copy of any contract or agreement that allegedly binds me to this medical debt. \n- Confirmation that the furnisher complied with all HIPAA Privacy Rule requirements before transmitting my private medical billing data to a third party. \nFailure to comply will constitute a violation of FCRA 1681i, opening your agency to civil liability. \n#### 3. POTENTIAL HIPAA VIOLATION UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE OF MEDICAL INFORMATION \nUnder the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), 45 CFR 164.502, my medical records and billing information are considered protected health information (PHI) and cannot be disclosed to third parties, including debt collectors, without my explicit consent. If this debt was transferred to a collection agency without a legally valid Business Associate Agreement (BAA) or my signed HIPAA authorization, the reporting of this information constitutes a serious violation of federal privacy laws. \nTo comply with federal law, you must provide: \n1. A copy of my signed HIPAA authorization permitting this debt to be reported. \n2. A copy of the Business Associate Agreement (BAA) between the medical provider and the collection agency. \nIf you cannot produce these documents, this debt must be permanently deleted. \n#### 4. RECENT CFPB RULEMAKING  MEDICAL DEBT MUST NOT BE REPORTED \nAs per the Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus (CFPB) recent rulings, medical debts have been found to be unreliable indicators of creditworthiness and should not appear on credit reports. Furthermore, leading credit reporting agenciesincluding XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXhave already begun removing medical collections under XXXX XXXXnAdditionally, GOP lawmakers are currently attempting to repeal these protections (see XXXX XXXX  article]XXXX. However, as of today, these protections remain in full force under the CFPBs regulatory authority. \nTherefore, I demand immediate removal of this disputed debt, in accordance with the CFPBs findings that medical debt reporting is inherently unreliable and misleading. \n### DEMAND FOR PERMANENT REMOVAL & PREVENTION OF REINSERTION \nShould you proceed with the deletion of this account, you are also legally prohibited from reinserting it into my credit report without notifying me in writing within five days of the reinsertion, per FCRA  1681i(a)(5)(B). \nIf this account reappears without verifiable proof of the debt, I will take legal action against your agency and the furnisher for violating my rights under FCRA  1681s-2(b). \n### CONCLUSION & FINAL WARNING \nGiven the federal regulatory landscape and consumer protections in place, I expect immediate and full compliance with this dispute. \n- If you determine that this account cannot be verified, it must be permanently deleted from my report within 30 days per FCRA  1681i(a)(5)(A). \n- If this dispute is ignored or inadequately addressed, I will escalate my complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the Attorney General\'s Office, and I will not hesitate to pursue legal action. \nThis letter serves as a final warning. If I do not receive a written response confirming the removal of this inaccurate debt within the legally mandated timeframe, I will consider my legal options under FCRA  1681n and FCRA  1681o for negligent and willful noncompliance. \nI expect a written response confirming the deletion within the next 30 days. \nSincerely, \XXXX XXXX

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation