Patient Accounts Bureau contacts consumers about unpaid hospital copays, emergency room fees, and physician balances, often calling multiple times daily before sending any written validation notice. According to BBB complaint records, consumers have allegedly reported calls continuing even after accounts were disputed or covered by insurance. If PAB is calling you, +1-844-638-1122 connects you directly to The Wood Firm PLLC for a free case review.
Key Takeaways
- Patient Accounts Bureau (PAB) is a division of Hollis Cobb Associates, Inc., headquartered at 3175 Satellite Blvd, Building 600, Suite 400, Duluth, GA 30096. They collect only medical debt.
- PAB operates under the Hollis Cobb Associates name. If you see “Hollis Cobb” on your caller ID or credit report, that is the same company.
- PAB has accumulated approximately 86 BBB complaints in the last three years, with 26 closed in the most recent 12 months, according to BBB records.
- The most documented complaint pattern involves persistent calls on disputed or insurance-covered debts and continuing collection calls after a consumer files for bankruptcy.
- PAB formally states in BBB dispute responses that it does not report to any credit bureau, but the original hospital or Hollis Cobb Associates may still do so.
- FDCPA violations may entitle you to up to $1,000 in statutory damages; TCPA violations may result in $500 to $1,500 per call.
- The Wood Firm PLLC handles these cases on contingency: no upfront fees, and the collector pays if they violated federal law.
Free Case Review: +1-844-638-1122
Who Is Patient Accounts Bureau
Patient Accounts Bureau is a third-party medical debt collection agency operating as a division and DBA of Hollis Cobb Associates, Inc.
If you see “Hollis Cobb,” “HC Debt Collector,” or “PSG Hollis Cobb” on your caller ID, bank statement, or credit report, that is Patient Accounts Bureau. The two names belong to the same company, and consumers who do not know that connection frequently cannot identify who is contacting them.
The agency collects exclusively on healthcare accounts, including unpaid deductibles, co-insurance balances after insurance pays out, emergency room fees, surgery center costs, lab bills, and out-of-pocket physician fees. BBB complaints against Hollis Cobb Associates total approximately 86 over the last three years, according to BBB records. The agency is not BBB-accredited. The most common complaint categories involve billing errors, failure to verify whether insurance already covered the balance, and difficulties obtaining itemized statements.
In our practice, one of the first things we examine in a PAB file is whether the consumer received an itemized bill before any collection call. Medical billing errors, including duplicate charges and balances insurance already paid, are the most frequently documented trigger for these disputes, and a collector who proceeds without itemization may be collecting an amount that is not legally owed.
- Also Known As: PAB; Hollis Cobb Associates, Inc.; HC Debt Collector; PSG Hollis Cobb
- Address: 3175 Satellite Blvd, Building 600, Suite 400, Duluth, GA 30096
- Phone: 678-969-7800 | (678) 969-7800 | +1-678-969-7800 | 6789697800
- Alternate Lines: (678) 606-5537 (billing/letters); (678) 969-7812; (678) 969-7840
- Website: patientaccountsbureau.com
- BBB Profile: Hollis Cobb Associates BBB listing
Phone Numbers Patient Accounts Bureau Uses
PAB operates under several documented numbers. Consumers searching a number to identify who is calling should check against all documented lines below. The primary corporate line appears across the majority of BBB and consumer complaints:
- 678-969-7800 | (678) 969-7800 | +1-678-969-7800 | 6789697800
- 678-969-7840 | (678) 969-7840 | +1-678-969-7840 | 6789697840
- 678-606-5537 | (678) 606-5537 | +1-678-606-5537 | 6786065537
- 678-969-7812 | (678) 969-7812 | +1-678-969-7812 | 6789697812
Consumers have reported these numbers in BBB complaints and online forums in connection with calls about hospital and physician bills. According to BBB complaint records, several consumers received calls from PAB numbers without any voicemail identifying the caller as a debt collector, an omission that may violate 15 U.S.C. § 1692e(11).
Why Is Patient Accounts Bureau Calling You
Patient Accounts Bureau is calling you because a hospital, physician group, emergency clinic, or dental provider referred an unpaid balance to Hollis Cobb Associates for collection. PAB collects exclusively on healthcare accounts, which means the underlying debt almost always originates from a medical visit, lab test, or procedure.
Before paying anything, request an itemized bill and compare it against your insurance Explanation of Benefits. BBB complaints document a pattern of PAB pursuing balances that consumers’ insurance carriers had already processed, or charges already included in a payment plan with the original hospital. If the debt was already covered, contested, or part of a hospital payment plan, collection activity on that balance may be legally problematic.
Can Patient Accounts Bureau Report to Your Credit
No. Patient Accounts Bureau formally states in BBB dispute responses that it does not report information, positive or negative, to any credit reporting agency. This is a documented position the agency has stated repeatedly in public BBB responses.
However, the original hospital provider or Hollis Cobb Associates may still legally report the account or sell it to a separate agency that does report. If a collection entry appeared on your credit report and PAB is the collector of record, that entry likely originated from a different reporting source. Disputing it directly with the credit bureau is the appropriate first step.
Does Patient Accounts Bureau Violate HIPAA
Yes, Patient Accounts Bureau can violate HIPAA, and at least one documented BBB complaint alleges it has. HIPAA restricts what PAB can disclose to third parties when attempting to collect payment. The agency cannot legally tell a family member, employer, or coworker the specific nature of your medical procedure or diagnosis to pressure payment.
The BBB complaint record for Hollis Cobb Associates includes a consumer who alleged a representative disclosed specific details about a medical condition to a third party during a collection call, according to BBB records. If a collector identified the nature of your medical procedure to someone other than you, that disclosure may violate both HIPAA and the FDCPA’s prohibition on third-party contact. In our practice, we pull call records and document the content of those calls when a HIPAA disclosure complaint is part of the file.
FDCPA Complaints Against Patient Accounts Bureau
Yes, consumers have filed FDCPA-based complaints and engaged consumer protection attorneys regarding Patient Accounts Bureau’s collection conduct, according to published legal resources and BBB complaint records. The documented patterns include:
- Continuing collection calls after a consumer filed for bankruptcy, in alleged violation of the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362
- Pursuing balances on accounts already in dispute with the original hospital, without first providing debt verification
- Failing to identify the caller as a debt collector in voicemails and initial contacts, in potential violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1692e(11)
- Calling consumers multiple times daily about accounts the consumer alleged were already covered by insurance
- Charging a $6.00 convenience fee for phone payments, which consumers have disputed as an unauthorized charge under 15 U.S.C. § 1692f(1)
When we open a PAB file, we document the full call timeline and cross-reference it against any dispute or bankruptcy filing date. The most actionable violations in these files are the ones with the clearest timestamp evidence: a call logged after a cease request, or a call record that post-dates a bankruptcy petition filing.
Is Patient Accounts Bureau a Scam
No. Patient Accounts Bureau is a real, operating debt collection agency, a division of Hollis Cobb Associates, Inc., which has operated for over 40 years in the healthcare collections space. Licensed does not mean every tactic is legal, however, and the documented complaint record is specific enough to warrant scrutiny.
Several consumers have reported receiving calls from PAB about debts they do not recognize, for medical services they did not receive, or for balances their insurance already paid, according to BBB records. The documented patterns include:
- A consumer receiving repeated texts and calls about a bill for a six-year-old child incorrectly attributed to their account, according to a BBB complaint
- Unauthorized bank charges appearing on a consumer’s account without any prior contact or consent, according to a BBB complaint
- Calls and texts sent without any identifying information about the creditor or the nature of the debt, which consumers reported as indistinguishable from scam activity
These are alleged failures by the agency to verify the debt before collecting, not identity theft by imposters. The distinction matters because the FDCPA provides a legal remedy for each of those failures.
Is Patient Accounts Bureau Banned by the FTC
No. Patient Accounts Bureau and its parent company, Hollis Cobb Associates, have not faced a formal FTC enforcement action based on available records. The agency continues to operate as a licensed, active healthcare collections firm.
The absence of an FTC ban does not eliminate legal exposure for individual violations. The FDCPA allows consumers to bring private federal lawsuits directly against collectors. A successful claim may result in up to $1,000 in statutory damages plus attorney’s fees paid by the collector.
For PAB specifically, the CFPB’s medical debt collection guidelines also apply, and a collector that continues to pursue a debt during an active insurance dispute may face scrutiny under those standards.
How The Wood Firm PLLC Helps Stop Patient Accounts Bureau Harassment
When we open a Patient Accounts Bureau file, we focus on three specific issues this agency’s complaint record surfaces most often: the call timeline relative to any dispute or bankruptcy filing, whether the agency sent a written validation notice before placing any collection call, and whether any convenience fee or unauthorized charge appears on the account. PAB’s exclusive focus on medical debt means insurance verification is almost always part of what we examine. A collector pursuing a balance the insurer already paid may lack any legal right to collect. The firm handles these cases on contingency: no upfront cost to you, and if PAB violated federal law, they pay the fees.
After you call, we review the facts of your situation, identify which federal statutes apply, and give you a clear picture of whether a claim exists. The Wood Firm PLLC has represented only consumers: never a creditor or collector. To start that review, call us at +1-844-638-1122.
If Patient Accounts Bureau is calling about a debt your insurance already covered, continuing to call after a written cease request, or reaching you post-bankruptcy, those facts may already support a federal claim. Visit our contact page or call +1-844-638-1122 for a free case review. The Wood Firm PLLC handles these cases on contingency: if they violated federal law, they pay our fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Patient Accounts Bureau report to credit bureaus
No. PAB has formally stated in BBB responses that it does not report to any credit reporting agency. However, the original hospital or Hollis Cobb Associates may still report or sell the account to an agency that does. If a collection entry already appears on your report, it likely originated from a different source.
What should I do when Patient Accounts Bureau calls
Request a written itemized bill before making any payment. Compare it against your insurance Explanation of Benefits to confirm the balance is accurate and not already paid. If calls continue after a written cease request, document every call with the date and time.
Can Patient Accounts Bureau call me after I file for bankruptcy
No. A bankruptcy filing triggers an automatic stay that prohibits all collection calls. Calls continuing after a filed petition may violate both the automatic stay and the FDCPA. Document the date of your filing and every call that followed it.
Is Patient Accounts Bureau the same as Hollis Cobb Associates
Yes. Patient Accounts Bureau is a division and registered DBA of Hollis Cobb Associates, Inc. BBB complaints and legal filings involving PAB track under the Hollis Cobb Associates parent profile. They share the same Duluth, Georgia corporate address.
Can Patient Accounts Bureau sue me for a medical debt
Yes, lawsuits are possible, though PAB’s documented complaint pattern involves phone harassment far more than litigation. If suit is filed, verify the debt amount against your insurance records before responding, and consult a consumer protection attorney about the statute of limitations in your state.
What happens if Patient Accounts Bureau charged my bank account without permission
An unauthorized bank charge may violate the FDCPA’s prohibition on unfair practices under 15 U.S.C. § 1692f. Dispute the charge with your bank and document the transaction details. A consumer protection attorney can assess whether the charge supports a federal claim.
How do I get Patient Accounts Bureau to stop calling
Send a written cease-and-desist request by certified mail and keep a copy. PAB has stated in BBB responses that it honors written cease requests and adds numbers to a Do Not Call list. If calls continue after confirmed delivery, each subsequent call may be a standalone FDCPA violation.
What Happens After You Call Us About Patient Accounts Bureau
Medical debt collectors who pursue insurance-covered balances, continue calling after bankruptcy, or charge undisclosed fees operate in legally vulnerable territory. If PAB’s conduct fits any of those patterns, a federal claim may already exist. The Wood Firm PLLC takes these cases on contingency: no cost to you unless the collector violated the law. Call +1-844-638-1122 to find out where your situation stands.
Jeff Wood represents consumers exclusively: never creditors or collectors. He holds federal court admissions across 9 districts, including all courts of AR, CO, NM, and TX. He practices from Little Rock, AR.
