A CBA entry on your credit report for a PG&E balance you do not recognize, or calls where the representative will not identify the company, is a pattern documented repeatedly in Collection Bureau of America’s BBB complaint record.
According to BBB filings, CBA has accumulated 188 complaints over the past three years, with consumers allegedly describing representatives who refused to provide a physical mailing address and continued credit bureau reporting after written disputes. If that matches your situation, call +1-844-638-1122 for a free case review.
Key Takeaways
- Collection Bureau of America is a real Hayward, California debt collector with a BBB A+ rating and accreditation, operating since 1959 and licensed in all 50 states, but 188 complaints in three years and documented conduct raise serious federal compliance questions.
- CBA collects heavily on PG&E utility balances. Multiple 2026 BBB complaints document CBA pursuing accounts that PG&E had already recalled, with CBA bureau entries remaining on credit reports after the recall.
- BBB complaints document CBA representatives refusing to identify themselves on calls, refusing to provide a mailing address for cease-and-desist letters, and continuing to report to credit bureaus after written disputes.
- CBA has been named in federal lawsuits alleging FDCPA violations, including claims of overshadowing consumer dispute rights within the mandatory 30-day validation window.
- You have 30 days from first contact to demand written debt validation. CBA must pause collection until they comply.
- Violations may carry up to $1,000 per FDCPA claim and $500 to $1,500 per illegal automated call or text under the TCPA.
- The Wood Firm PLLC handles FDCPA, TCPA, and FCRA cases on contingency. You pay nothing unless we win, and when we do, CBA pays our attorney fees.
Free Case Review: +1-844-638-1122
Who Is Collection Bureau of America?
Collection Bureau of America is a legitimate, licensed debt collection agency based in Hayward, California, that has operated since 1959 and holds a BBB A+ rating with full accreditation. CBA is licensed to collect in all 50 states and operates as one of the largest utility debt collectors in the western United States, with a particular concentration in Pacific Gas and Electric balances. Being accredited and rated does not mean every account CBA pursues is accurate or that every tactic they use complies with federal consumer protection law.
CBA collects primarily on PG&E utility balances, parking citations and municipal debts, telecommunications accounts, and medical bills.
In our practice, the PG&E account type generates the highest volume of complaints, often because the debt may belong to a former tenant, may have already been paid directly to PG&E, or may involve an account that PG&E recalled from CBA mid-collection. Any of those circumstances changes what your rights are and what you should do first.
The following contact information is documented for Collection Bureau of America:
- Also Known As: CBA, Collection Bureau of America, Ltd.
- Address: 25954 Eden Landing Rd., Hayward, CA 94545
- Phone: (800) 752-1785 | 800-752-1785 | +1 800-752-1785
- Website: collectionbureauofamerica.com
- BBB Profile: Collection Bureau of America BBB complaints page (A+ Accredited, 188 complaints in 3 years)
Why Is CBA Calling You
Collection Bureau of America is calling you because a creditor assigned or sold an account tied to your name or address to them for collection, most commonly Pacific Gas and Electric, a municipality issuing parking citations, a telecommunications provider, or a medical billing company. The account type matters because it determines which federal protections apply and what documentation you should gather first. Based on CBA’s BBB complaint record and our firm’s casework, four account types generate the most disputes.
PG&E balances from former tenants are the most commonly documented CBA complaint pattern. A 2026 BBB complaint involves a consumer who states the debt was incurred by a tenant who had already moved out, and that CBA continued pursuing the property owner. Accounts with incorrect identity or address matching also appear repeatedly in CBA’s complaint record, with consumers allegedly being pursued for debts tied to addresses they never occupied.
CBA also collects parking citations and municipal debts on behalf of local governments, where timing is critical because additional fees can accrue. A third documented pattern involves accounts that PG&E recalled from CBA mid-collection: multiple 2026 BBB complaints describe CBA continuing to communicate about an account, or failing to remove a credit bureau entry, after PG&E had already pulled the account back.
Is the Collection Bureau of America Banned
No. Collection Bureau of America is not banned, suspended, or barred from collecting in any state. CBA is a licensed debt collection agency operating in all 50 states, holding a BBB A+ rating and full accreditation since 1959. No federal enforcement action or regulatory ban against the company appears in the public record.
Being active and licensed does not mean CBA operates without federal oversight. The FDCPA, FCRA, and TCPA all apply to every collection contact CBA makes, and documented violations of those statutes are the basis of private lawsuits and CFPB complaints against the company. A collector does not need to be banned for its specific conduct toward you to be illegal.
Collection Bureau of America Complaints and Lawsuits
Yes. Collection Bureau of America has been named in federal lawsuits and has accumulated 188 BBB complaints over the past three years, with documented patterns of alleged FDCPA and FCRA violations. Verified federal cases include:
- Appel v. Collection Bureau of America, Ltd., S.D.N.Y. 2020: plaintiff alleged CBA’s written communications overshadowed the consumer’s right to dispute the debt within the mandatory 30-day window, in violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1692g.
- Holmes v. Collection Bureau of America, Ltd. et al., federal court: a protective order was issued in connection with collection conduct disputes documented by consumer law reporting.
BBB complaints filed through 2026 document three recurring patterns: representatives allegedly refusing to identify themselves on calls, refusal to provide a physical mailing address for legal correspondence, and credit bureau entries that allegedly remained on consumer reports after PG&E recalled the underlying account.
When we open a CBA file, we pull the written communications from the first 30 days, the credit bureau entry timeline, and the PG&E recall date, because those are where documented violations most frequently appear.
Before you respond to them: If any of the patterns above match what you received, including calls where no one identified the company, a credit entry before written notice, or a PG&E balance you paid or don’t recognize, the specific details matter. The letter date, whether you received written notice, and whether the account was recalled by PG&E all determine whether there is a case. Call +1-844-638-1122 for a free review that takes a few minutes.
Is Collection Bureau of America a Scam or a Legitimate Company
Collection Bureau of America is a licensed debt collection agency, but licensed does not mean every tactic is legal. CBA holds a BBB A+ rating and is fully accredited, which places it apart from fraudulent collectors impersonating real agencies. A real collector can still violate federal consumer protection law, and CBA’s complaint record documents conduct that raises specific FDCPA and FCRA questions.
A BBB complaint filed in March 2026 alleges that a CBA representative refused to identify themselves during the call, refused to disclose the purpose of the call, refused to provide a mailing address so the consumer could serve a cease-and-desist letter through counsel, and demanded that the consumer communicate only by email.
According to that complaint, the consumer interpreted the email-only demand as an attempt to collect additional contact information. In our practice, a collector who refuses to provide a physical address when a consumer specifically requests one for legal correspondence is creating a documentation record that may support an FDCPA claim.
If CBA is calling and the representative will not identify the company or provide a mailing address, document those interactions in writing immediately, with the exact date, time, and number used for each call.
What Collection Bureau of America Text Messages and Calls May Violate
CBA is calling and texting you, and each contact method carries a distinct set of federal rules. GSC data shows consumers specifically searching for “collection bureau of america text message,” which confirms CBA uses text outreach as part of its contact strategy. If CBA sent you automated or prerecorded text messages without your prior express written consent, each message may be a standalone TCPA violation worth $500 to $1,500.
Under the FDCPA and TCPA, CBA cannot call before 8 AM or after 9 PM in your local time zone, call repeatedly with intent to harass, send automated texts without prior express written consent, fail to identify themselves as a debt collector in calls or voicemails, refuse to provide a physical mailing address when requested for legal correspondence, discuss your debt with third parties including family members or employers, or continue collection after receiving a written validation request until they validate the debt.
The March 2026 BBB complaint specifically alleges that a CBA representative refused to identify the company, refused to state the purpose of the call, and refused to provide a mailing address for legal correspondence. In our experience, a voicemail that does not identify the caller as a debt collector, or a call where the representative refuses to do so, may already contain the core evidence of an FDCPA claim, particularly if you saved it.
How CBA’s PG&E Collection Practices Create Credit Reporting Problems
Yes, a significant share of CBA’s documented complaint volume involves a specific credit reporting cycle tied to PG&E utility balances, and the pattern is consistent enough across 2026 BBB complaints to address directly. PG&E assigns accounts to CBA for a limited collection period, after which the account may be recalled. When a recall happens, the CBA credit bureau entry often stays on the consumer’s report even after CBA no longer claims authority over the account.
Multiple 2026 BBB complaints document this sequence: the consumer disputes the balance or the account identity, PG&E recalls the account from CBA before the dispute resolves, CBA tells the consumer to contact PG&E directly, but the credit bureau entry from CBA remains.
The consumer cannot get CBA to remove it because CBA claims the account is no longer theirs. This creates a specific FCRA exposure because a collector who reported an account to a bureau but then lost authority over that account may still be obligated to update or delete that entry under the FCRA’s accuracy requirements.
One 2026 BBB complaint resulted in CBA providing a deletion letter after the consumer pressed through multiple rounds of escalation. When we open a CBA file involving a PG&E balance, we pull the credit bureau entry date, the PG&E recall date, and any written dispute documentation, because the gap between those dates is where FCRA liability is most likely to appear.
How to Push Back Against Collection Bureau of America
What We Examine First in Every CBA File
CBA’s documented complaint record points to specific places where their practices create federal law exposure. In our practice, we look for the following first:
- Calls where the CBA representative refused to identify themselves or the company as a debt collector. This is the exact omission at the center of FDCPA claims under 15 U.S.C. § 1692e(11)
- Refusal to provide a physical mailing address when the consumer requested one specifically to serve legal correspondence
- Validation letters that used language overshadowing the consumer’s 30-day dispute right. Compare the letter text against the Appel litigation’s documented complaint
- Credit bureau entries with a report date that precedes the date of any written notice to the consumer
- CBA bureau entries that remain active after a documented PG&E account recall. Check the PG&E recall letter date against the bureau entry status
- Automated text messages to cell phones without documented prior express written consent
- Collection activity is continuing after a certified-mail validation request was delivered
- Accounts involving address or identity errors where CBA received documentation but continued collection
How Contact Stops After Notice of Representation
Once The Wood Firm PLLC sends a notice of representation to Collection Bureau of America, all direct contact with you must legally cease under the FDCPA. Clients consistently report that calls and texts stop within one to two business days of that notice going out. Because CBA uses both phone and text outreach, the notice covers all channels simultaneously.
Which Laws Apply to CBA’s Documented Tactics
Three federal statutes apply directly to the patterns documented in CBA’s complaint record and litigation history:
- FDCPA: covers CBA’s failure to identify themselves on calls, refusal to provide mailing addresses for legal correspondence, contact with third parties, continuing collection after receiving a written dispute, and written communications that overshadow the 30-day validation window. Up to $1,000 per violation in statutory damages.
- TCPA: covers automated calls and text messages to cell phones without prior express written consent. Each illegal automated text or call carries $500 to $1,500 in statutory damages with no cap on the total number of violations that can be claimed.
- FCRA: covers CBA’s credit bureau reporting practices, specifically the pattern of bureau entries remaining on credit reports after PG&E account recalls and after consumers provide written documentation of payment or dispute. Inaccurate reporting following a written dispute that CBA failed to investigate is an actionable FCRA claim.
How The Wood Firm PLLC Handles Collection Bureau of America Cases
When clients come to us about Collection Bureau of America, we begin with the documented patterns specific to CBA’s PG&E-heavy practice and its credit reporting conduct. We have handled FDCPA, TCPA, and FCRA cases exclusively for more than 15 years, and we have never represented a creditor or collection agency at any point in that work.
Our initial review of every CBA file focuses on the call identification failures, mailing address refusals, validation letter language, and the gap between the PG&E account recall date and the credit bureau entry update date.
The Wood Firm PLLC handles every FDCPA, TCPA, and FCRA case on a full contingency basis, with no upfront costs, no retainers, and no hourly fees at any stage. If we win, federal law requires Collection Bureau of America to pay our attorney fees directly, and you keep your recovery. We are admitted to practice in federal courts across nine districts, including all courts of Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas.
We review every new case before accepting it, and our practice has remained consumer-only for more than 15 years. If you have received calls or texts from CBA, or if a CBA entry has appeared on your credit report, reach out to our office at +1-844-638-1122 for a free case review.
If Collection Bureau of America continued calling or texting after you sent a written dispute, or if a CBA entry appeared on your credit report before you ever received written notice, 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
Who is CBA and why are they calling me
CBA stands for Collection Bureau of America, a Hayward, California debt collector that collects on PG&E utility balances, parking citations, municipal debts, and medical bills. They are calling because a creditor assigned them an account tied to your name. You have 30 days from first contact to demand written validation.
Is Collection Bureau of America a scam
No. CBA is a legitimate, BBB-accredited agency with an A+ rating, operating since 1959. Being licensed does not mean every contact is legal, and CBA’s 188 BBB complaints include documented allegations of representatives refusing to identify themselves and continuing to report to credit bureaus after written disputes.
Can CBA report to my credit report without notifying me
Under the FDCPA, CBA must send written notice within five days of first contact. If a CBA entry appeared before you received any written notice, compare the bureau entry date to your records. That sequence may support an FDCPA or FCRA claim.
Can Collection Bureau of America text me
CBA may only send automated texts to your cell phone if you gave prior express written consent. Each unauthorized automated text may be a separate TCPA violation worth $500 to $1,500. Save and screenshot every message.
Will a CFPB complaint stop CBA from calling
A CFPB complaint creates a government record and requires CBA to respond, but it does not legally compel calls to stop. A notice of representation from an FDCPA attorney stops contact faster, typically within 48 hours.
Your Next Step If Collection Bureau of America Has Contacted You
The Wood Firm PLLC focuses on CBA’s call identification failures, mailing address refusals, validation letter language, and the gap between PG&E account recall dates and bureau entry update dates, because those are the documented patterns where CBA’s specific conduct creates federal law exposure. We are admitted in federal courts across nine districts, have represented consumers exclusively for more than 15 years, and handle every FDCPA, TCPA, and FCRA case on contingency. Call +1-844-638-1122 for a free case review today.
Consumer protection attorney with 15+ years representing consumers exclusively, never a creditor or collector. Admitted in federal courts across 9 districts, including all courts of AR, CO, NM, and TX. Based in Little Rock, AR.
