Getting a call about an unfamiliar cable or utility bill from Credit Protection Association is unsettling. According to court filings, the Dallas agency has faced multiple federal lawsuits alleging robocalls and misleading collection notices. This guide covers what CPA can and cannot do before you pay anything.
Key Takeaways
- Credit Protection Association, L.P. (CPA) has collected low-balance cable, telecom, and utility debts from Dallas, Texas since 1977.
- Court filings allege CPA used robocalls and prerecorded messages without proper consent in a federal TCPA and FDCPA class action.
- Consumer complaints allege CPA continued credit reporting despite ongoing payment disputes, according to public complaint boards.
- The FDCPA and TCPA both apply directly to CPA’s calling and reporting practices.
- Damages can reach up to $1,000 per FDCPA violation and $500 to $1,500 per unlawful robocall under the TCPA.
- The Wood Firm PLLC reviews CPA files on contingency, so there is no upfront cost to find out where you stand.
Free Case Review: +1-844-638-1122
Who Is Credit Protection Association
Credit Protection Association, known as CPA, is a Dallas debt collection agency active since 1977. The company operates as a subsidiary of Etan Industries and specializes in high-volume, low-balance collections. Its client base includes cable, telecom, utility, and retail companies.
In our practice, we pull CPA’s assignment agreement with the referring creditor on every file we open. Chain-of-title gaps are common when an account moves from a cable or utility provider to a third-party collector. If that paperwork is missing, the debt may not be enforceable at all.
- Also Known As: CPA, Credit Protection Association, L.P.
- Address: 13355 Noel Rd., Suite 2100, Dallas, TX 75240-6837 (also PO Box 802068, Dallas, TX 75380)
- Phone: 800-800-6499 | (972) 233-9614 | +1 877-278-5106 | 8003261879
- Website: creditprot.com
- BBB Profile: Credit Protection Association BBB listing
What Phone Numbers Does Credit Protection Association Use
Credit Protection Association calls consumers from several numbers tied to its Dallas office. Save any number that calls you. Reported numbers include 800-800-6499, (972) 233-9614, +1 877-278-5106, and 8003261879.
If a call comes from a number not listed here, do not assume it is unrelated to CPA. Collectors sometimes use rotating caller ID numbers. Document every number that calls before deciding how to respond.
Text messages and emails can also come from addresses tied to CPA’s Dallas office. Keep screenshots of any text alongside your call log. A complete record across every channel strengthens a validation dispute or a federal claim later.
Why Is Credit Protection Association Calling You
Credit Protection Association is calling you because a creditor assigned or sold your account to them for collection. That creditor is often a cable, telecom, or utility company. CPA built its business on high-volume, low-balance accounts from providers like these.
That volume model relies on repeated phone contact. A federal class action, Lanteri v. Credit Protection Association, LP, alleges automatic dialing calls to cell phones. If your phone log shows repeated calls in a short window, that pattern may itself violate the TCPA.
A separate proposed class action, filed in 2017, alleged an unlawful online convenience fee on past-due accounts. Fee disputes and calling volume often appear together on the same file. Reviewing both at once can reveal more than checking either alone.
Has Credit Protection Association Been Sued
Yes. Credit Protection Association has been named as a defendant in multiple federal lawsuits alleging FDCPA and TCPA violations.
- Lanteri v. Credit Protection Association, LP: class action alleging robocalls and prerecorded messages placed without consent.
- Convenience Fee Class Action (2017): alleged CPA added an unlawful online convenience fee to past-due accounts such as CubeSmart balances.
- Peters v. Credit Protection Association LP, No. 2:13-CV-0767 (S.D. Ohio): FDCPA compliance dispute over collection practices.
- Alvarado v. Credit Protection Association, L.P., No. 8:14-cv-447-T-33TGW (M.D. Fla.): debt collection harassment and compliance claims.
- Ehrich v. Credit Protection Association, L.P., No. 1:2010cv05863 (E.D.N.Y.): FDCPA-related consumer complaint.
In our practice, we check whether a client received a validation notice before CPA’s calls began. Lanteri and similar suits centered on communications that skipped required disclosures. That single gap is often the fastest path to a viable FDCPA claim.
Is Credit Protection Association a Scam
Credit Protection Association is a real, licensed debt collection agency. Licensed does not mean every tactic is legal. A 2018 lawsuit challenged the aggressive, misleading language used in CPA’s collection letters, according to court filings.
Consumers have also alleged in public complaint boards that CPA continued credit reporting despite active payment disputes. Some say this happened after CPA promised to pause activity while the dispute was pending.
None of this means every CPA account is invalid. It does mean documented conduct, not the agency’s licensing status, determines whether a specific tactic broke the law.
Has the FTC Banned Credit Protection Association
No. Credit Protection Association has not been banned by the FTC. The BBB currently lists CPA as not accredited.
Consumer complaints have instead gone to the CFPB, state attorneys general, and private lawsuits.
In our practice, we check BBB accreditation status and complaint history before advising a client on next steps. An unaccredited profile paired with a pattern of similar complaints often signals conduct worth documenting closely.
Can Credit Protection Association Sue You for This Debt
Yes, CPA can sue, but only within your state’s statute of limitations. If the debt is time-barred, that lawsuit has no legal footing. Our guide on time-barred debt collection explains how that defense works.
Can Credit Protection Association Report You to Credit Bureaus
Yes, CPA can report unpaid accounts to credit bureaus, but that reporting must comply with the FCRA. Consumers have alleged CPA reported accounts as past due during active disputes. Dispute any inaccurate entry with the bureau in writing.
Should You Pay Credit Protection Association Right Away
No, not before you request written validation. Confirm the original creditor, the exact balance, and CPA’s authority to collect it first. See our guide: what to do if a debt collector refuses to send a validation letter.
Why Is Credit Protection Association Calling About a Debt You Do Not Recognize
Credit Protection Association often collects on old cable, internet, or utility balances that consumers forgot or never owed. Equipment fees and final billing charges are common sources of these disputes. Request full account documentation before assuming the balance is accurate.
Does Credit Protection Association Use Robocalls
Yes, according to the Lanteri class action, CPA has faced allegations of using automated dialers and prerecorded messages. In our practice, we ask clients to save any voicemail that used an automated or prerecorded voice. That single recording can support a TCPA claim on its own.
What Happens If You Ignore Credit Protection Association
Ignoring CPA does not make the account disappear. Calls and letters typically continue, and the account may still be reported to credit bureaus. If the debt is still within the statute of limitations, a lawsuit referral may eventually follow.
Validate the debt and check your state’s time limit before deciding how to respond. Silence protects nothing on its own. A written dispute preserves your rights far better than simply not answering the phone.
How The Wood Firm PLLC Helps Stop Credit Protection Association Debt Harassment
The Wood Firm PLLC reviews CPA’s calling patterns, validation notices, and credit reporting entries for federal violations. Our team checks whether robocalls or misleading notices match conduct described in prior lawsuits against CPA. We represent consumers exclusively, never creditors or collection agencies.
We handle these cases on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we recover money for you. After you call, we review your call logs, letters, and credit reports to outline your options. Reach The Wood Firm PLLC at +1-844-638-1122 to start that review.
Before you pay Credit Protection Association another dollar, get a second opinion. 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.
What to Do Before Your Next CPA Payment
Before you send Credit Protection Association any payment, request written validation and check your state’s statute of limitations. Save every call log, letter, and voicemail from CPA.
A documented pattern of robocalls or reporting errors may be worth more than the underlying balance. Call +1-844-638-1122 before you send anything.
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.
