CBSA Collections on Your Credit Report: What to Know

Credit Bureau Services Association (CBSA) has collected debts in Stillwater, Oklahoma since 1907, making them one of the oldest active collection agencies in the country. They collect for banks, medical providers, utility companies, colleges and universities, and property management companies.

A documented BBB complaint shows CBSA providing validation documentation that included a handwritten balance adjustment added to match what was on the consumer’s credit report, without any explanation from the original creditor. This guide covers who CBSA is, their documented complaint patterns, and how to respond.

Who Is CBSA Collections?

Credit Bureau Services Association (CBSA) is a third-party debt collection agency founded in 1907 and headquartered in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The BBB has a profile on them and lists them as not accredited. CBSA collects for banking institutions, medical providers, utility companies, colleges and universities, retail businesses, and property management companies.

Oklahoma has a 5-year statute of limitations on written contracts. Medical debt CFPB rules apply to healthcare accounts they report.

The Handwritten Balance Adjustment Complaint

A documented BBB complaint describes a consumer who challenged a CBSA account through the CFPB and received validation documentation containing a handwritten balance adjustment added under the printed total, making the number match what was on their credit report. The adjustment was never explained or confirmed by the original creditor. The only other documentation CBSA provided was a tenant ledger.

A tenant ledger is not a signed contract, a bill of sale, or any document establishing that the consumer owes the claimed amount to CBSA. The consumer alleged FDCPA violations for failure to validate, misleading practices, and continuing to collect on an unverified debt.

If CBSA has provided validation with any handwritten modification not confirmed by the original creditor, document that response before taking any further action.

The Payment Plan Credit Report Dispute

A second documented BBB complaint describes a consumer who entered a payment plan with CBSA in June 2023 and made payments through July 2024. As of November 2024, the collection still appeared on their credit report as open with no change in balance.

CBSA’s response disputed the consumer’s account of events, stating no payments had actually been received and that a settlement offer had been proposed but never accepted or paid. The two accounts of the same events are directly contradictory.

This case underscores why written documentation of any payment plan or settlement agreement is essential before making payments. If CBSA and a consumer have conflicting records of payments made, the consumer’s bank records, payment receipts, and written confirmation of the arrangement are the only definitive evidence.

Property Management Accounts

Based on the tenant ledger documentation provided in the BBB complaint, CBSA also collects for property management companies. Property management collections frequently involve disputed move-out charges, lease break fees, and damage assessments that rely on landlord records the consumer may never have seen.

If CBSA is collecting a property management balance, request the original lease agreement, the move-out inspection report, and an itemized breakdown of every charge in the claimed balance. A tenant ledger alone does not satisfy the FDCPA’s validation requirement.

What CBSA Cannot Do Under Federal Law

Based on their documented complaint record:

• Provide validation documentation with unexplained handwritten adjustments: The BBB complaint documents CBSA submitting modified documentation without explanation. Any adjustment to the claimed balance must have a documented and disclosed basis from the original creditor.
• Continue collecting on a debt after a written dispute without providing proper verification: FDCPA Section 1692g(b) requires collection to pause after a written dispute until verification is provided. A tenant ledger alone is not verification.
• Report inaccurate balances to credit bureaus: If a payment plan was completed and the balance was not updated, that is an FCRA furnishing accuracy issue.
• Report medical debts under $500 or less than one year past due: Current CFPB rules prohibit both for any healthcare account CBSA collects.

Verify the Debt Before Paying Anything

Send a written validation request by certified mail within 30 days of first contact. Specifically request the original creditor’s name, a signed contract or agreement, documentation of the chain of assignment from the original creditor to CBSA, and an itemized balance showing every charge. Review any validation response carefully for handwritten or unexplained adjustments to the claimed balance.

For property management accounts, request the original lease, move-out inspection report, and itemized charge breakdown. Oklahoma has a 5-year statute of limitations on written contracts.

How to Check Your Credit Report for CBSA Entries

Search all three credit reports for “CBSA Collections” and “Credit Bureau Services Association.” Confirm the original creditor is identified and the balance matches what the original creditor recorded at referral. If you have made payments and the balance has not been updated, gather your payment records before filing a bureau dispute.

Your Options Before Paying or Responding

• Request documentation of the original signed contract, not just a ledger: The handwritten adjustment complaint shows CBSA providing only a tenant ledger as validation. The FDCPA requires more than that.
• Get any payment plan or settlement agreement in writing before paying: The payment plan complaint shows CBSA and the consumer with completely contradictory accounts of what happened. Written records protect both parties.
• Dispute medical entries under $500 or less than one year old immediately: CFPB rules make both categories disputable without waiting for CBSA’s response.
• File with the Oklahoma Attorney General for state law violations: Oklahoma consumers can file complaints with the Oklahoma AG’s Consumer Protection Unit in addition to the CFPB.

How to Contact CBSA Collections

• Office address: Credit Bureau Services Association, 123 W 7th Avenue, Suite 300, Stillwater, OK 74074
• Mailing address: P.O. Box 1929, Stillwater, OK 74076
• Phone: (405) 372-1693

Bottom Line

Credit Bureau Services Association has operated in Stillwater since 1907 and collects for banks, medical providers, utilities, colleges, and property management companies. Their most specific documented complaint involves providing validation documentation with a handwritten balance adjustment that was never explained or verified by the original creditor.

Before paying anything CBSA claims, request the original signed contract and review any validation response carefully for unexplained adjustments. Get any payment plan in writing before making a single payment.