Credit Bureau of North America: What to Do If They Contact You

If Credit Bureau of North America (CBNA) has appeared on your credit report, verify immediately which entity you are dealing with. The abbreviation CBNA is also commonly used for Citibank North America, a major financial institution that is an entirely separate company. If your debt traces to a Citibank credit card, you may be dealing with Citibank directly, not Credit Bureau of North America.

Credit Bureau of North America, LLC is a Dickson, Tennessee debt collection agency that collects primarily for credit card companies and consumer lenders. This guide covers who they are, what to watch for, and how to respond.

Who Is Credit Bureau of North America?

Credit Bureau of North America, LLC (CBNA) is a third-party debt collection agency based in Dickson, Tennessee. The company collects on behalf of credit card issuers and other consumer lenders. CBNA is not a credit bureau despite the name. They do not compile or sell credit information. They are a debt collector subject to the FDCPA.

The CBNA Name Confusion

Both Credit Bureau of North America and Citibank North America use the abbreviation CBNA. If you see CBNA on your credit report and you have or have had a Citibank credit card account, confirm which entity is actually reporting before taking any action.

To identify which CBNA is on your report, pull the full tradeline information including the address. Credit Bureau of North America lists a Dickson, Tennessee address. Citibank North America will show a Sioux Falls, South Dakota address. These are distinct entities and require completely different response strategies.

Why CBNA Is on Your Credit Report

Credit Bureau of North America collects primarily for credit card issuers after accounts go into default. The typical sequence is a consumer stops paying a credit card, the card issuer charges off the account, and CBNA is assigned to collect on the outstanding balance.

If you have no history of unpaid credit card debt and CBNA appears on your report, investigate immediately for identity errors. A documented consumer resource notes that CBNA contacts sometimes appear on credit reports tied to accounts consumers do not recognize, making identity theft or skip tracing errors a possibility.

What CBNA Cannot Do Under Federal Law

The FDCPA applies to Credit Bureau of North America. Under federal law, they cannot:

• Threaten arrest or jail: Consumer debt is not a criminal matter.
• Call at odd hours: Contact is only allowed between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in your time zone.
• Contact you at work after you say stop: Written cease-contact requests must be honored.
• Use harassing or abusive language: Prohibited under federal law.
• Fail to validate debts when requested: Required within 30 days of your written request.
• Collect on time-barred debts without disclosure: Check the original delinquency date before responding on older accounts.

File complaints at consumerfinance.gov. Tennessee residents can also file with the Tennessee Attorney General’s Consumer Affairs Division.

Verify the Debt Before Paying Anything

Send a written debt validation request by certified mail within 30 days of first contact. Ask for the original creditor, the account number, the full balance breakdown, and the date of original delinquency. Confirm that the original creditor matches any credit card account you actually held.

Given the name confusion between CBNA entities, specifically request written confirmation that the company contacting you is Credit Bureau of North America, LLC based in Dickson, Tennessee, and not a different entity.

How to Check Your Credit Report for CBNA Errors

Pull your credit reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. Is the balance correct? Is CBNA listed under the right original creditor? Does the address on the tradeline match Dickson, Tennessee or somewhere else? Any inaccuracy, including a misidentified CBNA entity, is grounds for a dispute with each credit bureau.

How Long Can CBNA Legally Pursue the Debt?

Tennessee has a 6-year statute of limitations on written contracts and open accounts. If you no longer live in Tennessee, the relevant state is typically where you currently reside. Making a payment or acknowledging the debt in writing can reset the clock.

Your Options for Resolving a CBNA Account

Once you have confirmed the debt and the correct CBNA entity, consider your options:

• Verify with the original creditor: Contact the original credit card issuer directly to confirm they assigned the account to CBNA and that the balance matches.
• Negotiate a settlement: CBNA may accept reduced amounts on older credit card accounts. Get any agreement in writing before paying.
• Request a pay-for-delete: Ask whether CBNA will remove the account in exchange for payment. Get it in writing first.
• Dispute if inaccurate: If the wrong CBNA entity is listed, the balance is wrong, or the account doesn’t belong to you, dispute with the credit bureaus.

How to Contact Credit Bureau of North America

Handle all communication in writing whenever possible:

• Address: Credit Bureau of North America, LLC, 200 Creekside Dr, Dickson, TN 37055
• Phone: (615) 229-1038

Bottom Line

Credit Bureau of North America is a small Tennessee debt collector whose most significant consumer risk is name confusion with Citibank North America. Before disputing or paying anything tied to the CBNA abbreviation, confirm which entity is actually on your credit report.

Verify the original creditor, check the address on the tradeline, and send a debt validation request to confirm you are dealing with the right company before engaging further.