Is Credit Clearing House of America Hurting Your Credit?

Credit Clearing House of America, Inc. has collected debts from Louisville, Kentucky since 1951. Their own website describes their collection approach as aggressive, and their documented complaint record includes excessive calls, demanding payment for unrecognized debts, and failing to validate accounts when consumers request it.

CCHA collects for healthcare providers, utilities, government agencies, and financial institutions. This guide covers who they are and how to respond.

Who Is Credit Clearing House of America?

Credit Clearing House of America, Inc. is a third-party debt collection agency founded in 1951 and BBB accredited since March 2010. They collect for healthcare providers, utility companies, government agencies, and financial institutions across multiple states.

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

“Aggressive” Collection and What That Means for Consumers

CCHA’s own website describes their collection model as going after payment aggressively. Documented consumer complaints describe CCHA calling multiple times per day, including at odd hours, demanding payment for a debt the consumer did not recognize.

When a consumer contacted a consumer law firm after CCHA’s calls, the attorney found CCHA had failed to validate the debt and used aggressive tactics that violated the FDCPA. Regulation F limits collection calls to seven within any seven-day period per debt. Calls outside of 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time violate FDCPA Section 1692c(a)(1).

Failure to Validate Debts

A documented complaint describes CCHA collecting on a debt the consumer did not recognize and failing to validate it upon request. Under FDCPA Section 1692g, a collector must send a written validation notice within five days of first contact and must pause collection if the consumer disputes the debt in writing within 30 days.

If CCHA is collecting on an account you do not recognize and has not provided written verification, that sequence is actionable. Send a validation request by certified mail and document every collection attempt that occurs before they respond.

Multiple Phone Numbers

CCHA uses more than a dozen phone numbers to place collection calls, including multiple 502 area code lines and toll-free numbers. If you receive calls from unfamiliar Kentucky numbers or toll-free lines you do not recognize, check whether the number is associated with CCHA before engaging.

Known CCHA numbers include (502) 583-1666, (800) 928-1666, (502) 569-7121, (502) 569-7122, and several additional 502 extensions. If CCHA is calling from multiple numbers after a stop request, log each call separately. Each contact after a confirmed cease request is a separate FDCPA violation.

Medical Debt Reporting Rules Apply

For any CCHA account tied to a healthcare provider, current CFPB medical debt reporting rules apply. Medical debts under $500 cannot appear on any consumer credit report. Any medical debt must wait one full year past the date of first delinquency before being reported.

If CCHA has reported a medical balance under $500 or less than one year past due, dispute it immediately.

What CCHA Cannot Do Under Federal Law

• Call more than seven times within a seven-day period: A documented complaint pattern. Regulation F presumes harassment above this threshold.
• Call outside of 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time: A documented odd-hours complaint. FDCPA Section 1692c(a)(1) prohibits this.
• Fail to validate a debt after a written request: A documented complaint. Collection must pause until written verification is provided.
• Continue calling from new numbers after a cease request: Multiple numbers are documented. Each call after confirmed receipt of a cease request is a separate violation.
• Report medical debts under $500 or less than one year past due: Current CFPB rules prohibit both outright.

Verify the Debt Before Paying Anything

Send a written validation request by certified mail within 30 days of first contact. Request the original creditor’s name, the account type, the balance at referral, and an itemized breakdown of any charges. For medical accounts, request the date of service and your insurer’s explanation of benefits.

How to Find CCHA on Your Credit Report

Check your credit reports for “Credit Clearing House of America” and “CCHA.” Confirm the original creditor is identified and the account type matches your history. For any medical entry, verify the balance exceeds $500 and the account is at least one year past due.

Your Options Before Paying or Responding

• Log every call with date, time, and number used: CCHA’s multiple phone numbers and documented excessive call pattern make a call log essential before filing a CFPB complaint.
• Send a written validation request immediately for any unrecognized debt: The documented complaint shows CCHA collecting on debts consumers do not recognize. Certified mail establishes the request and their response time.
• Dispute medical entries under $500 or less than one year old immediately: CFPB rules make both disputable without waiting for CCHA to respond.
• File with the Kentucky AG in addition to CFPB: The Kentucky Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division accepts debt collection complaints at (888) 432-9257.

How to Contact Credit Clearing House of America

• Address: Credit Clearing House of America, Inc., 120 E Market Street, Louisville, KY 40202
• Phone: (502) 583-1666 or (800) 928-1666

Bottom Line

Credit Clearing House of America has collected debts since 1951 and describes its own approach as aggressive. Documented complaints include excessive calls at odd hours, collecting on unrecognized debts, and failing to provide validation when requested.

Log every call with the number used, send a certified validation request for any unrecognized account, and for medical entries verify the balance and age against current CFPB reporting thresholds before paying or responding to anything CCHA claims.