If Credit Management LP has appeared on your credit report, the debt almost certainly traces to a cable, internet, or telecom account. Credit Management LP, operating under parent company The CMI Group, collects primarily for Comcast, Charter Communications (Spectrum), and Time Warner. If you cancelled a cable or internet service and had a disputed final bill or equipment charge, CMI is likely who ended up with the account.
Multiple consumer protection attorneys confirm CMI is not known for filing lawsuits against consumers. This guide covers who they are, what their complaint patterns show, and how to respond.
Who Is Credit Management LP?
Credit Management LP is a third-party debt collection division of The CMI Group, Inc., a Texas-based company founded in 1985. The company is headquartered in Plano, Texas, with additional offices in Carrollton and Coppell, and is led by Co-Founder/CEO Tom Stockton and President/CFO Carrie Finney. The CMI Group also operates A to Z Call Center Services and The Affiliated Group as subsidiaries.
CMI has accumulated 26+ federal civil cases, with approximately 15 filed in the past three years for collection harassment. The company is not known for filing lawsuits to collect consumer debts.
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Why CMI Is on Your Credit Report
Credit Management LP’s client base is concentrated in cable, internet, and telecommunications. Confirmed clients include:
- Comcast: Disputed final bills, unreturned equipment charges, and service cancellation balances.
- Charter Communications (Spectrum): Including the subsidiary previously known as Time Warner Cable, confirmed in recent BBB complaints referencing “11 Charter Communications.”
- Time Warner Cable: Legacy accounts from before the Charter acquisition.
- Healthcare providers: Hospital and clinic accounts through their healthcare collections division.
- Utilities and government: Municipal and utility service accounts.
If you cancelled cable or internet service and disputed a final bill, an equipment return charge, or a balance that carried over without explanation, a CMI account on your credit report almost certainly traces to that dispute.
The Equipment Return Dispute Pattern
A documented BBB complaint describes a consumer who cancelled Spectrum cable service, returned all equipment in person at a Spectrum location, and continued receiving automatic deductions from their bank account. CMI was then assigned the account and pursued the consumer for an equipment charge involving a router the consumer says they never had.
Equipment billing disputes are common at telecom companies, especially around cancellations. Before paying any CMI balance that involves equipment:
- Pull your original cancellation confirmation and any equipment return receipts.
- Contact the original carrier directly to confirm what equipment was on your account, what was returned, and when.
- Request an itemized breakdown from CMI of exactly what charges make up the balance.
If the original carrier’s records show equipment was returned, that documentation is your primary dispute evidence.
Reporting Without Prior Notice
A documented 2024 BBB complaint describes a consumer finding a CMI entry on their credit report that dropped their score 20 points, having never received any notice from CMI or the original creditor before the reporting. The complaint specifically notes CMI did not provide notice within 5 days of receiving the account and did not wait 30 days before reporting.
Under Regulation F, debt collectors must provide written validation notice before or promptly after reporting to credit bureaus. If CMI appeared on your credit report and you received no prior communication, dispute the entry with each credit bureau and file a complaint at consumerfinance.gov.
The Autodialer Harassment Pattern
Documented complaints describe CMI calling 5 to 10 times per day using an autodialer. A 2012 civil action in the Southern District of Texas alleged TCPA violations alongside FDCPA and Texas Debt Collection Practices Act (TDCPA) violations. The TCPA restricts automated calls and provides for $500 to $1,500 in damages per illegal call.
If CMI is calling you multiple times per day, document each call with date, time, and number. That record supports both a CFPB complaint and a potential TCPA claim.
What CMI Cannot Do Under Federal and Texas Law
The FDCPA and the Texas Debt Collection Practices Act (TDCPA) apply to Credit Management LP. Under these laws, they cannot:
- Report to credit bureaus without prior notice: Documented in a 2024 BBB complaint.
- Use automated dialers excessively: Documented as a recurring CMI pattern.
- 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.
- Collect on equipment charges for items you returned: Verify return receipts before paying.
File federal complaints at consumerfinance.gov. Texas residents can also file with the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.
Verify the Debt Before Paying Anything
Do not pay or admit the debt is yours until you have verified it with both CMI and the original carrier. For telecom debts, specifically ask for an itemized breakdown showing exactly what each charge represents, which equipment is included, and when it was due.
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 itemized balance, and the date of original delinquency.
How to Check Your Credit Report for CMI Errors
Pull your credit reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. Is the balance correct? Is it listed under the right original carrier? Does it appear under both Comcast or Charter and Credit Management LP as separate negative entries?
Any inaccuracy, including a charge for equipment you returned, is grounds for a dispute with each credit bureau.
How Long Can CMI Legally Pursue the Debt?
Texas has a 4-year statute of limitations on written contracts and open accounts. If you no longer live in Texas, 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 CMI Account
Once you have verified the debt, consider your options:
- Go to the original carrier first: Contact Comcast, Spectrum, or the original provider directly. Many telecom companies will resolve equipment billing disputes at the corporate level faster than through CMI.
- Negotiate a settlement: CMI may accept reduced amounts on older accounts. Get any agreement in writing before paying.
- Dispute if inaccurate: If the equipment was returned, the balance is wrong, or CMI reported without prior notice, dispute with the credit bureaus.
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How to Contact Credit Management LP
Handle all communication in writing whenever possible:
- Address: Credit Management LP, 6080 Tennyson Pkwy, Suite 100, Plano, TX 75024
- Mailing address: PO Box 118288, Carrollton, TX 75011
- Phone: (800) 377-7713
Bottom Line
Credit Management LP is Comcast and Charter’s primary third-party collector. If your account traces to a disputed cable or equipment charge, the original carrier is often the better starting point for resolution. CMI does not file lawsuits, which gives you time to verify thoroughly before paying.
Document any autodialer calls carefully and dispute immediately if CMI appeared on your credit report without prior written notice.
Brooke Banks is a personal finance writer specializing in credit, debt, and smart money management. She helps readers understand their rights, build better credit, and make confident financial decisions with clear, practical advice.