If EOS CCA has appeared on your credit report, a 2015 CFPB enforcement action directly affects how you should respond. The CFPB ordered EOS CCA to pay $2.5 million, including $743,000 in refunds to consumers, after finding the company collected on disputed AT&T cell phone debts it could not verify, including debts that were fraudulent, already paid, already settled, or too old to legally collect.
If your EOS CCA account traces to an AT&T or Verizon Wireless balance, that specific enforcement history gives you real leverage. This guide covers who EOS is, what the CFPB found, and how to respond.
Who Is EOS CCA?
EOS CCA is a debt collection agency founded in 1991 as Collecto, Inc., operating as Collection Company of America, and headquartered in Norwell, Massachusetts. The company was acquired by Transworld Systems Inc.
(TSI) in 2021, ending its previous ownership by the EOS Group, a Hamburg, Germany-based receivables company. EOS CCA employs approximately 6,000 people worldwide and is one of the largest debt collectors in the United States.
EOS CCA also operates under the names EOS Healthcare, EOS ACA, and Collecto, Inc. All refer to the same Norwell, Massachusetts entity.
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The 2015 CFPB Enforcement Action
In December 2015, the CFPB filed a federal complaint against EOS CCA for collecting on old AT&T cell phone debts that consumers disputed and that EOS could not verify.
In 2012, EOS paid AT&T $35.4 million for a portfolio of more than 3 million cell phone accounts with a combined face value of $2.3 billion, paying less than 2 cents per dollar of claimed debt. Within months, EOS discovered significant problems. The portfolio contained fraudulent accounts, debts consumers had already paid or settled, and debts that were too old to legally collect under any state’s statute of limitations.
When consumers disputed the debts, EOS frequently could not get AT&T to provide documentation. Despite this, EOS continued to report and collect on disputed, unverifiable debts. EOS collected approximately $743,000 from more than 2,000 accounts that were disputed and unsubstantiated.
The consent order required EOS to refund all $743,000, pay a $1.85 million civil penalty, cease collecting and reporting on disputed AT&T accounts it could not substantiate, and overhaul its compliance management system.
If your EOS CCA account traces to AT&T cell phone service, specifically from before or during 2012, the account may be among those covered by the consent order. Contact the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov to determine whether your account may qualify for relief.
The Verizon Unauthorized Fee Class Action
In Butto v. Collecto, Inc. (E.D. New York, 2010-2013), a consumer sued EOS CCA for adding unauthorized collection fees to a Verizon Wireless debt. The suit alleged Collecto had a fee arrangement with Verizon where they would only receive payment if they successfully collected. The court considered class certification, finding the claims plausible. The FDCPA prohibits collectors from adding fees not expressly authorized by the original debt agreement.
If your EOS CCA account involves Verizon Wireless debt and the claimed amount is higher than what Verizon’s records show you owed at charge-off, that discrepancy may reflect unauthorized fees added by EOS.
The Sirius XM Complaint Pattern
A documented consumer complaint describes receiving an EOS CCA collection letter for $53.13 owed to Sirius XM Radio for an expired subscription. When the consumer called Sirius XM directly, Sirius XM confirmed they had not referred any collection to EOS. The consumer filed complaints with the CFPB and Sirius XM.
If you received an EOS CCA letter for a debt you do not recognize, especially for subscription services, contact the original company directly before engaging EOS. Confirm the original company actually authorized the collection.
What EOS Cannot Do Under Federal Law
The FDCPA and FCRA apply to EOS CCA. Under these laws, they cannot:
- Collect on disputed debts without verification: The centerpiece of the 2015 CFPB action.
- Report inaccurate information to credit bureaus: The second major violation in the consent order.
- Add unauthorized collection fees: Subject of the Butto class action.
- Collect on time-barred debts: Confirmed in the CFPB action as part of the AT&T portfolio problems.
- Call outside permitted hours: Contact is only allowed between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in your time zone.
- Continue robocalling without consent: A documented complaint pattern.
File complaints at consumerfinance.gov. Massachusetts residents can also file with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Consumer Protection 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 balance at the time of charge-off, the complete chain of ownership from the original creditor to EOS, and confirmation the debt has not already been paid, settled, or discharged.
The CFPB consent order specifically required EOS to verify debts with original documents before collecting. If EOS cannot produce original documentation, that refusal is directly relevant to the consent order’s requirements.
How to Check Your Credit Report for EOS Errors
Pull your credit reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. Is the balance correct? Does the account appear under EOS CCA, Collecto, or another EOS-affiliated name as separate entries? For AT&T accounts, is the balance consistent with what AT&T’s records show? Any inaccuracy is grounds for a dispute with each credit bureau.
How Long Can EOS Legally Pursue the Debt?
Massachusetts has a 6-year statute of limitations on most consumer debts. The relevant state for lawsuit purposes is typically where you currently reside. The CFPB’s enforcement action specifically cited EOS for collecting on debts too old to legally collect.
Your Options for Resolving an EOS Account
Once you have verified the debt, consider your options:
- Check the AT&T consent order: If the account traces to AT&T cell phone service from the 2012 portfolio, contact the CFPB to determine eligibility for the refund pool.
- Verify with the original creditor: Confirm the company actually authorized the collection before paying.
- Demand original documentation: EOS’s consent order requires them to verify with original documents. Demand proof.
- Negotiate a settlement: EOS purchased debt at less than 2 cents per dollar on the AT&T portfolio. Settlement room is significant. Get any agreement in writing before paying.
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How to Contact EOS CCA
Handle all communication in writing whenever possible:
- Address: EOS CCA, 700 Longwater Drive, Norwell, MA 02061
- Phone: (877) 395-5997
Bottom Line
EOS CCA’s 2015 CFPB enforcement action is one of the largest ever taken against a third-party debt collector. If your account traces to AT&T cellphone service from the 2012 portfolio, it may qualify for relief under the consent order. Demand original documentation before paying any EOS account.
Their history of collecting on paid, fraudulent, and time-barred debts makes verification especially critical before engaging.
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.