National Service Bureau on Your Credit Report: What to Know

State Farm Insurance exclusively uses National Service Bureau to recover money after auto accidents. If NSB is contacting you, there is a good chance an insurance company decided you were at fault in a crash and sent the bill to collections rather than a bank or hospital pursuing an unpaid account.

That distinction matters legally. Two federal court cases found that auto accident subrogation debts may not qualify as consumer debts under the FDCPA because they arise from negligence, not consensual transactions. Your standard collection dispute rights may be more limited here than with a credit card or medical bill.

Who Is National Service Bureau?

National Service Bureau, Inc. operates as Seattle Service Bureau, Inc. and NSB, incorporated in 1987 and headquartered in Bothell, Washington. They are not BBB accredited and have 28 complaints recorded in three years and 39 CFPB complaints since April 2015. Seven Justia civil cases name them as a defendant.

Washington has a 6-year statute of limitations on written contracts and its own Collection Agency Act under RCW 19.16 that supplements federal protections.

The State Farm and Geico Connection

NSB has worked as State Farm’s primary subrogation collector for years, with Geico as a confirmed additional client. Their own BBB responses confirm these relationships directly.

A January 2025 BBB complaint shows how this plays out in practice. A consumer provided proof of insurance at the accident scene. State Farm assigned the claim to NSB four months later claiming no valid insurance existed for the date of the incident.

NSB threatened driver’s license suspension and refused to provide an itemized breakdown of the $8,000+ claim. NSB eventually contacted the consumer’s insurer to confirm coverage before closing the complaint, meaning they pursued the consumer for months on a claim that resolved when they did the verification they should have done first.

When NSB Gets the Liability Wrong

A documented consumer complaint describes NSB pursuing over $13,000 from a consumer after an accident where city video footage proved the other driver ran a red light. NSB attempted to collect from the original vehicle owner even though the car had already been transferred to the owner’s daughter before the accident occurred.

Before engaging with any NSB claim, confirm that the vehicle, the date, and the liability determination all match your actual history.

The FDCPA Question

In Parham v. Seattle Service Bureau, Inc. (M.D. Florida, 2016) and Schaefer v. Seattle Service Bureau, Inc. (M.D. Florida, 2015), federal courts addressed whether State Farm subrogation debts NSB was hired to collect constitute consumer debts under the FDCPA. The courts found these debts may not qualify because they arise from negligence rather than consensual transactions.

Washington state law still provides its own consumer protection framework under the Collection Agency Act (RCW 19.16) and the Consumer Protection Act (RCW 19.86). But if you are planning to assert FDCPA rights against NSB for a subrogation claim, consult a Washington consumer attorney first about whether those protections apply to your specific situation.

When NSB Collects Non-Accident Debt

Not every NSB account involves an auto accident. A January 2025 BBB complaint describes NSB collecting for a retailer the consumer confirmed does not provide financial credit and has no authority to assign debts for collection. The consumer sent a certified validation request; NSB failed to respond and continued collecting.

For any non-accident NSB account, send a written validation request by certified mail and request documentation of the original creditor’s specific authority to assign the debt to NSB.

License Suspension Threats

The January 2025 BBB complaint and other documented consumer reviews describe NSB threatening driver’s license suspension as a collection tactic. In Washington and some other states, an uninsured motorist finding can lead to suspension through financial responsibility laws, but only after specific state procedures are completed.

A suspension threat made before those procedures are finished may exceed what is legally permissible. If NSB has threatened suspension, ask them in writing to identify the specific statutory basis and the current status of any state proceeding.

What to Do Before Paying or Responding

For any subrogation claim, request the original accident report, the insurer’s liability determination, and the itemized repair estimate before paying anything. Confirm the vehicle and date match your records. If liability is disputed, document your evidence before engaging with NSB or the insurer.

For any non-accident account, send a certified validation request within 30 days and request original creditor authorization documentation. Complaints can be filed with the Washington Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at (800) 551-4636 in addition to the CFPB.

How to Contact National Service Bureau

• Address: National Service Bureau, Inc. / Seattle Service Bureau, Inc., 18912 North Creek Parkway, Suite 205, Bothell, WA 98011
• Phone: (800) 798-1674 or (206) 533-0877

Bottom Line

National Service Bureau is primarily an insurance subrogation collector, not a traditional consumer debt agency. Federal courts have found that the FDCPA may not fully apply to auto accident subrogation debts, which changes your options compared to a standard collection situation.

Before paying anything NSB claims, verify the liability determination independently, request itemized documentation, and consult a Washington consumer attorney if the amount is substantial or the liability is disputed.