Additional Information for The Bureaus, Inc.

BBB files indicate that this business has a pattern of complaints. On 6/20/2023, BBB submitted a written request to the company encouraging them to address the pattern of complaints. As of 7/5/2023, BBB has received a sufficient response from the business who is actively working on the patterns below with the actions included.

• Consumers allege that debt does not belong to them or does not exist and is found on their credit report
  • The Bureaus, Inc has detailed policies and procedure regarding disputes that covers consumer complaints alleging the account does not belong to them. Information about this process is included in the initial letter we send to the consumer. When we receive notice from a consumer that the account does not belong to them, we update our records, and the account is marked to request the credit reporting agencies update the account as disputed on the consumer’s credit report. We provide the consumer with account documentation so that they can determine if the account is their account, if the account belongs to a different person, or if the account is a result of fraud. Often, the consumer reviews the account information and realizes that it is in fact their account. Sometimes, the consumer reviews the account information and confirms that the account is the result of fraud or identity theft. In this situation, The Bureaus, Inc puts the account on hold and sends the consumer the fraud affidavit recommended for use by the Federal Trade Commission. The Bureaus, Inc asks the consumer to complete and return the affidavit with any other relevant documentation (police report, copy of state issued identification with signature, etc.). The Bureaus, Inc reviews all the documentation the consumer provides as part of the fraud investigation. The investigation can include contacting the original creditor, comparing the signatures and information provided at the time the account was opened with the information in the FTC fraud affidavit. We attempt to resolve the consumer’s concerns before the dispute process. As many people have the same name, we have specific identification procedures to ensure that we are contacting the correct person. When we reach a consumer on the phone, The Bureaus, Inc representatives verify two pieces of personal identification information such as the last four digits of a social security number, current address, and/or date of birth. So, if the representative finds that the “John Doe” on the phone has a different social security number or date of birth than the “John Doe” account in our office, the representative updates the contact information relating to the wrong individual on the account (address, phone numbers, etc.) to prevent additional attempts made to that location. This is why the dispute provision exists in the FDCPA—to ensure that debt collection companies and current creditors are attempting to collect from the correct individual. The federal and state courts who interpret the FDCPA often mention this principle in their opinions as a reason why Congress added the dispute provision to the FDCPA (see section 15 USC 1692g).
    
    
• Consumers allege that they have issues getting a debt verification letter from company
  • When we receive a request for debt verification, we send the consumer a cover letter with the last purchase date, last purchase amount, last payment date, last payment amount, last billing statements, the “good bye letter” from the original creditor, and the cardmember agreement. In some cases we are also able to provide the original application. The information we are providing meets or exceeds the requirements set by the cases in the 4th, 8th, 9th, and 10th circuit courts which set the standard for debt validation under 15 USC 1692g Sec. 809(b).
    
    
• Consumers allege not having any contracts or communication with the company regarding the debt
  • Contact is not required prior to reporting a delinquent account as such on a consumer’s credit report. If contact were required prior to credit reporting, then everyone could simply avoid contact with their creditors to avoid paying their debts, and still have perfect credit history. Even so, many attempts to contact the consumer are made before they see The Bureaus on their credit report. The original creditor sends billing statements, followed by a letter to the address they have on file, informing the consumer of the transfer of the account and new payment address. We place phone calls and mail letters attempting to notify the consumers of the debt. The letters also inform the consumer they can request validation information verbally, in writing, or electronically directly with our office.