The Law Office of Paul Mankin

Is Butte County Credit Bureau Harassing You?

Butte County Credit Bureau

Butte County Credit Bureau (BCCB) provides debt collection services, including litigation, attorney representation, credit reporting, and bad check recovery. BCCB was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Chico, California.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a government agency charged with protecting consumers from unfair, deceptive or abusive debt collection practices. The CFPB has received consumer complaints against BCCB. Most commonly, consumers complain that BCCB engages in the following unlawful debt collection practices:

  • Attempting to collect a debt that is not owed by the consumer;
  • Using profane, obscene and/or abusive language; and
  • Refusing to validate or provide proof of a debt.

A consumer complained that BCCB continued to harass the consumer to pay a debt that did not belong to the consumer. The consumer reported to the CFPB that they disputed the debt and requested validation of the debt; however, BCCB could not provide validation of the debt because the original creditor was no longer in business.

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), when a consumer requests proof of a debt, a creditor or debt collector must provide a response. Within five (5) days after its initial communication, the creditor or debt collector must send a notice, referred to as the G-Notice. A consumer then has thirty (30) days to dispute a debt and to request proof of the debt. Failure to respond to the request for proof of a debt is a direct violation of the law.

Creditors and debt collectors should be held accountable for these unethical and unlawful practices. If you are being harassed or subjected to any of these, deceptive, or abusive debt collection practices, it is time to hold Pinnacle accountable. Please contact our office for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-800-219-3577.