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Home Debt Debt Collection Collection Agencies Credit Bureau of North America (CBNA)

How to Remove Credit Bureau of North America (CBNA) from Your Credit Report

Hand removing Credit Bureau of North America sign from building

At a glance

  • CBNA stands for Credit Bureau of North America.
  • They were a legitimate company that collected a variety of consumer debts.
  • In this article, we’ll talk about what exactly CBNA was, why they might still be on your credit report, and how to remove them.
  • CBNA is likely damaging your credit score.

Get expert help. Call now to remove CBNA from your credit report.

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Written by FinanceJar Team

Reviewed by Victoria Scanlon

Updated Sep 23, 2022

Fresh advice you can trust

We promise to always deliver the best financial advice that we can. Our writers and editors follow strict editorial standards and operate independently from our advertisers and affiliates. Learn more about how we make money.

Looking to defend yourself against CBNA and their claims that you owe a debt? Federal law provides you with protection—you just need to take action and exercise your rights.

We make it easy with a downloadable template you can send to CBNA demanding more information about the debt. Get started below.

Table of Contents

  1. What is CBNA?
  2. Who did CBNA collect for?
  3. Was CBNA a scam?
  4. What happens when debt collectors go out of business?
  5. How to get CBNA off your credit report

What is CBNA?

CBNA stands for Credit Bureau of North America. CBNA was a debt collection agency that was founded in 1998 and stopped operating in most states in 2011. 1 They frequently operated as CBNA, LLC and officially switched to that name in 2010. 2

Other companies that use the CBNA acronym

Credit Bureau of North America isn’t the only organization that uses the acronym “CBNA.” Items on your credit report labeled CBNA may also refer to:

  • Citibank North America
  • Community Bank, North America
  • Comenity Bank, North America

If you see CBNA on your credit report, review the item carefully to make sure you understand which company it’s associated with.

A CBNA collection account on your credit report is more likely to have come from Credit Bureau of North America because it’s a debt collection agency. Conversely, a hard inquiry is more likely to have come from one of the other organizations listed above, because they’re lenders that conduct inquiries before extending new lines of credit to people. (Citibank North America is the largest company out of the three, so they’re the most likely candidate.)

Who did CBNA collect for?

According to court filings and other records, Credit Bureau of North America bought various consumer debts from financial institutions like American General Financial Services (now OneMain Financial Services). 3 4

CBNA collected debt from auto loans and other credit obligations. 3 5

Was CBNA a scam?

No, Credit Bureau of North America wasn’t a scam. They were a legitimate collections agency. However, CBNA did receive a number of complaints and lawsuits for violating consumer rights. 3

It’s also important to note that even though CBNA has stopped operating, scammers may still pose as them.

CBNA Contact Information

Unfortunately, since CBNA doesn't exist anymore, you can't file disputes with them via mail or phone.

Address: Defunct
Phone Number: Defunct

Disputing an incorrect entry on your credit report can be stressful and difficult. Consider working with a professional.

If someone claiming to represent CBNA calls you and tries to collect a debt, be very careful. Wait for written confirmation of the debt before you consider paying anything, and be sure to ask questions during the call to clarify what they’re claiming their relationship was with CBNA.

What happens when debt collectors go out of business?

CBNA may still appear on your credit report even though they’re no longer in business. This has several implications for your finances and credit.

How CBNA can still appear on your credit report

CBNA can appear as a collection item on your credit report for up to seven years, even though the business is no longer in operation. 6

Items like this remain on your credit report for a simple reason. Your credit report shows records of your debts and credit activity, and it’s mainly used by lenders and other interested parties to assess your creditworthiness.

Accordingly, even after you close an account or pay off a debt, derogatory items like late payments and collection accounts remain on your credit report for years so that individuals and businesses can assess your risk as a borrower.

Ultimately, information will stay on your credit report until one of the following things happens:

  1. The reporting period ends (this is 7 years for most derogatory items, except for some types of bankruptcy, which can reach 10 years). 6
  2. The data-furnishing company (in your case, CBNA) tells the credit bureau(s) to remove the account from their records.

Unless CBNA has updated your account records with the credit bureaus, the collection item will remain on your account for seven years.

You may still have to repay the debt

Even though CBNA is no longer in operation, there is still a chance you’ll have to repay the debt—just not to the same company. It’s not uncommon for debts to be sold or transferred from one debt collection agency to another. The process can sometimes take a while, so debts that you thought were settled can sometimes show up years later.

Fortunately, the uncertainty regarding who currently owns your debt may make it easier to get the CBNA collection account removed from your credit report.

How to get CBNA off your credit report

If your credit score is suffering as a result of CBNA debt, then don’t worry. You have two options for getting their collection accounts off your credit report.

1. Send a credit dispute letter to the three credit bureaus

In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) are required to delete disputed information on consumer credit reports if the information is inaccurate or cannot be verified. 6

If you dispute the items on your credit report by sending a letter to the bureaus reporting your CBNA debt, they have 30 days to obtain evidence that the debt is valid and belongs to you. If they’re unable to do so (which is likely, considering CBNA is no longer in business), then they’ll have to delete the collection account from your credit report. 6

Credit dispute letter to credit bureau

Credit Dispute Letter to a Credit Bureau

Use this credit dispute letter template to file a dispute directly with one of the credit bureaus. Mistakes in your personal information (e.g., an incorrect address), as well as credit accounts that you don't recognize, should usually be disputed with the bureaus. Often they're the result of the bureau confusing you for someone else.

Build My Letter Now PDF Word

The credit bureaus also need to delete the collection account from your credit report if the debt is past its statute of limitations.

How to tell if your debt is past the statute of limitations

The statute of limitations on most debts is between 3 and 6 years, but this depends on several factors, including the state you live in. 7 The best approach is to check your state attorney general’s website and email their office if the information you’re looking for isn’t available online.

2. Get help from a credit repair company

If you don’t have success filing a credit dispute or you just need some assistance, then find a credit repair expert who can remove CBNA collection items from your credit report for you. This can save you time and help you avoid the frustration of trying to remove their negative marks on your own.

Takeaway: CBNA was a legitimate debt collection agency, but they’re no longer in operation

  • CBNA used to be a debt collection agency, meaning they collected severely delinquent debts that lenders charged off and transferred or sold.
  • CBNA wasn’t a scam, but you should make sure to avoid scammers by verifying your debts and only making payments once you’re sure they’re legitimate.
  • You may be able to remove CBNA from your credit report by disputing the debt. If this approach doesn’t work, then consider getting help from a credit repair professional.

Other Collection Agencies

  • CPI Collections
  • Creative Recovery Concepts
  • Credence Resource Management
  • Credit Associates of Hawaii
  • Credit Bureau Services, LLC
  • Credit Bureau Services of Iowa
  • Credit Bureau Systems, Inc.
  • Credit Bureau of Bessemer
  • Credit Clearing House
  • Credit Collections Bureau

Article Sources

  1. Tennessee Secretary of State. "Business Entity Detail" Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  2. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. "Corporations Division Business Entity Summary" Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  3. U.S. Government Publishing Office. "09-6464 - Startare v. Credit Bureau of North America, LLC" Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  4. West Virginia Secretary of State. "Business Organization Detail" Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  5. U.S. Government Publishing Office. "William T. Rutherford v. First Tennessee Bank National Association, et al." Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  6. Federal Trade Commission. "Fair Credit Reporting Act" Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  7. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "What Is a Statute of Limitations on a Debt?" Retrieved December 21, 2021.

FinanceJar Team

Staff Writers & Editors

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The FinanceJar Team is a group of financial experts, writers, and industry professionals who collaborate to bring you fresh and simple insights into your finances. They're dedicated to guiding you toward the right path on your financial journey.

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