Central Billing a third party debt collector that has to follow the law.

Summary

In this video, Consumer Protection Attorney Bill Clanton discusses Central Billing LLC, a third-party debt collector based in Los Angeles. He explains their practices, compliance with laws like the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Clanton highlights the protections these laws offer against harassment, inaccurate credit reporting, and unauthorized calls or texts. He encourages viewers to seek legal help if Central Billing violates their rights, offering a free case evaluation and help in stopping collection harassment.

Takeaways

• 📞 Central Billing LLC is a third-party debt collector based in Los Angeles, California, and has been in business since 2012.
• ✅ Central Billing LLC holds a bond with the Texas Secretary of State, verifying their legitimacy as a debt collector.
• 💼 They collect various types of debt including healthcare and nonperforming receivables, but they do not work on a contingency basis.
• 🚫 They have Better Business Bureau complaints and CFPB complaints, although they appear to be largely compliant.
• ⚖️ The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) protects consumers from harassment, threats, or misrepresentations by debt collectors like Central Billing.
• 📝 Central Billing must provide a written notice of the debt within 5 days of their initial contact, as required by the FDCPA’s 1692g rule.
• 📵 Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Central Billing cannot use an autodialer to call or text without your permission, with penalties of $500-$1,500 per violation.
• 📊 The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) mandates that Central Billing must accurately report information on your credit report and allows for disputes if errors occur.
• 💡 Consumers can dispute a debt or request verification within 30 days of receiving the G Notice, with some debt collectors honoring requests beyond this period.
• 🤝 Attorney Bill Clanton offers free case evaluations and works on a contingency basis to help consumers who are being harassed by Central Billing.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the video, and what is their profession?

The speaker is Bill Clanton, a consumer protection attorney.

What type of company is Central Billing LLC?

Central Billing LLC is a third-party debt collector based in Los Angeles, California.

What types of debt does Central Billing LLC collect?

Central Billing LLC collects healthcare debt, nonperforming receivables, and other types of standard bad debt.

Is Central Billing LLC a legitimate company?

Yes, Central Billing LLC is a legitimate debt collector, as they have a bond on file with the Texas Secretary of State.

What are some legal protections consumers have against Central Billing under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)?

Under the FDCPA, Central Billing cannot harass consumers, call them outside permitted hours, use threats, add unauthorized fees, or misrepresent the debt. They must also provide written notices within five days of starting collection efforts.

What happens if Central Billing reports a debt on your credit report and you dispute it?

If you dispute the debt, Central Billing must report it as disputed on your credit report.

What is the G Notice under the FDCPA, and when must Central Billing provide it?

The G Notice is a written disclosure required by the FDCPA. Central Billing must provide it either with their initial collection effort or within five days, informing the consumer of the debt amount, the creditor, and their right to dispute or request verification.

What protections do consumers have under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) regarding Central Billing's phone calls or texts?

Under the TCPA, Central Billing must have permission to use autodialers to call or text consumers' cell phones. Consumers can revoke this permission at any time, and each violation can result in a $500 fine, with increased penalties if the calls are made willfully.

What actions can a consumer take if Central Billing reports inaccurate information on their credit report?

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), a consumer can dispute inaccurate or incomplete information with Central Billing and the credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion). If the issue is not corrected, the consumer may have grounds for a legal case.

How does the speaker, Bill Clanton, offer assistance to consumers dealing with Central Billing?

Bill Clanton offers free case evaluations to help consumers deal with harassment or other issues caused by Central Billing. He only gets paid if they successfully recover from companies like Central Billing.