Total CFPB complaints
29
All-time across CCDB intake
This data comes from the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database and reflects consumer complaints, not proven violations.
2026 CFPB data Public-data reference. FDCPA reference 29 complaints
Certified Bureau of the South, Inc — Debt Collector Complaint Profile
CFPB complaint profile across 4 states. Updated as new federal complaint data lands in the upstream Consumer Complaint Database.
Complaints by issue type
What consumers report about Certified Bureau of the South, Inc
- Attempts to collect debt not owed
Attempts to collect debt not owed
18 complaints
- Written notification about debt 7
Written notification about debt
7 complaints
- Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed 2
Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed
2 complaints
- Disclosure verification of debt 1
Disclosure verification of debt
1 complaints
- Electronic communications 1
Electronic communications
1 complaints
C
Grade C · 61.8/100 composite
This collector has an average complaint record with moderate complaint volumes and typical response rates.
What do CFPB complaints reveal about Certified Bureau of the South, Inc?
Certified Bureau of the South, Inc has accumulated 29 total CFPB complaints across 4 states, with 3 filed in the most recent 12 months against 26 historical complaints before that window. The trailing-12-month volume represents 10.3% of the full complaint history, a falling pattern that implies either tighter collection practices, portfolio sell-offs, or improved dispute handling.
The dominant consumer grievance logged with the CFPB is "Attempts to collect debt not owed", narrowing to "Debt was result of identity theft", which aligns with FDCPA-regulated conduct and signals the operational area most likely to trigger regulator scrutiny. The company posts a 97% timely-response rate against a 33% consumer-dispute-after-response rate, a pairing that calibrates how well its complaint-resolution workflow holds up once a consumer pushes back.
Complaints have been recorded across 4 states, led by Louisiana with 26 and Florida with 1, which matches a multi-state collection footprint rather than a regional operation. Normalized against the full CFPB collector database, the reputation score of 61.8/100 places Certified Bureau of the South, Inc in grade band C, a tier reached by blending complaint volume, response timeliness, dispute rates, and issue severity into a single comparable metric.
Complaint Summary
Last 12 months
3
10.3% of total history
Falling ↓
States active
4
Distinct state filings
Timely response rate
97%
Within CFPB SLA window
Consumer disputes
33%
After company response
Reputation grade
C
61.8/100 composite
Response-quality profile
How Certified Bureau of the South, Inc performs on CFPB resolution-quality metrics versus a fleet average benchmark drawn from the full debt-collection vertical.
Timely response within SLA 96.6%
Vertical avg
CFPB requires companies to respond within 15 days for most complaints; 60 days for credit-reporting.
Consumer dispute rate (post-response) 66.7%
Vertical avg
Lower is better. The percentage of consumers who flagged the company's response as unsatisfactory.
State coverage breadth 7.1%
Share of US states + territories with at least one filed complaint against this collector.
How does Certified Bureau of the South, Inc compare to its peers?
Certified Bureau of th… National average
Complaints (last 12 mo)lower is better
Timely-response ratehigher is better
Consumer-dispute ratelower is better
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Complaints reflect consumer reports, not proven violations.
Complaint Trend (24 months)
2015-09 2025-10
Top Consumer Issues
Attempts to collect debt not owed18 (%)
Written notification about debt7 (%)
Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed2 (%)
Disclosure verification of debt1 (%)
Electronic communications1 (%)
Most common issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was result of identity theft
Know Your Rights
If this company is contacting you, you have rights under the FDCPA. They must stop contacting you if you send a written cease-communication request. You can also request written validation of the debt within 30 days.
Issue Detail Breakdown
| Issue | Sub-Issue | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Attempts to collect debt not owed | Debt was result of identity theft | 8 |
| Attempts to collect debt not owed | Debt is not yours | 7 |
| Written notification about debt | Didn't receive enough information to verify debt | 6 |
| Attempts to collect debt not owed | Debt was paid | 3 |
| Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed | Debt was paid | 1 |
| Disclosure verification of debt | Not disclosed as an attempt to collect | 1 |
| Written notification about debt | Notification didn't disclose it was an attempt to collect a debt | 1 |
| Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed | Debt is not mine | 1 |
| Electronic communications | Frequent or repeated messages | 1 |
Where do complaints against Certified Bureau of the South, Inc come from?
The states where consumers have filed the most CFPB complaints against Certified Bureau of the South, Inc. Every figure is the company's own complaint count in that state — not a national baseline.
Top states by complaints against Certified Bureau of the South, Inc
Across 4 states with at least one filing
- Louisiana
Louisiana
26 complaints
- Florida 1
Florida
1 complaints
- Alabama 1
Alabama
1 complaints
- North Carolina 1
North Carolina
1 complaints
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common complaint against Certified Bureau of the South, Inc? ▼
The most common issue consumers report about Certified Bureau of the South, Inc is "Attempts to collect debt not owed", specifically "Debt was result of identity theft". This is based on 29 complaints filed with the CFPB.
Are complaints against Certified Bureau of the South, Inc increasing or decreasing? ▼
Complaints against Certified Bureau of the South, Inc are falling. The company received 3 complaints in the last 12 months, showing improvement over prior periods.
What is Certified Bureau of the South, Inc's reputation grade? ▼
Certified Bureau of the South, Inc has a reputation grade of C (score: 61.8/100). This collector has an average complaint record with moderate complaint volumes and typical response rates.
Does Certified Bureau of the South, Inc respond to consumer complaints? ▼
Certified Bureau of the South, Inc has a 97% timely response rate to CFPB complaints. Consumers disputed the company's response in 33% of cases.
In how many states does Certified Bureau of the South, Inc operate? ▼
Certified Bureau of the South, Inc has received CFPB complaints from consumers in 4 states, with the most complaints from Louisiana (26 complaints).
What can I do if Certified Bureau of the South, Inc is contacting me? ▼
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), you have the right to request written debt validation within 30 days of first contact. You can also send a cease-communication letter to stop calls. If Certified Bureau of the South, Inc violates the FDCPA, you may be able to sue for damages up to $1,000 plus attorney fees.
Consumer Guides
Primary source data
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCollector Editorial
| Publisher | Kiznis Studio |
| Sources | the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database |