Cedars Business Services: Remove It From Credit Report

Cedars Business Services is a debt collector. They collect unpaid debts for businesses, schools, and government offices. If their name is on your credit report, they are real. They are not a scam.

I run a credit repair company. This name shows up on new client reports all the time. One client came to us after Cedars listed a $330 debt for a speeding ticket in Italy. She had never been to Italy.

Over 100 complaints have been filed with the CFPB against Cedars. Most are about unpaid debts that were never verified. Check it yourself at the CFPB complaint database.

What Is Cedars Business Services?

Cedars Business Services is a third-party debt collector. They were founded in 1997. They are based in Calabasas, California. They also go by the name Cedar Financial.

Here are their contact details:

1. Address: 5230 Las Virgenes Rd, Suite 210, Calabasas, CA 91302

2. Phone: (818) 224-3800

3. Website: cedarfinancial.com

They collect debts in medical, school, government, retail, and banking. They have offices in over 150 countries. That makes them different from most debt collectors. They also chase foreign debts like unpaid traffic fines from other countries.

Is Cedars Business Services a Scam?

No. Cedars is a real company. They are licensed and BBB accredited.

But being real does not mean their debt claims are correct. Many consumers find the balance is wrong. Some find the account is not even theirs. Others find the debt is too old to collect. Always verify before you pay anything.

What Debt Does Cedars Business Services Collect?

Cedars works across many debt types:

1. Medical bills

2. School and university tuition

3. Government fines

4. Retail and bank balances

5. International traffic tickets

They collect for cities and towns. They then try to get the full amount from you. This is very common with overseas fines. The fee they charge can be much higher than the original fine.

Cedars Business Services Complaints, Reviews, and What to Do

The BBB complaint record on Cedars is clear. Many consumers say they never had a contract with Cedars. Many asked for proof of the debt. Many got nothing back.

In our office this past year, we saw client files where Cedars had reported a collection to all three bureaus. They did this before ever contacting the consumer. That is not a one-time mistake. That is a pattern.

The most common complaint is this: consumers ask for documents. Cedars does not provide them. Then the collection stays on the report anyway.

Cedars Business Services Reviews

Reviews on Cedars are mixed. Some consumers say agents were helpful. Others say calls kept coming even after they sent a cease and desist letter.

Good reviews come from accounts that were paid and closed. Bad reviews point to three things: calls that would not stop, paid debts that got re-reported, and accounts that were never theirs.

A star rating does not show how a company handles disputes. The complaint record does. Cedars has a problem with disputes. The data backs that up.

Can Cedars Business Services Sue You?

Yes. Debt collectors can sue over unpaid debts. If they win, a judge can order your wages to be garnished.

That said, the court is expensive. Most collectors skip it. They are not likely to sue over a debt they cannot prove is yours.

They cannot arrest you. That is against the law under the FDCPA. An arrest only happens if you ignore a court order. It does not happen just for owing money.

If Cedars has threatened to arrest you, write it down right away. That threat may break federal law.

How to Handle a Cedars Business Services Debt

Do not pay before you check the debt. Paying too fast is the biggest mistake consumers make.

Here is what to do:

1. Get your free credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com. Check all three bureaus.

2. Send Cedars a Debt Validation Letter by certified mail. They must prove the debt is yours, the amount is right, and they can legally collect it.

3. Read what they send back. Look for wrong balances, wrong dates, or wrong account owners.

4. If anything is off, dispute it with Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian.

5. Track every call or message from Cedars. Write down the date, time, and what was said.

Paying a collection does not remove it. It just changes the status from unpaid to paid. The account still stays on your report for up to seven years. In some states, paying can also restart the clock on the statute of limitations.

How to Remove Cedars Business Services From Your Credit Report

Removal is possible. It takes the right steps in the right order.

1. Dispute the wrong information with each bureau. Send proof by certified mail. Bureaus have 30 days to look into it and respond.

2. Send a pay-for-delete letter before you pay anything. This asks Cedars to remove the account in exchange for full payment. Get it in writing first. Do not pay without that written agreement.

3. Work with a credit repair professional if your disputes keep getting ignored or if Cedars re-reports data you know is wrong.

A U.S. PIRGs study found that 79% of credit reports have mistakes or serious errors. That means disputes work more often than most people think. Cedars makes errors, too. We see it in client files all the time.

How to File a Complaint Against Cedars Business Services

If Cedars broke the rules, report them here:

1. File at the CFPB portal

2. Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov

3. Contact your state Attorney General

4. Talk to a consumer protection attorney. FDCPA violations can earn you up to $1,000 in damages plus legal fees.

Save every email, text, call log, and voicemail. They are all evidence.

Cedars has the right to collect debts. That right has limits. Know those limits. Check every debt before you act. Do not let one collection account follow you for seven years.