Is Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. on Your Credit Report?
Short answer: Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. (Collections Acquisition Company, Inc.) is a real, legitimate debt buyer based in Columbus, OH. It is not a scam — but a legitimate collector can still report a debt that is inaccurate, unverified, past the statute of limitations, or not even yours. You have the right to demand proof before you pay a cent.
Who Is Collections Acquisition Company, Inc.?
Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. is a debt buyer that purchases charged-off consumer accounts and then attempts to collect the full balance itself, headquartered in Columbus, OH. It also does business as "Payliance." It is licensed to operate as a debt collection agency in New York City under license number 2096082-DCA, a public record maintained by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs (predecessor to DCWP).
You may also see this company on your report or in letters as: Collections Acquisition Company, Inc., Payliance, CACI.
What most people don't know about Collections Acquisition Company, Inc.:
Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. holds an active New York City debt-collection license (No. 2096082-DCA) on file with the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs (predecessor to DCWP), listing its address of record in Columbus, OH. That license status is a verifiable starting point: if a caller claims to represent Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. but cannot confirm this license or provide written validation of the specific debt, that is a red flag worth documenting before you pay anything.
Why Is Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. on My Credit Report?
Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. typically collects charged-off debt portfolios, consumer loan balances. A collection like this usually lands on your report because:
- ✅ An original account (a charged-off debt portfolios, for example) went unpaid and was charged off.
- ✅ The account was sold to Collections Acquisition Company, Inc., which now owns the debt and is trying to collect the full balance.
- ✅ Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. furnished the account to one or more of the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion).
Important: a collection account on its own does not prove you owe the debt or that the amount is correct. That's where your rights come in.
Your Rights When Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. Contacts You
Federal law — the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) — gives you powerful tools. Here is the playbook we use at Crowned Credit.
1. Debt Validation (FDCPA §809)
Within 30 days of first contact, send Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. a written debt-validation letter. They must prove the debt is yours, the amount is correct, and they have the legal right to collect. If they can't, they must stop collecting and it should come off your report.
2. Dispute With the Bureaus (FCRA §611)
You can dispute the Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. tradeline directly with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The bureaus have 30 days to investigate. If the account can't be verified, the law requires it be deleted or corrected.
3. Cease-and-Desist
You can demand in writing that Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. stop contacting you. They can still report and sue, but they must stop calls and letters — useful for stopping harassment while you build your case.
4. Pay-for-Delete (in writing only)
If the debt is valid and yours, you may negotiate to pay in exchange for deletion of the tradeline. Never pay on a verbal promise — get the pay-for-delete agreement in writing first.
5. Statute of Limitations
Every state has a time limit on how long a collector can sue you for a debt. If the debt is "time-barred," Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. can still ask for payment but generally cannot win a lawsuit — and making a payment can dangerously restart the clock.
6. Protection From Harassment
The FDCPA bars Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. from calling at unreasonable hours, threatening you, or lying. Every violation is potential leverage — and may entitle you to damages.
How Crowned Credit Helps With Collections Acquisition Company, Inc.
We don't send cookie-cutter form letters. We investigate the specific account, assert every applicable right, and work it with all three bureaus and the collector directly.
Review & Validate
We pull all three bureau reports, find every error on the Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. entry, and demand full debt validation.
Dispute & Escalate
Hand-packed disputes go to the bureaus and the collector. When they fail to investigate properly, we escalate to the CFPB and, where warranted, attorneys.
Track & Build
We monitor deletions in real time and coach you on rebuilding once inaccurate items are addressed.
See our transparent pricing — no long-term contracts.
Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. — Frequently Asked Questions
Is Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. a scam or a legitimate company?
Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. is a real, registered debt buyer headquartered in Columbus, OH. It is a legitimate business — but "legitimate company" does not mean the specific debt it's reporting is accurate, validated, or even yours. Scammers do sometimes impersonate well-known collectors like Collections Acquisition Company, Inc., so always demand written validation before paying anything.
Why is Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. on my credit report?
Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. is a debt buyer that purchases charged-off consumer accounts and then attempts to collect the full balance itself, headquartered in Columbus, OH. It also does business as "Payliance." It is licensed to operate as a debt collection agency in New York City under license number 2096082-DCA, a public record maintained by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs (predecessor to DCWP). It most commonly collects charged-off debt portfolios, consumer loan balances. It likely appeared after an original account went unpaid and was sold to them. Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. holds an active New York City debt-collection license (No. 2096082-DCA) on file with the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs (predecessor to DCWP), listing its address of record in Columbus, OH. That license status is a verifiable starting point: if a caller claims to represent Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. but cannot confirm this license or provide written validation of the specific debt, that is a red flag worth documenting before you pay anything.
Can Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. be removed from my credit report?
Yes — inaccurate, unverifiable, or improperly reported Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. collection accounts can be removed. Under the FCRA, the credit bureaus must investigate your dispute, and if Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. cannot verify the debt, it must come off your report. Crowned Credit reviews the account for errors, demands debt validation, and disputes it with all three bureaus.
Should I pay Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. or dispute it first?
Do not pay before you validate. Once you confirm a collection is yours, accurate, and within the statute of limitations, you may consider a pay-for-delete agreement in writing. But paying an unverified or time-barred debt can restart the clock and lock in a negative entry. Get a free assessment before you send any money to Collections Acquisition Company, Inc..
How long can Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. report this debt?
Most negative collection accounts can remain on your credit report for up to seven years from the original delinquency date — not from when Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. acquired or began collecting it. If the account is being "re-aged" to look newer, that is a reporting violation you can dispute.
Will Collections Acquisition Company, Inc. sue me?
Some collectors and debt buyers do file lawsuits, especially before the statute of limitations expires. If you are served, do not ignore it. Validate the debt, check whether it is time-barred in your state, and get help. Because this type of entity is more likely to litigate, acting early matters.
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