How To Deal With CBE Group

What Is CBE Group?

CBE Group LLC (also known as The CBE Group Inc.) is a debt collection agency based in Cedar Falls, Iowa. They’re hired by companies and government agencies to collect unpaid debts.

CBE collects debts for many types of businesses and agencies, including those in healthcare, utilities, phone and internet services, student loans, and government programs. Their job is to contact people with past-due balances and try to recover money owed to the original creditor.

Here’s their contact information: 

🌐 Website: https://www.cbecompanies.com/ 

📞Phone number: (319) 234-6686

📍Headquarters address: 1309 Technology Pkwy., Cedar Falls, IA 50613-6976 

Mailing address: PO Box 900 Waterloo, IA 50704-0900

Why Is CBE Group Contacting Me?

If CBE Group is contacting you, it usually means a company or agency you owe money to has asked them to collect the debt on their behalf. This often happens when you fall behind on payments and the original creditor has been unable to reach you to work out a resolution.

🔄️ Once an account is placed with CBE Group, they take over the collection process and become the main point of contact for questions about the debt. This includes discussing payment options, asking for more information about the account, or exploring a possible settlement.

Is CBE Group Legit?

Yes, CBE Group is a legitimate debt collection agency. They’re accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and currently hold an A+ rating. However, that doesn’t mean all consumers have had a good experience.

As of late 2025, many people have filed complaints with both the BBB and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) about CBE Group. In the past three years, the BBB has received 280 complaints about the company. The CFPB reported 917 complaints in just the last year. 

Some people say CBE Group tried to collect debts they didn’t owe or that they weren’t given enough information to verify the debt. These are serious concerns and may involve violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).

Note to reader: These reviews and complaints highlight relevant issues but may not represent all consumers’ experiences.

🛡️ The FDCPA is a federal law that protects people from unfair or abusive debt collection practices. If you think a debt collector has crossed the line, you can report them to the CFPB and may even be able to sue for monetary compensation.

How Do I Know if I’m Being Scammed?

Even though CBE Group is a real company, scammers sometimes pretend to be from legitimate agencies to trick people. They might pressure you to share personal details like your bank account number or Social Security number. This is information a real debt collector would usually already have.

The best way to guard your personal information is to validate the debt (more on this below) and ask for more details. If something feels off — like the caller refuses to answer questions, threatens you, or demands immediate payment — it’s okay to end the call and take some time to figure out your next step. There’s no need to respond on the spot. 

📣 Many people report these interactions to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which works to stop scams and unfair business practices

Do I Have To Pay CBE Group?

If CBE Group contacts you about a debt, your first step is to make sure the debt is real and actually belongs to you. Sometimes details get mixed up when the original creditor transfers the debt to the collection agency, like the wrong balance, incorrect account info, or even the wrong person.

✅ To figure out if the debt is legitimate, you can request a debt validation letter to confirm that:

• The debt is an actual debt that you owe.

• CBE Group has the right to collect it.

• The amount they’re asking for is accurate.

If the debt isn’t accurate or doesn’t belong to you, the collector should stop contacting you. If you’re unsure, your next step is to request more information to help confirm the details.

Step 1: Send a Debt Verification Letter

If you haven’t already received a debt validation letter from CBE Group, you can request one. You can also write and send a debt verification letter, which asks them to confirm details about the debt before moving forward. Here’s the difference between the two. 

A debt validation letter is a document that a debt collector must send during their first contact with you or within five days of it. This letter includes important details about the debt they’re trying to collect.

📆 Once you receive it, you have 30 days to dispute the debt or request more information.

✉️ If you want to challenge the debt or ask for additional proof, you can send a debt verification letter. This lets you request documents that confirm the debt is accurate and that the collector has the legal right to collect it.

If you dispute the debt in writing within the 30-day window, the collector must pause collection efforts — like phone calls, letters, or emails — until they respond with proper verification.

If the collector verifies the debt, your next steps will depend on whether you agree with the information they provided and believe the debt is valid.

Step 2: Decide What To Do Next

If CBE Group has verified that you do, indeed, owe the debt and the amount they claim you owe, you’ll need to decide what you’d like to do next. Though it may not feel like you have options, you do have control over what comes next.

Your three main options are: 

• Disputing the debt

• Negotiating or settling the debt 

• Ignoring the debt (though this can have consequences and is usually not recommended)

🔎 Let’s take a closer look at each of these options.

Option 1: Dispute the Debt

If you disagree with the amount the CBE Group has indicated on your debt validation letter — or other details outlined in the letter — it’s your right to dispute the debt. The validation letter should include instructions on how to do this.

Mistakes in a validation letter may also appear on your credit report, so it’s also a good idea to check your credit reports and dispute anything that looks wrong.

🧾 Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you're entitled to a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — every week at AnnualCreditReport.com.

📝 If you find errors on your credit report, you can file a dispute directly with the credit bureau, either online, by mail, or by phone. You can also send a 609 letter. This is a written request asking the credit bureau for more details about a specific item on the report. While it doesn’t guarantee removal, it can help you verify whether the information is accurate.

Option 2: Negotiate the Debt and Make a Settlement Offer

If you can’t afford to pay the total debt up front (which is true for many people), you may want to consider negotiating a debt settlement. This means offering to pay a portion of the total balance in exchange for the rest being forgiven.

Collectors often accept settlements ranging from 40% to 60% of the original amount owed. You can initiate discussions with a lower percentage, even starting as low as 25%, but be open to meeting at around 50%. Being flexible and showing a genuine interest in resolving the debt can help you land on a number that works for both sides.

Even though it may not feel like it, you often have more leverage than you think. Third-party collectors like CBE Group usually don’t get paid unless they successfully collect, so they may be willing to settle for less to close the account.

🤝 To learn more about how to negotiate a successful settlement, check out Upsolve’s guide How To Win Against CBE Group.

Option 3: Ignore the Debt (Not Recommended)

While ignoring the debt is technically an option, it’s not recommended. Dealing with debt can feel overwhelming, and when collectors keep reaching out, it’s easy to want to shut it all out and hope it goes away.

But avoiding the situation often adds more stress and can make things worse over time. Ignoring the debt doesn’t stop collection efforts. In fact, it may lead the collector to be even more persistent.

What Happens if I Ignore CBE Group?

Unfortunately, ignoring a debt collector like CBE Group won’t make the debt go away. It could even lead to more serious problems.

⚠️ Here’s what might happen if you don’t respond:

• Your credit score could take a hit.

• You may end up owing more due to added interest, fees, or collection costs.

• You could be sued for the debt.

• If you ignore a lawsuit, the court may issue a default judgment against you, which could lead to wage garnishment or other collection actions.

Even though negative marks drop off your credit report after seven years, the debt itself doesn’t just disappear. As long as the statute of limitations hasn’t passed, the collector can still try to collect.

💪 Bottom line: The best path forward is to understand your options, take control of the situation, and make a plan. Even if it feels intimidating, taking action to deal with CBE Group can help you come out stronger.

Can CBE Group Sue Me?

Yes, CBE Group can sue you. If a debt collector doesn’t hear back after multiple attempts to reach you, they may decide to file a debt collection lawsuit.

⚖️ Whether or not they take legal action depends on several factors, including:

• Your state’s wage garnishment laws

• How long the debt has been in collections

• The amount of debt you owe

If you’re sued, you’ll receive a summons and a complaint, which are official court documents that notify you about the lawsuit and outline the details of the case. Usually, someone will deliver the paperwork to you in person. They may hand it directly to you or leave it with an adult at your home. If that happens, Upsolve’s guide How To Win Against CBE Group can help you figure out your next steps.

Responding to a lawsuit is an important step to protect yourself. If you're worried about doing it on your own but can't afford a lawyer, you can draft an answer letter for free or a small fee using our partner SoloSuit. They've helped hundreds of thousands of people respond to debt lawsuits, and they have a 100% money-back guarantee.

SoloSuit is an affiliate partner, which means Upsolve may earn a small commission if you choose to use their paid service. This helps keep our services free.

Let’s Summarize…

CBE Group is a legitimate debt collection agency that works on behalf of other companies to collect consumer debts. If they contact you, it’s important to make sure the debt is accurate and really belongs to you. If it is, taking action can help you protect your financial future.

Dealing with a debt collection agency can feel intimidating, but you're not powerless. Many people in this situation have successfully disputed inaccurate debts, negotiated settlements, or found a path forward that worked for them. And you can, too.