How To Deal With United Collection Bureau Inc.

What Is United Collection Bureau Inc.?

United Collection Bureau, Inc. (UCB) is a debt collection agency based in Ohio. They work on behalf of other companies and government agencies to collect unpaid debts. UCB provides debt collection services for industries like healthcare, financial services, government, utilities, telecommunications, and student loans.

Here’s how to contact UCB: 🌐 Website: www.ucbinc.com   📞 Phone: (866) 209-0622 📫 Mailing address: 5620 Southwyck Blvd., Toledo, OH 43614-1501

Debts are usually sent to a collection agency like UCB after the original creditor has tried and failed to collect payment. This doesn’t happen immediately. Creditors often start by sending late notices, making phone calls, or offering to work out a solution. If those efforts don’t succeed, they may hand the account over to a third-party collector like UCB.

Why Is UCB Contacting Me?

If UCB is contacting you, it likely means a company or agency has hired them to collect a debt you owe. Even if you don’t recognize the name, the debt might be tied to a past account — like a medical bill, utility account, government debt, or student loan. Once a creditor transfers your account to UCB, you’ll need to work directly with them to resolve it.

Is UCB Legit?

Yes, UCB is a legitimate debt collection agency. As of late 2025, they’re accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and hold an A+ rating. The BBB is a nonprofit that collects reviews and helps people resolve issues with businesses.

That said, UCB has received a significant number of consumer complaints. The BBB has logged more than 200 complaints against them in the past three years, and their average customer review rating with the site is just 1.05 out of 5 stars.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a federal agency that helps protect consumers from unfair or abusive practices. In the past year alone, the CFPB received nearly 400 complaints related to UCB.

Some people said UCB tried to collect debts they didn’t owe, while others reported that UCB failed to provide proper documentation about the debt.*

If a debt collector doesn’t give you enough information about a debt, that may be a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). This federal law protects you from harassment, misleading tactics, and other unlawful behavior by third-party debt collectors.

If you think your rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with the CFPB. In some cases, people also choose to take legal action to seek compensation.

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

How Do I Know if I’m Being Scammed?

Even though UCB is a legitimate company, scammers sometimes pretend to be real debt collectors to trick people into paying money or sharing personal information. They might even use the name UCB to sound more convincing.

🚩 Be cautious if someone asks for sensitive details like your full Social Security number or bank account information. A real debt collector should already have that information and won’t pressure you to share it right away. Learn the common red flags of a debt collection scam so you know what to watch for.

📣 To protect yourself, you can request a debt validation letter (more on this below) and ask questions if anything feels off. If you think someone is trying to scam you, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Do I Have To Pay UCB?

✅ Before you pay anything, take time to validate the debt. Make sure that:

• The debt belongs to you.

• UCB has the legal right to collect it.

• The amount they’re asking for is accurate.

Debt collection is a major industry, and accounts are often passed from one company to another. It’s not uncommon for information to get lost or misreported along the way. Validating the debt helps protect you from paying money you may not actually owe. And legally, debt collectors must provide details about your debt if you ask. 

🔍 Let’s look at how to request that information.

Step 1: Send a Debt Verification Letter

If you haven’t already received a debt validation letter from UCB, you can request one or send your own debt verification letter to ask for more details.

Both letters help confirm that the debt is correct and that UCB is allowed to collect it. But they have slightly different purposes.

Debt collectors are legally required to send a debt validation letter. This letter includes basic information about the debt, like the amount owed and the name of the original creditor.

By law, UCB must send you this letter either with their first contact or within five days of it. It should also explain that you have 30 days to dispute the debt.

🕒 If you send a written dispute within that 30-day window, UCB must pause collection efforts until they verify the debt. If they can’t verify it, they’re not allowed to keep trying to collect. And in most cases, you won’t have to pay.

If the validation letter doesn’t include enough details, many people choose to send a debt verification letter. This is a letter you write to ask for more proof, like a copy of the original account agreement or a breakdown of how the balance was calculated.

Once UCB responds (or doesn’t), you’ll be in a better position to decide what to do next. That might include disputing the debt further, negotiating a settlement, or exploring other options.

Step 2: Decide What To Do Next

You might feel like you don’t have much control in this situation, but you do have options. If UCB verifies the debt, your next step is deciding how you want to move forward.

Your three main options are to: 

• Dispute the debt

• Negotiate or settle the debt 

• Ignore the debt (technically an option, but usually not recommended)

Option 1: Dispute the Debt

If something doesn’t look right — such as the balance, dates, or even whether the debt belongs to you — you can dispute it directly with UCB. The debt validation letter they send should include instructions on how to do that.

Since debt collectors often report the same account information to the credit bureaus, any errors in the debt details may also show up on your credit reports. That’s why it’s a good idea to check your reports carefully.

🧾 Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you're entitled to free credit reports from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion every week at AnnualCreditReport.com.

✉️ If you spot any mistakes, you can file a dispute directly with the credit bureau. Some people choose to send a 609 letter, which is a formal written request asking the bureau to verify the account details they’re reporting. If they can’t confirm the information with proper documentation, they’re required to remove it from your report.

Option 2: Negotiate the Debt and Make a Settlement Offer

Most people haven’t paid off outstanding debt because they simply can’t afford to. If that’s the case for you, negotiating a debt settlement might be a good option.

Even though this process may feel intimidating, you have some power. In many cases, debt collectors only get paid if they recover money, so collecting even part of what’s owed can still be profitable for them. That gives you some leverage when negotiating.

It’s common for debt collectors to accept 40% to 60% of the original balance. Since there’s usually some back and forth, many people start with a lower offer — around 25% to 30% — and negotiate from there. Try to land on an amount you can realistically afford.

📑 Read Upsolve’s guide How To Win Against United Collection Bureau to learn more about negotiating a successful settlement.

Option 3: Ignore the Debt (Not Recommended)

Ignoring a debt might feel like the easiest option, especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure of what to do next. Unfortunately, avoiding the problem won’t make it go away. In most cases, it only makes things more difficult in the long run.

What Happens if I Ignore UCB?

If you don’t respond to UCB’s collection efforts, they’re unlikely to stop. And ignoring them can lead to bigger problems, including:

• Damage to your credit score

• A growing balance due to added interest, fees, or legal costs

• The risk of a lawsuit, which could lead to wage garnishment

It’s true that most negative items fall off your credit report after seven years, but the debt itself doesn’t just disappear. As long as the statute of limitations hasn’t passed, UCB may continue trying to collect.

Can UCB Sue Me?

Yes, UCB and other debt collectors can sue you, but it’s usually not their first step. Most start by making phone calls and sending notices. If those efforts don’t work, they may take legal action and file a debt collection lawsuit.

⚖️ Whether or not a debt collector sues often depends on factors like:

• Your state’s wage garnishment laws

• How long your debt has been in collections

• The amount you owe

📄 If you’re sued, you’ll receive a summons and complaint — official court documents that explain the lawsuit and how to respond. These are usually delivered in person or left with another adult at your home.

⚠️ It’s important to respond to a lawsuit. If you ignore it, the court may issue a default judgment against you. This could lead to wage garnishment, bank levies, or other collection actions.

If you're worried about responding on your own but can't afford a lawyer, you can draft an answer letter for 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…

United Collection Bureau (UCB) is a legitimate debt collection agency that works with companies and government agencies to recover unpaid debts, such as medical bills, utility balances, and student loans. If they contact you, it likely means you owe a balance on a past account.

Before making any payments, validate the debt to make sure it’s accurate and that UCB has the right to collect it. You can also dispute the debt if something seems wrong, or negotiate a settlement.

Ignoring the debt usually leads to more problems, like credit damage, lawsuits, and wage garnishment. If UCB sues you, it’s important to respond to the court documents. Taking action puts you in a stronger position to resolve the debt and move forward.