You requested a copy of your credit report, assuming you knew what to expect, when suddenly you notice an entry you don’t recognize: Credit Control Corporation. But you don’t remember the debt. You weren’t sent a letter. No one called you.
Thousands of people find themselves in the same situation every year, and the feeling of confusion is exactly what debt collectors are hoping for.
Before you call Credit Control Corporation or send them a check, pause for a moment. The actions you take from this point on will determine whether this debt stays on your credit report for seven years or gets deleted completely. The reality is that most credit reports contain errors.
In fact, a recent report by U.S. PIRGs found that about 79% of credit reports contained mistakes or “serious errors” that could jeopardize your financial health. Credit Control Corporation wants you to panic. They want you to pay without asking any questions. But once you understand your rights and who is calling you, you gain the power to take back control of your credit report.
Who is Credit Control Corporation?
Credit Control Corporation is a trade name for R&B Corporation of Virginia. They are an employee-owned collection agency based in Newport News, Virginia. The company has been collecting debt since 1983 and works with medical providers, cable providers, utilities, and commercial clients across the country to recover overdue accounts.
Name: Credit Control Corporation (d/b/a R&B Corporation of Virginia)
Address: 11821 Rock Landing Dr., Mobjack Bldg. Newport News, VA 23606-4207
Mailing Address: PO Box 120568 Newport News, VA 23612-0568
Phone: (757) 873-3332
Medical collections: (877) 277-6336
Email: info@credcontrol.com
Years in business: Incorporated in 1983
Their A+ rating from the BBB looks promising, but when you look at the company’s consumer reviews, you’ll find they have an average rating of less than 2 out of 5 stars on BirdEye, Chamber of Commerce, and Trustburn. This disparity between a high rating from the Better Business Bureau and a much lower rating from their customers is important to note because it suggests a disconnect between the company’s business practices and the satisfaction of their customers.
Credit Control Corporation has a complaint history with the CFPB that ranked the company as #196 out of 2,458 in the debt collection agency category, placing them in the top 8% of most complained about debt collectors in the country.
Top complaints against Credit Control Corporation include: Attempting to collect a debt that was not owed. Failing to provide a written debt validation. Harassing and threatening behavior. Reporting inaccurate information to the credit bureaus.
In 2023, the company experienced a data breach exposing the sensitive information of over 345,000 people. In June of 2023, a class-action lawsuit was filed as a result of the breach, which eventually settled for $1.61 million. The settlement was granted final approval in January 2025. The exposed data included names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and information about medical debts.
What Credit Control Corporation Doesn’t Want You to Know
They May Not Have the Documentation
If you’re not familiar with how debt collection works, here’s something important to know: when a debt is sold from the original creditor to a debt collector, the paperwork doesn’t always make the trip. Credit Control Corporation buys debt portfolios from medical offices, utility companies, and other original creditors, but those portfolios rarely include the complete paperwork, contracts, or documentation proving the amount owed is accurate.
Knowing this creates an opportunity for consumers who understand the implications. If you dispute a debt and the collection agency can’t provide verification within the time allotted by law, the account must be removed from your report. The success of the dispute process relies on this fact: collection agencies often cannot validate the debts they’re trying to collect when consumers properly dispute the debt.
There have been several federal lawsuits against Credit Control Corporation arguing they violated the FDCPA by failing to verify debts and by reporting inaccurate information to the credit reporting bureaus. These lawsuits were filed in the Eastern District of Virginia and the Northern District of Indiana.
Information is Power
The debt collection industry makes its money on information. Credit Control Corporation knows the amount of money you supposedly owe and your contact information. They may even know where you work. You, on the other hand, may not recognize the original creditor on the account, and you may not understand how your balance was calculated. This information imbalance is both intentional and profitable.
But federal law allows you to level the playing field. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act says you have the right to request validation of a debt within 30 days of initial contact. This isn’t a courtesy, it’s a protection. If Credit Control Corporation cannot provide proof that the debt belongs to you, that the balance is accurate, and that they have the right to collect it, this account doesn’t belong on your credit report.
Why You Should Not Pay Credit Control Corporation
Paying the Account Doesn’t Remove It
The majority of consumers believe that if they pay a collection account, it will be deleted from their credit report. This is not true. Paying a collection account changes the status from “unpaid collection” to “paid collection,” but the account remains on your credit report for the full seven years. Paying a collection account still indicates to lenders that you defaulted on a debt obligation.
While some credit scoring models differentiate between paid and unpaid collections, treating paid collections more favorably, the impact on your credit score has already been done. You may spend thousands of dollars for little to no gain in your credit score.
For this reason, disputing the account is a better first step than immediately making a payment. If the account is inaccurate, if the company can’t verify the debt, or if Credit Control Corporation can’t provide the necessary documentation, you may be able to remove the entire account instead of simply noting it as paid.
Guilt is a Collection Tactic
Debt collectors understand human psychology even better than many psychologists. The guilt of owing a debt is a tool collectors know how to use. You may feel embarrassed, ashamed, or morally obligated to pay the debt regardless of whether the debt is valid or if the information is accurate. This feeling is being used against you.
Let’s go back to those customer reviews. One customer wrote: They destroyed my credit. I not only paid my bill in full to frontier, but I overpaid, resolved the issue and have proof. They never contacted me and destroyed my perfect credit of 35 years.
Another customer wrote: Credit Control Corp treats me as if I am lying and talks condescendingly to me every time I speak with them.
When a company uses its position to exert a negative impact on the livelihood of a consumer, whether an account is owed legitimately or not, they are behaving outside of ethical boundaries. Both of these reviews describe why making emotional decisions will cost you money. Approaching the situation clinically keeps you focused on your goal: protecting your credit and your rights.
Remember, a debt is a commodity. When a debt collector purchases your debt, they’re buying the right to collect it. They don’t care if it’s valid or not. They just want to make money. Keep a level head and protect yourself.
Dispute-First Strategy to Defend Your Rights
How a Dispute Leads to Verification
If you dispute a collection account, it will initiate a formal process that puts the burden of proof on the data furnisher. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires credit bureaus to complete their investigation of your dispute within 30 days. They will reach out to Credit Control Corporation, and the collection agency must then verify the information they have reported.
Collection agencies work on very thin margins and need to resolve accounts quickly. It costs them money to find their documentation, verify the details of the account, and respond to a dispute. In many cases, especially with older debts or those with low balances, the collector will simply delete the account instead of investing the time and money to verify the information.
The 30-day clock for an investigation usually works in favor of the consumer and not the collector. Credit Control Corporation must provide the documentation or the account must be deleted. If they cannot find the original contract that you signed, if there are calculation errors in what you owe, or if there is any issue with the ownership of the debt, the dispute becomes their problem to resolve.
Professional Help on Your Side
While it is possible to dispute an account on your own, a professional credit repair expert will understand the most effective reasons for a dispute and how to word the request for the most legal leverage. They will also know when to involve regulatory authorities in the dispute.
If you have a professional assisting you with the investigation, it will not hurt your credit any further. There is no penalty for multiple investigations into a disputed account like there is when you apply for new credit. The goal is to get the inaccurate or unverifiable information removed, and a professional is more likely to succeed than a consumer on their own.
Credit Control Corporation faces consumer disputes all of the time and has a system in place to limit the number of successful disputes. If they know you have professional representation, they will understand you mean business and will not accept an unsatisfactory response. This will factor into their decision of whether it is worth their while to verify or simply delete the account.
What If Credit Control Corporation Contacts You?
Never Respond Without Information
If you receive a call, letter, or find Credit Control Corporation on your credit report, do not rush to respond. This is a tactic collectors use to their advantage. They may try to make you believe you need to respond right now or the situation will worsen, or they may give you a deadline to respond for the best outcome. These are tactics to circumvent your rational process.
Before you pay anything or give them your financial information, make sure you verify everything. Get all of the information you have on the alleged debt in writing. Make sure you understand the original creditor, the original amount, and how they calculated the current amount. You should also verify if the statute of limitations on the debt has expired in your state. Check your own records to see if you have made a payment or filed a dispute previously.
Your silence is your greatest power when dealing with a debt collector. You do not have to respond to their questions, confirm your identity, or make promises over the phone. Anything you say can become evidence to support their collection efforts. Until you have all of the facts and a solid plan, it is best to say nothing at all.
Only Use Their Contact Information to Request Validation
Credit Control Corporation may provide you with phone numbers or addresses to contact them. From your perspective, you should only use this information to request validation of the debt. You should not use this information to discuss payment options, disclose your finances, or admit you owe the money. Doing so before you have validated the debt will only strengthen their position and weaken yours.
Under federal law, you have the right to request validation of the debt in writing within 30 days of their initial contact. This means they must provide you with documentation that proves the debt is yours, the amount is correct, and they have the legal right to collect it. You should send your request through certified mail with return receipt requested so you have proof the letter was delivered and the date it was received.
If Credit Control Corporation cannot provide you with satisfactory validation, they cannot legally continue to collect the debt. More importantly, they cannot legally report the information to the credit bureaus. This is how their inability to provide all documentation is your best ally when you want to delete the account altogether.
Conclusion
Receiving notification that Credit Control Corporation is on your credit report is not the end of the world. Even though they are one of the most-complained-about collection agencies in the country, even though they had to pay $1.61 million for a data breach, and even though many consumer reviews detail a history of questionable practices, you have rights that put you on a level playing field.
The difference will be how you respond. Do not let feelings of obligation or fear cause you to pay a collection account that may not be yours, may not be valid, or may be past the statute of limitations. Dispute the account first. Demand validation. Make them prove their case instead of making you prove yours.
Keep in mind that paying a collection account does not make it go away. The notation will remain on your credit report for several years even if you bring the balance to zero. However, if you successfully dispute the account so that it is deleted, it will disappear completely as if it never happened. This is the difference between damage control and a real solution.
Your Next Step with FightCollections.com
You do not have to go through this process alone. At FightCollections.com, we specialize in representing consumers when they need to dispute inaccurate information on their credit reports and when they need to hold a collection agency accountable for violating their consumer rights. We understand the specific tactics a company like Credit Control Corporation will use and the best way to combat them.
If you find Credit Control Corporation on your credit report, contact us today to schedule a free consultation. We will discuss the details of your situation, review your options, and create a customized plan to handle this account. Your credit report is too important to leave to chance or a debt collector who profits from your confusion.
The moment you saw the notation from Credit Control Corporation on your credit report, the clock began ticking. Act now to protect your rights and your financial future.
