#1 Way to Remove 'CFM Group Debt Collection' (Hurting Your Score)

Most often it's because a creditor sold or assigned an unpaid account to CFM Group – think medical bills, credit‑card balances, utilities, or business invoices they've been asked to collect – so they call to recover that money or press for payment on a charged‑off account or judgment. Calls can also come from a reseller who bought old debt, or from mistaken identity or misapplied payments that accidentally placed an account in collections.

Don't pay or confirm anything until you get written proof; request validation in writing and insist they mail documentation. If they can't validate, stop contact and consider reporting the call. Learn about your rights under the FDCPA and use a short written validation letter to protect yourself. Persistent or incorrect calls often point to credit‑reporting errors, which a professional credit review can quietly uncover and fix without you escalating directly.

Mostly consumer debts plus some commercial accounts - e.g., medical bills, credit-card and personal-loan balances, utility charges, and business-related receivables.

They often act as both a servicer for original creditors and as a buyer of older, charged-off accounts, so many files you see are aged or resold. Verify creditor names, dates, account numbers, and original amounts before acknowledging or paying anything.

If details don't match your records, request written debt validation and pull your credit reports. If reporting or age-of-debt looks wrong, consult a credit-specialist or attorney to spot errors, time-barred claims, or improper reporting.

• Medical debts
• Credit-card balances (including store cards)
• Personal loans and installment loans
• Utility bills (electric, water, phone, etc.)
• Commercial/business receivables from transactions
• Older charged-off accounts acquired from original creditors
• Other consumer balances (misc. accounts sold to collectors)

CFM Group LLC is generally a legitimate third‑party debt collector (operating around 2013) - not an obvious scam - but you should verify every claim before paying.

Quick facts and red flags:

• Operates circa 2013; not BBB‑accredited and shows an F rating driven by unresolved complaints.
• No public evidence of an outright scam, but verification is essential.
• Verify by requesting written debt validation and confirming company details: PO Box 674257, Marietta, GA 30006; phone 770‑261‑2160.
• Red flags: threats of arrest, pressure to pay immediately, requests for weird payment methods (gift cards/crypto), refusal to validate, spoofed caller ID, or abusive harassment.
• Practical tip: record or take detailed notes of calls where lawful and keep every written exchange.

Next steps you can take now: send a written debt‑validation request within 30 days of first contact, keep certified‑mail receipts and copies, don't admit liability on the phone, and compare collector behavior against the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act; if they violate the law, file complaints with the CFPB and your state attorney general.

Here are the verified phone numbers and mailing addresses to reach CFM Group - and always send written correspondence by certified mail to create a paper trail that protects your rights.

Contact details (verified - see their CFM Group LLC Better Business Bureau profile):

• Official mailing address: PO Box 674257, Marietta, GA 30006-0071.
• Alternative/physical location: 2110 Powers Ferry Rd SE, Atlanta, GA 30339.
• Local phone: (770) 261-2160.
• Toll-free: (877) 553-7926.
• Practical tip: send disputes and any sensitive replies in writing via certified mail with return receipt, include your account number, keep copies, and save tracking/receipt evidence.

You have clear federal protections: CFM Group must treat you fairly, stop harassing or deceiving you, validate any alleged debt, and halt contact if you lawfully demand it in writing.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act bars abusive language, false statements about the debt or threats, contacting third parties about your debt, and calling at unreasonable hours (generally before 8:00 AM or after 9:00 PM local time). You have 30 days from the collector's first written notice to dispute the debt and request verification, and collectors must provide validation when asked; see the full FDCPA text for the statute's exact language.

Protect yourself by sending any validation or cease‑and‑desist letters in writing and time‑stamping or sending by certified mail so there's a delivery record. Log every contact: date, time, phone number, what was said, and any witnesses; note any calls before 8 AM, repeated calls, or social‑media contacts because those specifics strengthen complaints or legal claims.

If CFM violates your rights, preserve evidence and file complaints with the CFPB and your state attorney general, and consider a consumer‑protection attorney or a credit expert who can enforce your rights and pursue damages without you doing the heavy lifting.

Send a written debt-validation demand by certified mail (return receipt requested) to the CFM Group address shown on their notice within 30 days of their first contact - that single step forces the process into a legal lane and preserves your evidence. Keep a copy of the letter and the certified-mail receipt. Use the address on their letter or the official address you verified earlier in this guide.

In the letter, plainly request proof: the original creditor agreement or contract, an itemized payment history, the chain of assignment or sale, the account number, dates of default and last payment, and written evidence CFM Group has the right to collect; explicitly ask whether the debt is time‑barred and when the statute of limitations would run. Use a template to save time but edit it to name the account, the amounts, and the precise questions you need answered; demand a written response and state you dispute the debt until validation is provided.

If they don't validate, federal law requires collection pause on any disputed portion until verification is mailed, and continuing collection or reporting without verification can be an FDCPA and FCRA violation you can challenge - that often leads to removal from your credit report or grounds for a complaint or lawsuit. If CFM ignores you, escalate: dispute with credit bureaus, file an FTC/CFPB/State AG complaint, and consider a consumer‑law attorney or credit specialist to push removal or seek statutory damages; the certified‑mail receipt and a tight, specific letter make that path far easier.

Dispute it in writing right away: demand strict debt validation and send the same dispute to the credit bureaus by certified mail.

Gather proof first. Copy the collection notice, any account numbers, a government ID (mask sensitive numbers), and bank or creditor statements that show you don't owe this. If you suspect identity theft, include a completed identity-theft affidavit and a police report or FTC report. Mail a written dispute to the collector and to each credit bureau - certified, return receipt requested - and ask the collector to prove the debt's chain of title and original creditor. Keep every receipt.

Do these steps now:

• State clearly you dispute the debt in full and request validation under the FDCPA and FCRA.
• Send identical certified-mail disputes to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
• Attach evidence (statements, ID, affidavit) and demand deletion if unverified.
• Note dates and keep certified-mail tracking and delivery slips.

If the collector won't validate or the bureaus don't correct it, escalate: file a CFPB complaint, complain to your state attorney general, and consider an FDCPA/FCRA attorney for damages or a written demand letter. Also watch for re‑aging (old debts resurfacing as new) and consider hiring a reputable credit‑repair service to find linked errors across all reports that DIY disputes miss.

Short, practical tips: never admit the debt or make a partial payment before validation; send everything certified; expect a 30‑day bureau investigation; freeze or put a fraud alert on your file if theft is suspected; and document every call with name, date, and summary.

No - federal law tightly limits how a collector like CFM Group may reach you: they can't keep calling your workplace after you tell them it's inconvenient, they may not contact you before 8:00 AM or after 9:00 PM local time, and using social media to discuss or publicly disclose your debt is prohibited; collectors may contact friends or family only once to learn your location and must not reveal debt details.

If they violate any of those limits, send a written cease‑and‑desist immediately (signed, dated, include your account info and a clear line: 'Do not contact me at work, via social media, or through third parties') and simultaneously request debt validation. Keep copies, send by certified mail, save call logs, screenshots, dates and times, and any witness names - this documentation strengthens complaints and legal claims and can lead to statutory damages or even dismissal.

Quick practical steps: write one short letter with the bolded stop language, mail certified to CFM Group and your original creditor if known, file a complaint with the CFPB and your state attorney general if harassment continues, and consider a consumer‑protection attorney if violations persist - you're allowed to push back, and documented violations help you win.

Send a written cease-and-desist under the FDCPA, document every contact, and report illegal behavior so you force CFM Group to stop most communications and preserve a record for enforcement. (law.cornell.edu, consumerfinance.gov)

• Send a short, firm letter citing FDCPA 15 U.S.C. §1692c(c) saying you want all communications to cease (except legally required notices).
• Mail it certified with return receipt and keep the signed delivery slip.
• Log every call, text, email, and visit with dates, times, names, and recordings if your state allows.
• If harassment continues, submit a complaint to CFPB and attach your evidence. (law.cornell.edu, consumerfinance.gov)

Recordings and patterns matter: check your state's consent rules before recording calls, then categorize abuses (repeated calls, threats, profane language, contact with third parties) into a timeline - courts and regulators weigh frequency, persistence, and intent when awarding relief, and FDCPA damages and remedies (including statutory damages up to $1,000, actual damages, and attorney fees) are available; note the one-year FDCPA filing limit so act quickly. (justia.com, law.cornell.edu)

• Report the conduct to the FTC and your state attorney general if harassment or deception continues.
• Keep all letters, voicemails, screenshots, and certified-mail proof; use CFPB/FTC sample letters to dispute or demand validation before negotiating.
• Don't admit the debt or make new payments until you validate it.
• If violations are serious, consult a consumer-rights attorney or legal aid to discuss suing for FDCPA violations. (ftc.gov, consumerfinance.gov)

Yes - but only when the contract or state law allows it, and the collector can show those charges in the account paperwork they send you.

If the original creditor's agreement or a state statute permits interest, late fees, or collection costs, CFM Group can add them; if not, they can't lawfully inflate the balance. Collectors must provide validation that shows the amount claimed. Overcharges are especially common when debts change hands, because numbers can be re-calculated or padded during transfers.

Ask for a full, itemized account history and the legal basis for any fees. Use the FDCPA validation window (send a written request within 30 days) and demand an explanation of how interest was computed - date ranges, rate, and compounding method. Compare that to your original contract and your state's usury or statutory post-charge-off rules. You can calculate simple accrual with basic math: principal × annual rate × years (or pro-rate by days) to sanity‑check their totals.

If the math doesn't match the contract or state limits, dispute it in writing, demand removal of unauthorized charges, and attach the calculation showing the overcharge. Flagging inflated interest or illegal fees is a common lever debt‑resolution pros use to force settlement or have the tradeline disputed/removed from credit reports. Keep every letter, certified-mail receipt, and account statement; consider a consumer‑law attorney or a reputable credit specialist if the collector refuses to correct blatant overbilling. For more on your rights and what a validation must include, see your validation and dispute rights.

No - CFM (or any private collector) can't legally garnish your wages, grab benefits, or freeze your bank account without first obtaining a court judgment and giving you the required *notice*.

Collectors must normally *sue*, have you served, win a *judgment*, and then ask the court for a post‑judgment *garnishment* or *levy*; pre‑judgment seizures are generally illegal and most federal benefits (e.g., Social Security) are protected. State rules differ and certain debts (like taxes or child support) follow separate procedures.

If you get a summons or a levy from CFM, respond immediately to avoid a *default judgment*. *Request validation*, check your credit and bank activity, contact the court or your bank about any freeze, and consider a consumer attorney or credit expert to challenge improper actions or the debt's validity.

They carry an F rating, are not BBB‑accredited, and the BBB shows multiple formal complaints for billing errors, harassment, and failure to respond. ([bbb.org](https://www.bbb.org/us/ga/atlanta/profile/collections-agencies/cfm-grou…))

BBB records list three complaints in the last three years, two marked unanswered, with detailed reports of rude or threatening calls, misrepresentation of caller identity, and attempts to collect disputed or unowed charges; see the full complaint list at CFM Group's BBB profile details. ([bbb.org](https://www.bbb.org/us/ga/atlanta/profile/collections-agencies/cfm-grou…))

Use that pattern as leverage. Cite specific BBB complaints when you dispute the tradeline. Demand written debt validation. Point out unanswered BBB complaints when alleging FDCPA harassment. credit experts use repeated complaint patterns to force verification and remove wrongful items.

• Billing errors and incorrect invoices
• Harassment and threatening phone calls
• Failure to respond to BBB complaints
• Misrepresentation of caller identity/posing as another company
• Attempts to collect debts consumers say are not owed

As of August 12, 2025, public records show no major, certified class-action or large settlement against CFM Group; what does appear in the record are scattered individual consumer complaints and FDCPA‑style allegations rather than a nationwide class recovery. Short, concrete consumer filings and archived CFPB entries, plus BBB complaint histories and consumer‑law writeups, document repeated calls, validation disputes, billing problems and occasional monetary resolutions for individual claimants. (fairshake.com, bbb.org, lemberglaw.com)

If you're impacted, act fast: watch federal dockets (PACER) and the CFPB complaint database for any new class notices, keep every validation letter, call log, and text, and consider filing a CFPB complaint and an individual FDCPA claim - those routes can produce statutory damages, fees, or private settlements even when a class hasn't formed. Preserve evidence, dispute errors with the credit bureaus after legal wins, and consider a consumer‑rights attorney or targeted credit‑repair steps to get erroneous CFM Group entries removed from your reports. (stopcollections.org, fairshake.com)

Act now: date the notice and send a written validation request within 30 days - that alone forces the collector to pause collections while they verify the debt.

• Note today's date and keep the original notice.
• Mail a debt-validation letter (certified, return receipt) asking for verification and the original creditor's name/address within 30 days.
• Pull your three credit reports and flag the collection line.

Don't talk yourself into trouble: avoid verbal 'deals' or promises. Insist on written offers only, send and receive everything by certified mail, and save receipts and screenshots; paper trails win disputes and keep collectors honest.

If you're confused or overwhelmed, get help: nonprofit credit counselors or a consumer attorney can review the notice, identify removal paths (dispute, validation failures, or legal defenses), and negotiate in writing - often without paying immediately. Also use the FDCPA/CFPB rules to force verification and limit harassing contacts.

• Next practical moves: send your validation letter today, file disputes with each bureau for any inaccurate collection entries, and consider a free consultation with an NFCC/FCAA counselor or consumer lawyer.
• Keep a dated folder of every communication; never agree orally; escalate to a state AG or file an FTC/CFPB complaint if rules are broken. annualcreditreport.com, consumerfinance.gov

Don't ignore CFM Group – silence won't make the problem go away and can move you from phone calls to real legal risk fast. (consumerfinance.gov)

If you get sued and don't respond the collector can seek a default judgment, which gives them court-ordered power to collect and few hurdles to clear. Default judgments let plaintiffs pursue wage garnishment, bank levies, or liens depending on state law, and you lose the chance to raise defenses or force proof. (selfhelp.courts.ca.gov)

Even without a judgment, collection accounts and charge-offs can drag your credit down and generally remain on reports for up to seven years from the date of first delinquency, so unresolved entries are long-lived. That seven-year window is why acting early matters for your score. (investopedia.com)

If you can't pay, don't freeze: ask for a validation notice, dispute inaccuracies, negotiate hardship plans or settlements, and check whether the debt is time-barred under your state's statute of limitations - each option changes the collector's leverage and may stop or slow collection steps. Communicate in writing, document everything, and consider a free nonprofit credit counselor or an attorney for complex cases. (consumerfinance.gov)

Silence hands the collector an easy win; responding creates options. Timely disputes can pause reporting and collection pressure, negotiated payoffs or verified errors can remove entries, and targeted credit repair or corrected records can soften score damage over time. Get proof, get help, and use paperwork to protect yourself. (investopedia.com)

Not necessarily - taking a reduced payoff can save money and stop collection activity, but it also carries clear costs and risks you should weigh first.

A reduced settlement can revive or reset legal exposure in some states and will often be reported as 'settled for less,' which can drop your score more than a simple paid-in-full notation. Start offers low (30–50% of the balance). Never pay without a signed settlement letter that promises exact wording on reporting, release of the account, and no further collection. Also weigh tax fallout: forgiven balances above $600 can generate taxable 1099‑C income - see IRS guidance on canceled debt.

If your priority is credit removal rather than saving cash, consider disputing or using credit repair strategies and debt validation first, since a successful removal avoids 'settled' reporting entirely. Learn your rights and validation steps before negotiating at all via the CFPB's resources on debt collection rights and validation. Decide based on whether short‑term savings outweigh score damage, tax risk, and the long‑term goal of a clean report.

Yes - CFM Group can sue you for unpaid debts (civil court) but owing money alone will not get you arrested.

Key defenses and actions to use immediately:

• Statute of limitations - check if the account is time‑barred (most states: about 3–6 years); consult the state statute of limitations chart and raise it as an affirmative defense if expired.
• Demand debt validation - insist they prove the debt, account number, and chain of ownership.
• Identity or accounting errors - show wrong account, duplicate reporting, or prior payment.
• Bankruptcy or prior discharge - proof of discharge defeats collection.
• Procedural and standing defenses - require the collector prove they have legal title to sue.
• Respond to any summons - typically you have about 20–30 days to file an answer; missing that window risks a default judgment.

If a suit is filed and you lose, a judgment can lead to wage garnishment, bank levy, or liens (after court order) - so act fast: send a validation request, confirm the debt age, file an answer if sued, and consult a consumer attorney or legal aid to fight or negotiate before a default judgment appears.

You can sue CFM Group under the FDCPA and state consumer laws to stop illegal collection, force credit‑report corrections or debt removal, and recover money damages.
Bring FDCPA claims in federal or state court or use small‑claims court when practical; statutory damages are up to $1,000 plus actual damages, court costs, and attorney fees, and the FDCPA's statute of limitations is one year from the date of the violation.

You should also file regulatory complaints to increase leverage and create official records.
File with the CFPB and your state attorney general; see CFPB guidance for debt collectors for how to submit complaints and evidence.

Build an airtight file before you sue or complain: save call logs with dates/times, voicemail or recorded calls (if legal in your state), texts, letters, account numbers, payment receipts, credit‑report screenshots, and certified‑mail receipts for validation or cease‑and‑desist letters.
Send a written debt‑validation request by certified mail and keep copies; failure to validate or continued harassment strengthens an FDCPA claim and settlement chances.

Get a consumer‑law attorney for federal/state claims or use your local small‑claims court for faster, low‑cost relief; legal aid or contingency consumer lawyers can help if money is tight.
Successful claims commonly lead to debt removal, settlements or forgiveness and recovery of fees - act quickly because the one‑year clock runs fast, so don't wait.

Yes - sometimes you can stop or remove a CFM Group collection without paying, but only by using legal and procedural tools (debt validation, credit disputes, time‑bar defenses, identity‑theft proof, FDCPA violations, or a bankruptcy discharge) or by forcing removal through documented legal pressure.

Use one or more of these proven paths:

• Debt validation: send a written request (certified mail) within 30 days of first contact and demand chain‑of‑title; no proof → dispute with bureaus.
• Credit‑report dispute: file disputes with the three bureaus and attach supporting docs; furnishers who can't verify must have the item deleted.
• Statute of limitations: check your state's SOL; time‑barred debts can't be legally enforced - avoid payments or written acknowledgements that restart the clock.
• Identity theft/inaccuracy: submit a police report and FTC Identity Theft Report; present to the collector and bureaus to force removal.
• FDCPA technicalities: document harassment, missing required notices, or illegal tactics - these violations can produce dismissals, settlements, or deletion leverage.
• Bankruptcy: a Chapter 7/13 discharge can remove many debts but will materially affect your credit; consult a bankruptcy attorney.
• Legal review & response: don't ignore lawsuits - hire an attorney or experienced credit specialist to identify weak proof, file motions, or negotiate written pay‑for‑delete only if beneficial.
• Caution: never voluntarily revive a time‑barred debt by paying or admitting responsibility; keep records and communicate in writing.

Start by disputing and pursuing credit-repair remedies first - if the CFM Group entry is wrong, unverified, or violates reporting rules, a successful dispute can remove the tradeline without you spending a dime.

Disputes preserve cash and, when they work, restore score history that paying usually does not; paying often only changes the status to 'paid collection,' which historically has shaved roughly 50–100 FICO points for years and can still be considered by many lenders. That said, scoring models vary (some newer FICO versions may ignore paid collections), so weigh the risk of a permanent paid mark versus a removal - see how FICO scores treat collections for scoring nuances and lender behavior.

If disputes fail or the debt is valid and you need a clean slate fast, demand written validation and try to negotiate a written pay-for-delete before paying; otherwise prioritize proven dispute strategies (or a reputable dispute service) to remove CFM Group's entry and regain the most score benefit.