The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) handles complaints about financial products and services including bank accounts, credit cards, mortgages, student loans, auto loans, debt collection, credit reporting, and money transfers. Filing a complaint is free and can be done online at consumerfinance.gov/complaint or by phone at (855) 411-CFPB (2372).
10 steps across 1 sections
1. Steps Process
- Create a CFPB account — Visit consumerfinance.gov/complaint and create an account with your name, email, phone number, and a password. Verify your email address.
- Select the product or service — Choose from categories including checking/savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, student loans, vehicle loans, personal loans, debt collection, credit reporting,...
- Identify the problem — Select the specific issue from a dropdown menu (e.g., unauthorized transactions, incorrect information on credit report, harassment by debt collector).
- Describe what happened — Write a clear, concise narrative covering what happened, key dates, what you think would be a fair resolution, and what steps you have already taken. You may opt in to allo...
- Name the company — Identify the financial institution or company. Include your account number and billing address if applicable.
- Attach supporting documents — Upload evidence such as statements, letters, emails, or contracts that support your complaint.
- Provide your contact information — Indicate who is filing (yourself or on behalf of someone else) and provide your personal details so the CFPB can send updates.
- Review and submit — Double-check all information before submitting. You will receive a confirmation with a complaint number.
- Monitor the company's response — The CFPB forwards your complaint to the company, which has 15 days to respond (60 days for complex cases). Check your account for updates.
- Provide feedback — After receiving the company's response, you have 60 days to indicate whether you are satisfied with the resolution.
Common Mistakes
- Filing about non-financial products
- Not attempting resolution first
- Vague descriptions
- Missing documentation
- Not checking the response
Pro Tips
- The CFPB complaint database (consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-compl...
- Companies take CFPB complaints seriously because they are tracked publicly an...
- You can file on behalf of someone else (elderly parent, minor child) by indic...
- Phone support is available in 180+ languages for non-English speakers
- CFPB complaints have been shown to be more effective at getting company respo...