How to File a CFPB Complaint
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a federal government agency that collects consumer complaints about credit cards, mortgages, bank accounts, student loans, consumer loans, credit reporting, money transfers, and debt collection. It was launched in 2011 to help consumers have a voice against big companies. If you have trouble with any financial institution that provides financial services, CFPB can help resolve your issues. In this article I will go over how to file a CFPB complaint.
You should always try to work the company first, but if that get you nowhere, then a CFPB complaint can be your last resort. Keep record of emails, phone calls, chat sessions and more because as you will see below, you mind need to provide as much proof as possible.
CFPB Complaint
The fastest way to get started is to go consumerfinance.gov/complaint. If you need help while you’re online, you can chat with one of our team members on the site. You can also submit a complaint over the phone by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372), toll free.
The best complaints are the ones that explain, clearly and concisely:
- Provide basic information about the issue
- Explain happened, including key details and documents in you have any
- What you think would be a fair resolution
- What you’ve done to try and resolve it
You can file a complaint on behalf of yourself or someone else.
CFPB Contact Info
Here are all the phone numbers that you can use to contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from 8AM to 8PM ET:
- Toll-Free Number: (855) 411-CFPB (2372)
- Español: (855) 411-CFPB (2372)
- TTY/TDD: (855) 729-CFPB (2372)
- Fax Number: (855) 237-2392
Address is:
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- PO Box 4503
- Iowa City, Iowa 52244
What Happens Next
The CFPB will forward your complaint to the company you named and ask them to respond. If the CFPB thinks another government agency is better equipped to handle your complaint, it will forward it to that agency.
After you’ve submitted your complaint you can check its status at consumerfinance.gov/complaint or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372). You will also receive email updates along the way so you know where you are in the process, and what’s next.
The company will review your complaint and communicate with you about it if necessary. It will then report back to the CFPB on what its next steps will be. After the company in question responds to your complaint, you will get an email and you can log back in to review the response. You have 30 days to dispute the company’s response.
The more complaints the CFPB receives about the same issue or the same financial institution, the more likely a large problem exists that regulation might help resolve.
Conclusion
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau complaints have seen a sharp increase during the pandemic. It’s good to know that you have a last resort option when everything fails while trying to solve issues with financial institution. This could come in handy when a bank doesn’t give you a bonus you were expecting, a credit card welcome offer that you signed up for, and many other issues that might arise.
The process is quick and easy. You just select what type of issue you have, enter the details of the institution and some personal information and account details. Then you explain the issue and provide as much information and proof as possible. You will get an answer usually within a month or two and you have your chance to dispute it as well.
2 thoughts on “How to File a CFPB Complaint and When You Should Do It”
I filed against a bank for not following through with their $500 checking/savings account bonus. It didn’t take two weeks and the bank paid.
🤑