What Is the CFPB—and When Should You File?

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a U.S. federal agency created in 2011 under the Dodd-Frank Act to protect consumers in the financial marketplace. It handles complaints about banks, credit unions, credit card issuers, student loan servicers, payday lenders, credit reporting agencies, debt collectors, and money transfer services. You should file a complaint if you’ve tried—and failed—to resolve an issue directly with the company, or if the problem involves unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices (e.g., unauthorized charges, incorrect credit report entries, or misleading loan terms). Note: The CFPB does not handle complaints about non-financial businesses (like landlords or utilities) or disputes over contract terms it deems legally enforceable.

The CFPB does not replace courts or small claims court—it’s a regulatory tool for accountability and pattern monitoring, not individual legal enforcement.

Filing a complaint creates a public record (with personal details redacted) and helps the CFPB identify systemic risks and guide future rulemaking.

How to File a Complaint (Step-by-Step)

Filing takes about 10–15 minutes and requires basic information about you, the financial company involved, and what went wrong. Start at consumerfinance.gov/complaint (available 24/7). You’ll answer guided questions about your issue—like whether it involves a mortgage, credit report, or debt collection—and upload supporting documents (e.g., billing statements, emails, or screenshots). After review, you’ll receive a unique complaint ID and can opt to share your experience publicly on the CFPB’s Consumer Complaint Database. You’ll also get email or text updates as the process moves forward.

If you prefer not to file online, call 1-855-411-CFPB (2372) Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET. TTY/TDD users can dial 1-855-729-CFPB (2372).

Mail filings are accepted but discouraged—they take longer to process. Send a signed letter with your contact info, company name, description of the issue, and any evidence to: CFPB P.O. Box 4503, Iowa City, IA 52244.

What Happens After You File?

Within 2 business days, the CFPB sends your complaint to the company and assigns it a tracking number. Federal rules require the company to investigate and respond to you—and to the CFPB—within 15 calendar days. Most companies provide a resolution (e.g., refund, correction, or explanation); if not, the CFPB may escalate the matter or refer it to enforcement staff. You’ll receive the company’s response through your preferred contact method, and you can dispute it or request follow-up directly in your online complaint portal.

You can check real-time status anytime at consumerfinance.gov/complaint/status using your complaint ID and ZIP code.

If you don’t hear back from the company or believe the response is inadequate, you may ask the CFPB to review the case—but it cannot order compensation or reverse decisions made in accordance with federal law.

Important Limits and Alternatives

The CFPB cannot investigate complaints about state-licensed entities outside its jurisdiction (e.g., some private student loan servicers not covered by federal law), nor can it overturn court judgments, arbitrate contract disputes, or assist with criminal fraud (which should be reported to the FTC or FBI). For time-sensitive issues like identity theft or unauthorized transactions, act immediately: place a fraud alert with credit bureaus, dispute errors under FCRA or EFTA timelines, and consider filing in small claims court if damages are under your state’s limit (typically $5,000–$15,000 in 2026).

The CFPB does not provide legal advice. If your issue involves complex rights (e.g., Fair Debt Collection Practices Act violations or RESPA errors), consult a nonprofit legal aid organization or your state Attorney General’s office.

Remember: Filing with the CFPB preserves your right to sue later—but doesn’t extend statutes of limitations, which vary by claim type (e.g., 1 year for EFTA, 3 years for FDCPA, up to 6 years for breach of written contract under most state laws).

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