🏦 How to Submit a Complaint to the CFPB
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints about many consumer financial products and services, including credit reports, debt collection, bank accounts, mortgages, cards, loans, and money transfers.
Use the official CFPB complaint portal. Contact the company first when practical, then explain what happened, when, the steps already taken, and the specific resolution requested.
The CFPB generally routes the complaint to the company or another agency. The company receives information needed to respond; complaint data may later appear publicly without direct personal identifiers under CFPB procedures.
Put sensitive identifiers only in the portal fields that request them; do not place a full Social Security number, bank login, or unnecessary medical detail in the narrative. Upload the smallest set of documents that proves the timeline and issue.
📋 Documents you'll need
- Company name and financial product or service
- Account or reference number
- Dates, amounts, transactions, and people contacted
- Statements, letters, screenshots, contracts, or report pages
- Prior complaint numbers and responses
- Chronological description of the problem
- Specific fair resolution requested
🪜 Step-by-step
- Contact the company and save its response when practical.
- Open the CFPB portal and select the product and issue.
- Create the secure account information required.
- Describe events chronologically with facts, dates, and amounts.
- State the specific resolution requested.
- Upload relevant records after removing unrelated data.
- Review, submit, and save the confirmation.
- Track the response and preserve the complete record.
| Estimated cost | Free to submit. Do not pay a third party merely to access the CFPB complaint process. |
|---|---|
| Typical timeline | The CFPB says companies generally respond within 15 days; some provide a final response within 60 days. Routing can change timing. |
Frequently asked questions
Does the CFPB decide who wins?
The CFPB routes and monitors complaints but does not act as a private judge or guarantee the requested outcome.
Will the company see my information?
Yes. The CFPB shares information needed for the company to identify the account and respond.
Can I submit for someone else?
Authorized representatives may submit but must identify the relationship and may need written permission.