Complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau about collectors totaled 2,975 in January, more than double the 1,254 in December. In 2013, starting in July when the CFPB began tracking the data, 11,043 complaints were filed against collectors.
There were a total of 627 collections agencies cited in the complaints. WebRecon LLC, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based data firm, provided the CFPB's data.
The status of the complaints included:
2,894 with timely responses (or 97.3 percent of the total)
2,027 (68.1 percent) - closed with explanation ?
477 (16 percent) - closed with non-monetary relief?
261 (8.8 percent) - in progress ?
93 (3.1 percent) - closed ?
70 (2.4 percent) - closed with monetary relief
47 (1.6 percent) - untimely response
Of the responses, consumers accepted 2,505 (84.2 percent) and disputed 470 (15.8 percent).
The top complaints cited included:
1,215 (40.8 percent) - continued attempts to collect debt not owed
561 (18.9 percent) - communication tactics
508 (17.1 percent) - disclosure verification of debt
265 (8.9 percent) - improper contact or sharing of info
233 (7.8 percent) - false statements or representation
193 (6.5 percent) - taking/threatening an illegal action
The top five secondary issues included:
777 (26.1 percent) - debt is not mine
363 (12.2 percent) - frequent or repeated calls
358 (12 percent) - not given enough info to verify debt
297 (10 percent) - debt was paid
181 (6.1 percent) - attempted to collect wrong amount
The types of debt behind the complaints included:
779 (26.2 percent) - other (phone, health club, etc.)
673 (22.6 percent) - credit card
634 (21.3 percent) - unknown
285 (9.6 percent) - medical
235 (7.9 percent) - payday loan
124 (4.2 percent) - mortgage
