How to file a CFPB complaint about a credit report
Last updated: Sources checked: September 2026
A complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sends your problem to the company and asks for a response. It works best after you have already disputed with the bureau or the furnisher and have dates and documents to show it. It is free, and it is not a lawsuit.
A complaint does not guarantee a correction. It puts the issue in front of the company and creates a record.
When it helps
- A dispute came back “verified” and you have proof the item is wrong.
- A bureau did not answer within the 30 days, or the 45 if extended. See the 30-day timeline.
- A bureau did not provide the description of its procedure when you asked. See method of verification.
- A furnisher keeps reporting information after you proved it wrong.
What to prepare
- The company’s name and the account involved.
- The dates of each step: when you filed, when it was received, when the answer came.
- Copies of your proof, your letters, the results, and your confirmation or return receipt.
- A short timeline of what happened.
- What you want: for example, correct this balance, or delete this account that is not yours.
The steps
- Go to consumerfinance.gov/complaint.
- Choose credit reporting as the product, and select the type of problem that fits, such as incorrect information on your report or a dispute that was not properly investigated.
- Enter the company, which is usually the bureau, and file a separate complaint for each company involved.
- Describe what happened in a few clear paragraphs. Stick to facts and dates.
- Attach your documents.
- Say what resolution you want.
- Submit and save the complaint number.
What happens next
The CFPB forwards your complaint to the company, which is generally expected to respond within a set number of days. You can see the response and say whether it resolved the problem. Complaints about complicated matters can take longer.
What a complaint cannot do
It cannot make a company delete accurate information. It does not replace a dispute. It does not stop any deadline, including a deadline in a court case. If you need legal help, see the escalation guide.
Other places
Your state attorney general may accept complaints about credit reporting. The rules and process differ by state.
Do this today
Write a five-line timeline of your dispute: what you filed, when, what came back, and when. It is the core of a good complaint.