Filing a complaint with the FTC or CFPB is one of the most effective ways to report fraud, scams, and unfair business practices. These agencies investigate complaints, take enforcement action against companies, and maintain public databases that other consumers can access. This guide walks you through how to file—with a step-by-step process and a sample complaint template.
What Is the FTC? What Is the CFPB?
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the primary consumer protection agency. It investigates fraud, deceptive business practices, identity theft, scams, and violations of consumer protection laws. The FTC does NOT have direct authority over banks and financial institutions; instead, it focuses on non-bank companies and broader consumer protection enforcement.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a specialized agency that handles complaints about financial companies, including banks, credit unions, mortgage servicers, debt collectors, payday lenders, credit bureaus, and student loan servicers. The CFPB has unique enforcement authority to take action against these companies and requires them to respond to complaints within 15 days.
Key difference: If your complaint involves a bank, debt collector, mortgage servicer, or credit bureau, file with the CFPB. If it involves a scam, fraud, identity theft, or a non-financial company, file with the FTC.
When to File with FTC vs. CFPB
| Complaint Type | Best Agency | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Debt collector harassment or violations | CFPB | Illegal calls, threats, verification refusal |
| Bank, credit union, or mortgage servicer issues | CFPB | Overdraft errors, loan servicer problems |
| Credit bureau errors or disputes | CFPB | Inaccurate credit reports, disputes not responded to |
| Payday or title lender problems | CFPB | Predatory lending, unauthorized withdrawals |
| Student loan servicer issues | CFPB | Payment application errors, disability discharge denials |
| Fraud or scams | FTC | Online scams, fake websites, phishing, romance scams |
| Identity theft | FTC | Unauthorized accounts, credit card fraud, account takeover |
| Telemarketing or robocalls | FTC | Illegal calls from non-financial companies |
| Deceptive advertising | FTC | False claims about products or services |
| Data breaches | FTC | Companies that failed to protect your data |
Note: You can file with both agencies if your complaint involves multiple issues.
How to File an FTC Complaint — Step by Step
Filing an FTC complaint takes 10–15 minutes and requires no lawyer.
Step 1: Go to ReportFraud.FTC.gov
Visit reportfraud.ftc.gov in your web browser. This is the official FTC complaint portal. Do not use any other website—scammers sometimes create fake FTC complaint forms.
Step 2: Choose Your Complaint Type
The site will ask you to select the type of complaint:
- Fraud and scams
- Identity theft
- Credit reporting errors (though CFPB is better for this)
- Do not call violations
- Other consumer issues
Select the category that best matches your complaint.
Step 3: Provide Your Contact Information
Enter:
- Your name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Address
The FTC uses this information to contact you if it has questions. Your complaint will be added to the FTC Consumer Sentinel database, which law enforcement agencies access. You can request to remain anonymous, but providing contact info helps the agency follow up.
Step 4: Describe Your Complaint in Detail
Write a clear, chronological account of what happened. Include:
- When the issue started (specific dates)
- What the company claimed or did
- How it affected you
- Any communications you received (emails, letters, calls)
- How much money you lost (if applicable)
Use the sample complaint narrative in this guide (see below) as a template. The more detail, the better.
Step 5: Submit and Get Your Reference Number
Review your complaint for accuracy, then submit. The FTC will provide a complaint reference number. Save this number—it’s your proof of filing. You can check the status of your complaint using this number at the FTC website.
Important: Filing an FTC complaint does NOT guarantee that the agency will take action. The FTC receives hundreds of thousands of complaints annually and prioritizes enforcement based on resources and the number of similar complaints.
How to File a CFPB Complaint — Step by Step
CFPB complaints often result in faster responses because the agency has a 15-day company response requirement.
Step 1: Go to ConsumerFinance.gov/Complaint
Visit consumerfinance.gov/complaint in your web browser. This is the official CFPB portal. The form is intuitive and guides you through each step.
Step 2: Select Your Financial Product or Service
Choose from:
- Bank account or service
- Credit card
- Credit reporting
- Debt collection
- Money transfer service
- Mortgage
- Student loan
- Payday loan
- Other
Select the category that applies to your complaint.
Step 3: Describe the Issue
The CFPB form asks you to select from common issues (e.g., “Incorrect information on credit report,” “Called outside permitted hours,” “Didn’t honor cease communication request”). Pick the option that matches your situation, or select “Other” and describe your issue in your own words.
Step 4: Provide Your Contact Information
Enter:
- Your name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Mailing address
The CFPB will contact you using this information. You can mark your complaint as confidential to keep your name out of the public database, but this may limit the visibility of the complaint.
Step 5: Provide Company Details
Identify the company you’re complaining about:
- Company name
- Website or phone number
- Location (if you know it)
The CFPB uses this to route your complaint to the correct company.
Step 6: Upload Supporting Documents (Optional)
If you have:
- Screenshots of communications
- Receipts
- Bank statements
- Emails or letters from the company
Upload these as PDFs. They strengthen your complaint and help the CFPB investigate.
Step 7: Submit Your Complaint
Review the information, then submit. The CFPB will provide a complaint reference number. Save this number and your confirmation email.
What Happens Next: The CFPB forwards your complaint to the company within 1-2 business days. The company has 15 calendar days to respond. You’ll receive updates as the company responds. The CFPB publishes the complaint in its Consumer Complaint Database (with personal details removed) unless you opt out.
What Information to Include in Your Complaint
Whether you’re filing with the FTC or CFPB, include:
- Specific dates — When did the issue occur? (e.g., “On March 15, 2026, I received a call…”)
- Company name and contact info — Exact name, phone number, website, location
- What happened — Chronological, factual description (no opinions or emotion)
- Violation or illegal act — What law or regulation was violated? (e.g., “Fair Debt Collection Practices Act § 1692c”)
- Amount of loss — How much money did you lose or get charged? (if applicable)
- Your attempts to resolve — Did you contact the company? What happened?
- Proof or documentation — Receipts, emails, screenshots, voicemails, account statements
- Pattern of behavior — If this is a repeat issue, describe other incidents
- How it affected you — Emotional distress, time spent fixing the issue, financial hardship
- What you want — Refund? Removal of marks from credit report? Apology? (Note: agencies can’t force refunds in all cases, but it’s worth mentioning)
Sample Complaint Narrative
Use this template to draft your complaint narrative. Copy the section that applies to your situation and fill in the bracketed information.
Debt Collector Harassment (FDCPA Violation)
File with: CFPB
On [DATE], I received a call from [DEBT COLLECTOR NAME / COMPANY] regarding an alleged debt of $[AMOUNT]. The collector contacted me via phone at [YOUR PHONE NUMBER], and the call was answered by [YOU / ANOTHER HOUSEHOLD MEMBER].
During the call, the collector [describe violation]:
- Called me before 8:00 AM without my prior consent
- Called my workplace despite my repeated requests to stop
- Threatened to file a lawsuit without intent to do so
- Used profanity and abusive language
- Refused to provide written verification of the debt
- Continued calling after I sent a written cease-communication notice
This conduct violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § [1692c for harassment / 1692e for deception / 1692g for failure to validate].
I have [requested the debt be verified / requested the collector cease communication / documented multiple violations] but the collector has continued this behavior. This is my formal complaint requesting that the CFPB investigate this collector and take enforcement action to stop these illegal practices.
Fraud or Scam (File with FTC)
On [DATE], I received [EMAIL / TEXT / CALL / ADVERTISEMENT] from a company claiming to be [COMPANY NAME]. The message stated: “[QUOTED TEXT]”
Believing this was legitimate, I [PROVIDED PERSONAL INFORMATION / CLICKED A LINK / PAID MONEY / PROVIDED CREDIT CARD INFO]. I subsequently learned that:
- The company’s website is a fake copy of the legitimate website at [REAL URL]
- The sender’s email address [EMAIL] does not match the legitimate company’s domain
- The company demanded upfront payment, which is not their normal business practice
- I was unable to reach the company’s official customer service to verify
As a result, I have [LOST $X / HAD MY IDENTITY COMPROMISED / RECEIVED FRAUDULENT CHARGES / OTHER IMPACT]. I am reporting this to prevent other consumers from being victimized.
Credit Bureau or Credit Reporting Violation (File with CFPB)
On [DATE], I [APPLIED FOR A LOAN / CHECKED MY CREDIT / RECEIVED A NOTICE] and discovered that [CREDIT BUREAU NAME] has reported [INACCURATE INFORMATION] on my credit report:
- Inaccurate item: [ACCOUNT NAME / LATE PAYMENT / COLLECTION / OTHER]
- Reported status: [DELINQUENT / CLOSED / SOLD / OTHER]
- Correct status: [PAID IN FULL / NEVER LATE / NOT MY ACCOUNT / OTHER]
I dispute this information because [EXPLAIN WHY IT’S WRONG]. I previously submitted a dispute on [DATE], and the credit bureau failed to investigate or remove the item within 30 days as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681i.
This inaccuracy has [AFFECTED MY CREDIT SCORE / CAUSED ME TO BE DENIED CREDIT / RESULTED IN HIGHER INTEREST RATES]. I request that the CFPB require [CREDIT BUREAU] to correct this error and provide me with an updated credit report.
What Happens After You File
Your complaint does not automatically result in a refund, investigation, or enforcement action.
Here’s what realistically happens:
FTC Complaints:
- Your complaint is logged in the FTC Consumer Sentinel database
- The FTC reviews complaints for patterns (e.g., 1,000 complaints about the same scam triggers investigation)
- If there’s a pattern, the FTC may open a formal investigation
- If the FTC determines a company violated the law, it may file a lawsuit or negotiate a settlement
- You are not automatically notified of the outcome
- The FTC’s primary goal is to stop the illegal behavior, not necessarily to recover your money
CFPB Complaints:
- Your complaint is forwarded to the company within 1-2 business days
- The company has 15 calendar days to respond
- You receive the company’s response
- Your complaint is added to the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database (unless you opt out)
- If complaints reveal a pattern, the CFPB may open an investigation
- The CFPB can negotiate settlements or impose fines on the company, but individual consumer recovery varies
In both cases:
- You may not get your money back — Agencies cannot force refunds in all situations
- There is no timeline — Investigations can take months or years
- You will not get a lawsuit — Agencies investigate on your behalf, but you don’t join a class action automatically
- You should still consult an attorney — For individual legal action, you may need to file a civil lawsuit or join a class action
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does filing a complaint cost anything?
A: No. Filing a complaint with the FTC or CFPB is completely free. Be wary of services that claim they’ll file complaints for you—legitimate filing requires no fee.
Q: Can the company retaliate against me for filing a complaint?
A: No. The FTC and CFPB both prohibit retaliation. If a company retaliates (closes your account, increases fees, threatens you), document it and file an additional complaint about retaliation.
Q: Will my complaint be kept confidential?
A: The FTC keeps your personal information confidential, but CFPB complaints are published in the Consumer Complaint Database with personal details removed. You can request confidentiality when filing with CFPB, but this limits visibility.
Q: How long does it take to hear back?
A: FTC complaints have no standard timeline. CFPB complaints receive a company response within 15 days, and you’ll be notified. However, investigations or enforcement actions can take months or years, and you may never hear the outcome.
Q: What if the company disputes my complaint?
A: The company will respond to your complaint. If they dispute your account, the agency will review both sides. You can provide additional evidence if needed.
Q: Can I sue the company myself instead of filing a complaint?
A: Yes. Filing a complaint does not prevent you from suing. In fact, complaints to agencies can help you in court by establishing a pattern of violations. Consult an attorney to learn about your options.
Q: Can I file anonymously?
A: The FTC allows anonymous complaints. CFPB complaints can be marked confidential, but the agency will use your contact information internally to follow up with you.
Related Guides
- Credit and Debt Rights Guide — comprehensive overview of FDCPA, FCRA, and debt rights
- Consumer Protection Guide: The Complete Legal Reference — hub for all consumer protection resources
- How to Write a Debt Collector Cease Communication Letter (With Template) — stop harassment in writing
- How to Spot an Online Purchase Scam and Recover Your Money — recognize and report scams
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The FTC and CFPB filing processes and agency mandates are current as of March 2026 and subject to change. Always verify current procedures at reportfraud.ftc.gov and consumerfinance.gov/complaint or consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation. Last reviewed: March 2026.