StopAndDesist
Guide

File a complaint against a debt collector

Regulators take FDCPA complaints seriously. A well-documented complaint often gets a response within 15 days.

For U.S. residentsMade in USALast reviewed: January 2026Reviewed by the StopAndDesist legal content team

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

File free at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. The CFPB forwards your complaint to the collector, which must respond within 15 days. This is usually the fastest path.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Report FDCPA violations at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The FTC doesn't resolve individual disputes but tracks patterns and pursues enforcement against repeat offenders.

Your state attorney general

Every state AG has a consumer-protection division that handles debt-collector complaints. Some states, like California and New York, are especially aggressive.

State licensing board

Most states require debt collectors to hold a license. A complaint to the licensing board can result in suspension, and gives you leverage in settlement talks.

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