How do I file a complaint with the CFPB after a financial scam?
File at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. The CFPB routes complaints directly to the financial company, which must respond within 15 days — it is most effective when your bank or payment company is not cooperating.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints about financial products and services — banks, credit cards, mortgages, student loans, debt collectors, payment apps, and more. Unlike the FTC (which builds enforcement cases from aggregate data), the CFPB directly routes your complaint to the company and requires them to respond. This makes CFPB complaints particularly effective when your bank is denying your fraud reimbursement claim.
To file, visit consumerfinance.gov/complaint and select the type of financial product involved. You will be asked to describe the issue, what you want to happen, and to upload supporting documents. The CFPB forwards your complaint to the company, which must respond within 15 days and resolve it within 60 days. You receive the company's response through the CFPB portal and can dispute it if you are not satisfied.
The CFPB database is public (with personal details removed), and companies know that a large volume of similar complaints can trigger regulatory scrutiny. Filing a CFPB complaint about a bank that denied your fraud reimbursement often prompts the bank to reconsider.
The CFPB also accepts complaints about non-bank financial companies including payment apps if they are acting in a regulated capacity. If the financial company is unresponsive to your complaint or you believe there is a systemic issue, the CFPB complaint portal is one of the most effective consumer leverage tools available.
Common red flags
- Bank denied your fraud reimbursement without a meaningful investigation
- Payment app refused to refund a documented scam transaction
- Debt collector violated your rights under the FDCPA
- Lender made unauthorized changes to your loan terms
- Financial company refuses to engage with your dispute
What to do now
- File at consumerfinance.gov/complaint and describe the issue clearly
- Upload all supporting evidence: bank statements, correspondence, fraud reports
- Monitor the CFPB portal for the company's response
- If the response is unsatisfactory, dispute it through the portal
- Also report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov as a parallel action
Frequently asked questions
Is the CFPB complaint process the same as a lawsuit?
No. A CFPB complaint is an administrative process that prompts a company response. It is not legally binding and does not award you money. However, it creates an official record, often prompts companies to reconsider denials, and can trigger regulatory investigations when many similar complaints accumulate.
Which financial companies fall under CFPB jurisdiction?
The CFPB covers banks, credit unions, credit card companies, mortgage servicers, student loan servicers, payday lenders, debt collectors, credit reporting bureaus, and certain non-bank payment companies. If unsure, file the complaint anyway — the CFPB will route it or inform you.