The CFPB has issued its Consumer Response Annual Report that provides an analysis of the approximately 320,200 complaints received by the CFPB between January 1 and December 31, 2017.  (In 2016, the CFPB received approximately 291,400 complaints.)

The report provides data on the most common types of complaints for each product and the handling of complaints.  Unlike prior annual reports, however, the new report contains no information on the median amount of monetary relief paid for different complaint types by companies that reported such amounts. (Companies have the option to report an amount of monetary relief.)

Of the 320,200 complaints received in 2017, approximately 81% were received through the CFPB’s website, 5% via telephone calls, 8% via referrals from other agencies and regulators, and the balance via mail, e-mail and fax.  Based on the CFPB’s breakdown of the number of complaints received in each category, credit reporting (100,000), debt collection (84,500), and mortgages (37,300) accounted for 69% of all 2017 complaints.

For credit reporting complaints, 55% involved incorrect information on credit reports and 20% involved the credit reporting company’s investigation.

39% of debt collection complaints involved continued attempts to collect debts not owed, 22% involved debt validation (such as not receiving enough information to verify the debt), 13% involved communication tactics, 11% involved taking or threatening illegal action, 10% involved false statements or representations, and 4% involved improper contact or sharing of information.

For mortgage complaints, 41% involved making payments (such as issues involving servicing, posting of payments, and escrow accounts), 37% involved problems relating to inability to pay (such as issues involving loan modifications, collections, or foreclosures), and 12% involved applying for a loan or refinancing an existing mortgage.

We recently blogged that the CFPB has apparently decided to put its monthly complaint reports on hold, having issued its last monthly complaint report in October 2017.