 TITLE: CFPB Online Credit Card Complaint Database CONTENT: How to Find Credit Card Complaints On-Line\n------------------------------------------\n###### Written by: Kristy Welsh\n_Last Updated: July 25, 2017_\nThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) offers an on-line database where consumers can search for complaints against credit card companies. This new database can be searched via name of credit card company, type of complaint, or by a customer's zip code. Having their dirty laundry aired out for all to see does not make the banking institutions very happy and the banks are claiming this data can be misleading and only represents a small fraction of the credit card accounts currently issued.\nWhat Does This Database Reveal?\n-------------------------------\nEven though banks contend the information found in this database is not being verified for accuracy, the information does shows what type of complaint was filed, against who, and what was the outcome of the complaint. Did the bank resolve it in a timely manner - within 60 days - and was there any monetary relief awarded to the consumer.\nWhen the CFPB receives a complaint from a consumer, it verifies this information with the credit card company and with the person who filed the complaint. The agency also checks that is has jurisdiction over the institution in question. Once this has been all verified, it will then post this information to this online database.\nHave There Been Complaints Since the Online Database Went Live?\n---------------------------------------------------------------\nSince the CFPB began receiving complaints on July 21, 2011, it has received almost 17,000 credit card complaints, 19,000 mortgage complaints, 6,500 bank products and services complaints, and over 1,000 student loan complaints. The majority of the credit card complaints have to do with billing disputes. The second highest source of complaints come from consumers not being able to challenge inaccuracies on their billing statements.\nWhat Does This Database Mean for Consumers\n------------------------------------------\nNo longer will consumer complaints only be known to the individual banks and to those willing to pursue this information through the Freedom of Information Act. Instead, this data-rich resource will be available to everyone thus improving the \"transparency\" and \"efficiency\" of the credit card market to further empower the American consumer.\nThis database will not include personal information such as a consumer's name, credit card number, or mailing address. It will simply name the institution of which the complaint has been made, what was the complaint, and how it was resolved.\nWhat Happens When a Consumer Files a Complaint?\n-----------------------------------------------\nWhen a consumer files a complaint, Consumer Response intake specialists review each one for completeness, jurisdiction, and non-duplication. Complaints that meet these criteria are then forwarded to the appropriate company (bank or nonbank) for review and resolution. Companies are given 15 days to provide a substantive response to each consumer complaint, and are expected to resolve and close all but the most complicated complaints within 60 days.\nConsumer Response prioritizes for investigation certain complaints based on a handful of risk-based criteria including the failure of a company to respond in a timely manner and those in which the consumer disputes the company-provided resolution. When potential legal violations are detected, Consumer Response works closely with other parts of the Bureau including the offices of Supervision, Enforcement, and Fair Lending to ensure potential violations are dealt with appropriately.\nThroughout this process, consumers have the ability to log into the CFPB's website to check the status of their complaint (and, when appropriate, dispute the resolution provided by the financial institution).\nHow is This Database Working Out?\n---------------------------------\nThe Consumer Complaint Database has collected over 579,000 complaints since its inception, on a range of consumer financial products and services. Since they started accepting complaints in July 2011, they’ve helped consumers connect with financial companies to understand issues with their mortgages, fix errors on their credit reports, stop unlawful calls from debt collectors, and get direct responses about problems with their credit cards, bank accounts, private student loans, and more. They analyze the data to identify trends and problems in the marketplace, enforcing federal consumer financial laws and writing rules and regulations. They publish reports on complaints and share information with state and federal agencies.\nTell Them What You Think\n------------------------\nThe CFPB is encouraging consumers to give them feedback on what you think of this new database and would like comments and suggestions on making the functionality better. If you have a had a chance to look it over, you can fill out a comment form and offer your suggestions. END