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Press Release
Nevadans Rank 2nd Nationally in CFPB Debt Collection Complaints
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 27th, 2014
CONTACT:
Sam Wilson-Moses
Field Organizer | U.S. PIRG Education Fund
Office: (303) 573-7474 ext. 381
Cell: (541) 335-9972
[email protected]
Report: Mistaken Identity Tops Debt Collection Complaints
Nevada Consumers Getting Relief through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Public Consumer Complaints Database
Las Vegas –Debt collectors trying to collect debt from the wrong person were the top source of complaints to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), according to a report released today by the U.S. PIRG Education Fund. The report also found that Nevada consumers are 2nd most likely to file complaints to the CFPB about debt collection – after Washington D.C. - and that debt collection is a top source of complaints.
“The CFPB is helping consumers get relief from shoddy debt collector practices,” said Sam Wilson, Moses, Field Organizer with the U.S. PIRG Education Fund. “Many consumers who don’t owe debts are being harassed by lazy debt collectors who don’t verify consumer identities.”
The report, “Debt Collectors, Debt Complaints: The CFPB's Consumer Complaint Database Gets Real Results for Consumers”, is the final in a series of reports by the U.S. PIRG Education Fund that analyze the complaints in the CFPB’s public Consumer Complaints Database. The CFPB began accepting complaints in July 2011 and now accepts complaints about most financial products and services. Although the CFPB only opened its doors to complaints about debt collection last July, complaints about debt collection have already outpaced those for common products such as credit cards and bank accounts, accounting for the second largest portion of complaints after mortgages between July and January.
Some key findings:
• The CFPB has helped enable more than 2,700 consumers – 22 percent of complainants - to receive relief as a result of their debt collection complaints. The majority of these are non-monetary relief, such as halting harassing phone calls.
• The most common problems were debt collectors trying to collect debt from the wrong person (25 percent) or repeated phone calls (13 percent). State and federal laws protect consumers from harassing phone calls from debt collectors.
• The most complained-about debt collection company in Nevada is Expert Global Solutions, Inc. Encore Capital Group received the most complaints nationwide.
• Nevada ranks 2nd nationally in complaints per 100,000 residents – after only Washington D.C.
• About 16 percent of responses received from debt collectors to complaints filed with the CFPB were deemed unsatisfactory by consumers and were subjected to further dispute.
• Companies varied widely in how frequently they offered relief to complainants. Allied Interstate LLC granted relief to over 97 percent of complainants, while several companies never provided relief.
The report comes as the CFPB finishes collecting comments about debt collection in preparation for rulemaking in the industry. The report recommended that the CFPB make the following improvements to debt collection rules, including the following:
Require debt collectors to stringently verify that they are collecting accurately-owed debts from the correct consumers, before they start;
Clarify that the debt collection laws give consumers the right to sue to stop unfair practices and to collect multiple penalties for multiple violations;
Protect service-members by strictly limiting contact with their commanders to verifications of employment and address;
Protect all consumers by mandating additional disclosures concerning the effect of paying debts on their credit reports, such as a disclosure that “Paying this debt will not remove it from your credit report.”
"I encourage Nevadans to learn more about their rights regarding debt collectors, or if they are placed in to collection,” said Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto. “If they have questions, I urge them to call the Home Again Homeowner Relief Program, which is sponsored by my office and provides free assistance to consumers."
The report also recommends that the CFPB move to make the database more user-friendly, analyze the data they receive regularly, and use the information and analysis to implement strong consumer protections.
“The CFPB has only been taking debt collection complaints for a short time but is already swamped with them,” concluded Wilson-Moses. “Consumers need a strong CFPB that reins in reckless debt collectors who ignore the rules.”
###
Download the report, “Debt Collectors, Debt Complaints: The CFPB's Consumer Complaint Database Gets Real Results for Consumers”.
This is the final in a series of five reports by the U.S. PIRG Education Fund that analyze the complaints in the CFPB’s public Consumer Complaints Database. Previous reports have analyzed bank account, private student loan, credit reporting, and credit card complaints.
Visit the CFPB’s public Consumer Complaints Database:
www.consumerfinance.gov/complaintdatabase/
U.S PIRG Education Fund works to protect consumers and promote good government. We investigate problems, craft solutions, educate the public, and offer meaningful opportunities for civic participation.
www.uspirgedfund.org
Thursday, February 27th, 2014
CONTACT:
Sam Wilson-Moses
Field Organizer | U.S. PIRG Education Fund
Office: (303) 573-7474 ext. 381
Cell: (541) 335-9972
[email protected]
Report: Mistaken Identity Tops Debt Collection Complaints
Nevada Consumers Getting Relief through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Public Consumer Complaints Database
Las Vegas –Debt collectors trying to collect debt from the wrong person were the top source of complaints to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), according to a report released today by the U.S. PIRG Education Fund. The report also found that Nevada consumers are 2nd most likely to file complaints to the CFPB about debt collection – after Washington D.C. - and that debt collection is a top source of complaints.
“The CFPB is helping consumers get relief from shoddy debt collector practices,” said Sam Wilson, Moses, Field Organizer with the U.S. PIRG Education Fund. “Many consumers who don’t owe debts are being harassed by lazy debt collectors who don’t verify consumer identities.”
The report, “Debt Collectors, Debt Complaints: The CFPB's Consumer Complaint Database Gets Real Results for Consumers”, is the final in a series of reports by the U.S. PIRG Education Fund that analyze the complaints in the CFPB’s public Consumer Complaints Database. The CFPB began accepting complaints in July 2011 and now accepts complaints about most financial products and services. Although the CFPB only opened its doors to complaints about debt collection last July, complaints about debt collection have already outpaced those for common products such as credit cards and bank accounts, accounting for the second largest portion of complaints after mortgages between July and January.
Some key findings:
• The CFPB has helped enable more than 2,700 consumers – 22 percent of complainants - to receive relief as a result of their debt collection complaints. The majority of these are non-monetary relief, such as halting harassing phone calls.
• The most common problems were debt collectors trying to collect debt from the wrong person (25 percent) or repeated phone calls (13 percent). State and federal laws protect consumers from harassing phone calls from debt collectors.
• The most complained-about debt collection company in Nevada is Expert Global Solutions, Inc. Encore Capital Group received the most complaints nationwide.
• Nevada ranks 2nd nationally in complaints per 100,000 residents – after only Washington D.C.
• About 16 percent of responses received from debt collectors to complaints filed with the CFPB were deemed unsatisfactory by consumers and were subjected to further dispute.
• Companies varied widely in how frequently they offered relief to complainants. Allied Interstate LLC granted relief to over 97 percent of complainants, while several companies never provided relief.
The report comes as the CFPB finishes collecting comments about debt collection in preparation for rulemaking in the industry. The report recommended that the CFPB make the following improvements to debt collection rules, including the following:
Require debt collectors to stringently verify that they are collecting accurately-owed debts from the correct consumers, before they start;
Clarify that the debt collection laws give consumers the right to sue to stop unfair practices and to collect multiple penalties for multiple violations;
Protect service-members by strictly limiting contact with their commanders to verifications of employment and address;
Protect all consumers by mandating additional disclosures concerning the effect of paying debts on their credit reports, such as a disclosure that “Paying this debt will not remove it from your credit report.”
"I encourage Nevadans to learn more about their rights regarding debt collectors, or if they are placed in to collection,” said Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto. “If they have questions, I urge them to call the Home Again Homeowner Relief Program, which is sponsored by my office and provides free assistance to consumers."
The report also recommends that the CFPB move to make the database more user-friendly, analyze the data they receive regularly, and use the information and analysis to implement strong consumer protections.
“The CFPB has only been taking debt collection complaints for a short time but is already swamped with them,” concluded Wilson-Moses. “Consumers need a strong CFPB that reins in reckless debt collectors who ignore the rules.”
###
Download the report, “Debt Collectors, Debt Complaints: The CFPB's Consumer Complaint Database Gets Real Results for Consumers”.
This is the final in a series of five reports by the U.S. PIRG Education Fund that analyze the complaints in the CFPB’s public Consumer Complaints Database. Previous reports have analyzed bank account, private student loan, credit reporting, and credit card complaints.
Visit the CFPB’s public Consumer Complaints Database:
www.consumerfinance.gov/complaintdatabase/
U.S PIRG Education Fund works to protect consumers and promote good government. We investigate problems, craft solutions, educate the public, and offer meaningful opportunities for civic participation.
www.uspirgedfund.org