What actually happens when you complain? We counted.
Companies answered almost every complaint sent through the CFPB on time in 2025 (99.55%). Most were closed with an explanation (58.71%) or a fix that wasn't money (40.63%). Cash back was rare overall (0.48%), but credit card complaints got monetary relief 12.65% of the time. Your complaint gets an answer. How you write it matters.
Why it matters
A written, dated complaint creates a record a company has to answer. That is a small, real piece of justice served, and it costs nothing to file.
| 2025 complaints received (all products) | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 5,452,090 | 100% |
| Closed with explanation | 3,200,813 | 58.71% |
| Closed with non monetary relief | 2,215,326 | 40.63% |
| Closed with monetary relief | 26,169 | 0.48% |
| Untimely response | 9,501 | 0.17% |
| Timely response: Yes | 5,427,512 | 99.55% |
| Credit reporting share of all | 4,818,215 | 88.37% |
| 2025 credit card complaints | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 90,157 | 100% |
| Closed with explanation | 60,154 | 66.72% |
| Closed with non monetary relief | 18,529 | 20.55% |
| Closed with monetary relief | 11,407 | 12.65% |
| Timely response: Yes | 89,808 | 99.61% |
| Product | Total | Outcome | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt collection | 283,827 | Closed with explanation | 208,065 | 73.31% |
| Closed with non-monetary relief | 72,582 | 25.57% | ||
| Untimely response | 2,712 | 0.96% | ||
| Closed with monetary relief | 447 | 0.16% | ||
| In progress | 21 | 0.01% | ||
| Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service | 84,708 | Closed with explanation | 81,252 | 95.92% |
| Closed with monetary relief | 2,037 | 2.40% | ||
| Closed with non-monetary relief | 1,308 | 1.54% | ||
| Untimely response | 109 | 0.13% | ||
| In progress | 2 | 0.00% | ||
| Checking or savings account | 84,348 | Closed with explanation | 71,273 | 84.50% |
| Closed with monetary relief | 8,919 | 10.57% | ||
| Closed with non-monetary relief | 4,075 | 4.83% | ||
| Untimely response | 81 | 0.10% | ||
| Mortgage | 24,735 | Closed with explanation | 23,483 | 94.94% |
| Closed with non-monetary relief | 673 | 2.72% | ||
| Closed with monetary relief | 427 | 1.73% | ||
| Untimely response | 152 | 0.61% | ||
| Student loan | 21,321 | Closed with explanation | 17,477 | 81.97% |
| Untimely response | 3,314 | 15.54% | ||
| Closed with non-monetary relief | 249 | 1.17% | ||
| In progress | 191 | 0.90% | ||
| Closed with monetary relief | 90 | 0.42% | ||
| Vehicle loan or lease | 20,823 | Closed with explanation | 18,954 | 91.02% |
| Closed with non-monetary relief | 1,319 | 6.33% | ||
| Closed with monetary relief | 447 | 2.15% | ||
| Untimely response | 103 | 0.49% |
What the numbers can't tell you
The CFPB says its database "is not a statistical sample" of consumers' experiences. It only covers money products like cards, banks, loans, and credit reports, and most 2025 complaints were about credit reports. We're not lawyers, and this isn't legal advice. It's a count.
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