WASHINGTON—The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says debt-collection problems remained one of the most significant pain points for Americans in 2024, with more than 207,000 complaints lodged—7% of all CFPB complaints—according to its newly released 2025 FDCPA Annual Report.
Attempts to collect debts not owed were again the top issue, driven by consumers reporting debts belonging to someone else, identity-theft-related collections, or bills already paid or discharged. Credit-card debt generated the most complaints among known categories.
Supervisory exams highlighted systemic violations by large debt collectors, including failure to provide required validation notices, use of misleading names, omission of legally required disclosures, contacting consumers at inconvenient times, and continuing to call after consumers asked them to stop. Examiners also found a major credit-card issuer misstated statutes of limitations when selling debts—sometimes doubling the legal time period—which potentially exposed consumers to illegal lawsuits.
Although several agencies have FDCPA enforcement authority, the FTC was the only federal regulator to bring public enforcement cases in 2024, including action against a Georgia-based “phantom debt” operation that allegedly extracted $7.6 million from consumers through fabricated claims.
Medical debt remained a major concern across the CFPB’s outreach, research, and special-population work. The Bureau reported that the removal of sub-$500 medical collections from credit reports boosted credit scores for millions, while warning that billing problems continue to disproportionately harm older adults, low-income Medicare beneficiaries, and Native American communities.
Servicemembers submitted a record 11,700 debt-collection complaints, most involving debts they said they did not owe. Students continued to face heightened risks as federal student-loan collections resumed and vendors took on expanded roles in default-related communications and wage-garnishment actions.
Overall, the Bureau’s findings underscore “persistent compliance breakdowns” in the debt-collection market, continued consumer confusion, and elevated risks for vulnerable populations—despite a decade of federal oversight.