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Question: What is going on with the CFPB’s Complaint Portal?

Answer:

In recent months, the CFPB directed its attention towards its Complaint Portal. Specifically, in April 2026, the CFPB added several disclosures to its website, which consumers must click through prior to submitting a complaint. These disclosures discuss the requirement for consumers to first dispute inaccurate or incomplete information on their credit report with the credit reporting agency (CRA). Only after 45 days elapsed or a dispute is no longer pending with the CRA, are consumers supposed to file a complaint related to inaccurate or incomplete information on a credit report with the CFPB.

On June 24, 2026, the CFPB announced that it is “Correcting Flaws to Restore Integrity and Utility to the Consumer Complaint System.” The CFPB raised concerns with users abusing the complaint filing process and cited significant increases to credit reporting complaint volume in recent years. The CFPB outlined several actions to correct issues including, but not limited to the following:

1. Issued a new Company Portal Manual that provides clear information on how companies should use classify responses to complaints and updated answers to frequently asked questions;
2. Implemented two-factor authentication requiring users to create online accounts and verify both email address and telephone numbers (the CFPB also noted that it also planned to implement address validation at the complaint submission stage)
3. Aligned the complaint process with FCRA statutory obligations (consumers must exhaust their dispute rights directly with CRAs prior to filing a complaint with the CFPB;
4. Issued educational resources to consumers regarding how to dispute credit issues directly with CRAs.

The CFPB currently views many of the complaints in the Complaint Portal as misplaced and is working toward clearing the “backlog” and preventing users from abusing and clogging up the system.