Thousands of consumers are complaining about obnoxious debt collectors. NEW YORK (CNNMoney)The Cons...

1. Top debt collection complaints - Feb. 27, 2014
Thousands of consumers are complaining about obnoxious debt collectors.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney)
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau began accepting debt collection complaints in July and
has already received more than 11,000 -- the second highest amount after mortgage complaints,
according to analysis from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.
The most common grievance from consumers: That a debt collector came after them for a debt they
didn't even owe. About 2,700, or 25%, of complaints were about this.
Next on the list was harassing phone calls, with 13% of consumers saying debt collectors had called
them repeatedly or far too frequently. Another 13% said they weren't given enough information to
verify that the debt was in fact theirs or that they owed the correct amount.
Related: Debt collection horror stories
Among the other complaints: that collectors tried to go after debts that have already been paid,
attempted to collect an incorrect amount, talked about the debt with a third-party like a family
member or neighbor, threatened to take legal action against a debtor or contacted a consumer after
being asked to leave them alone.
About one in five consumers who have lodged complaints with the CFPB about debt collection have
received some sort of relief as a result -- with 3% receiving refunds or compensation and 19%
receiving non-monetary relief, such as stopping unwanted calls. But the majority, or 70% of
complaints, were left unresolved.
The CFPB is currently reviewing the complaints and collecting comments from consumers,

2. companies and industry experts about ways the agency could rein in unacceptable practices among
debt collectors.
First Published: February 27, 2014: 10:00 AM ET