How to File a Complaint Against a Credit Repair Company

If a credit repair company lied to you, took your money without results, or used shady tactics, you don’t have to just accept it. You can fight back and help others avoid the same fate by filing a complaint with the right agencies.

In 2025, the credit repair space is still filled with both helpful firms and harmful frauds. Knowing how to take formal action against a bad actor is key to protecting your credit and potentially recovering losses.

Here’s how to do it with step-by-step instructions, sample complaint language, and tips for building a strong case.

Know Your Rights Under Federal Law

Before you report a company, it helps to understand what rules they’ve likely broken. The Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA) sets specific legal requirements for how credit repair companies must behave.

Here’s what they cannot legally do:

Charge any money upfront before delivering services
Make false or misleading claims, like “guaranteed deletions”
Ask you to lie on credit or loan applications
Fail to provide a written contract with your cancellation rights
Refuse to let you cancel within three business days

If any of these happened to you, you likely have a valid complaint.

Where to File a Complaint Against a Credit Repair Company

There are several consumer protection agencies that accept reports. You can file with more than one — and in most cases, it’s smart to do so.

1. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

The FTC oversees deceptive business practices and violations of CROA. Your report helps them build cases against serial offenders.

File online: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Choose category: “Money or services,” then “Credit repair or credit services”
Attach any documents or contracts you have

2. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

The CFPB investigates credit-related consumer complaints and helps recover money in some cases. They also monitor patterns across industries.

File online: consumerfinance.gov/complaint
Select issue: “Credit repair services”
Include screenshots, email chains, and receipts if possible

You’ll get a case number and (often) a response from the company within 15 days.

3. State Attorney General

Each U.S. state has an attorney general’s office that enforces consumer protection laws. Many states have specific laws mirroring CROA.

Search “[Your State] attorney general credit complaint” to find your local submission form. These offices are often faster to act on local bad actors.

4. Better Business Bureau (BBB)

While not a legal authority, the BBB maintains public complaint records and may pressure the company to resolve your issue.

File at: BBB.org
Choose the correct business name and address

A public BBB complaint can also warn others before they sign up.

Sample Complaint Language You Can Use

You don’t have to be a lawyer to submit a strong complaint. Stick to facts, dates, and promises that were broken.

Example:

I hired [Company Name] on March 15, 2025, to help dispute inaccurate items on my credit report. They charged me $199 upfront, which violates the Credit Repair Organizations Act. Despite several promises of results within 30 days, no disputes were filed. I’ve requested a refund twice but received no response. I am submitting copies of my receipt and email correspondence.

Adjust this for your specific case and attach as much evidence as you can:

Emails or messages from the company
Receipts or bank statements
Your signed contract or agreement
Screenshots of their website if they made false claims

What Happens After You File?

After your complaint is submitted, here’s what you can expect:

FTC: May use your info to pursue legal action, especially if others report the same company. You likely won’t get direct feedback.
CFPB: Sends your complaint to the company. They’re required to respond, and you’ll be notified of updates.
Attorney General: May contact you if they investigate or decide to file charges.
BBB: Tries to mediate and get a public resolution or refund.

You may also want to report the incident to your credit card issuer or bank if you want to attempt a chargeback.

How to Protect Yourself Next Time

Bad experiences can make you skeptical and they should. But credit help doesn’t always mean getting scammed. To stay safe:

Never pay upfront for credit repair
Ask for everything in writing
Watch for illegal tactics like “credit sweeps” or EINs
Check BBB ratings and read real customer reviews
Know you can do most of this yourself for free

And remember: no one can remove accurate, negative credit data if it’s legitimate. Time and responsible credit use are the only true fixes.

Final Takeaway: Your Voice Has Power

Reporting a fraudulent credit repair company not only helps you it protects other consumers from the same trap. The more people speak up, the easier it becomes to hold shady businesses accountable.

Stay organized, stay persistent, and don’t be afraid to assert your rights. Agencies exist to serve and protect you.

Looking for safe, legitimate ways to improve your score? You might like:
Credit Karma, Experian Boost & Other Free Tools That Actually Help