Encore Capital Group Inc.
Open-data reference.
Debt Collector, CFPB Complaint Profile Specializes in: Credit card debt
Debt Collection Complaint Breakdown
Top Complaint Issues
Company Responses
Most consumers facing collection complaints carry utilization in the Fair-Poor band. FICO bands per myFICO + Experian guidance.
FICO impact ranges synthesize myFICO + Experian + Equifax consumer-education materials. Individual results vary.
Complaints by Year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 984 |
| 2014 | 2,596 |
| 2015 | 2,173 |
| 2016 | 1,559 |
| 2017 | 1,705 |
| 2018 | 1,851 |
| 2019 | 1,676 |
| 2020 | 1,950 |
| 2021 | 3,079 |
| 2022 | 2,732 |
| 2023 | 3,739 |
| 2024 | 8,806 |
| 2025 | 17,401 |
| 2026 | 5,300 |
Complaints by State (Top 15)
Other Complaint Types
Your Rights with Debt Collectors
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) protects you from abusive, unfair, and deceptive collection practices.
- Request written verification of any debt within 30 days of first contact
- Dispute a debt if you believe it is incorrect or does not belong to you
- Demand the collector stop contacting you (in writing)
- File a complaint with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint
What the CFPB Record Shows for Encore Capital Group Inc.
44,397 debt-collection complaints against Encore Capital Group Inc. appear in the CFPB record - 79.9% of the 55,551 complaints filed about this entity. The 56 states and territories represented make this a nationwide operation by complaint volume. Consumers most frequently describe "Credit card debt" as the debt type behind their complaint about this collector. The single most-cited specific issue is "Attempts to collect debt not owed" - a useful starting point for understanding where the friction between this collector and consumers most frequently occurs.
The company's timely response rate is 99.9%, meaning that share of CFPB-forwarded complaints received a reply within the 15-day window the Bureau expects. That is at or above benchmark levels, pointing to an intake process working as intended. 38.9% of resolved cases against this company closed with some form of consumer relief, a relatively high ratio for the debt-collection segment. In 18.2% of resolved cases, the consumer formally disputed the response - a rough measure of how often the first resolution missed the mark.
How to read these numbers, and what to do if you're disputing a charge
Complaint volume alone does not prove wrongdoing, larger collection portfolios naturally produce more complaints, but the combination of timely-response rate, relief ratio, and dispute rate above gives a reasonable empirical picture of how this collector handles consumer interactions. Anyone in active dispute with this company should keep written records, use certified mail for verification requests (see your FDCPA rights above), and consider filing a CFPB complaint if standard resolution channels stall.
Educational data summary, not financial or legal advice. Individual complaint outcomes vary. Consumers with an active dispute should consult a qualified consumer-protection attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many debt collection complaints does Encore Capital Group Inc. have?
The CFPB has logged 44,397 debt-collection complaints against Encore Capital Group Inc., 79.9% of all complaints filed against this company.
Does Encore Capital Group Inc. respond to complaints on time?
99.9% of the CFPB complaints against Encore Capital Group Inc. get a response within the expected window. That is a strong response record by CFPB standards.
Does Encore Capital Group Inc. provide relief to consumers?
38.9% of resolved complaints against Encore Capital Group Inc. were closed with some form of consumer relief (monetary or non-monetary). This is a relatively high relief rate.
What type of debt does Encore Capital Group Inc. primarily collect?
Encore Capital Group Inc. primarily collects "Credit card debt" based on CFPB complaint data. The full breakdown of debt types is shown above.
What rights do I have against Encore Capital Group Inc.?
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), you can request written debt verification within 30 days, dispute debts you believe are incorrect, demand the collector stop contacting you in writing, and file a complaint with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.
In how many states is Encore Capital Group Inc. active?
CFPB data shows consumer complaints against Encore Capital Group Inc. from 56 states and territories.
Source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Consumer Complaint Database · Q1 2026 Complaints filed against firms, not individuals. Data through March 2026.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.