Retail Merchants Associates
Open-data reference.
Debt Collector, CFPB Complaint Profile Specializes in: Medical 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 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 18 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 26 |
| 2023 | 32 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 28 |
| 2026 | 12 |
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 Retail Merchants Associates
The CFPB has logged 132 debt-collection complaints against Retail Merchants Associates, 75.9% of the 174 complaints filed against this entity overall. Consumers in 11 states and territories have filed reports, putting this collection operation in geographically focused territory by complaint volume. "Medical debt" is the debt type named most often in complaints against this collector, the category consumers reach for most when filing a CFPB report. 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.
Within the Bureau's 15-day response window, this company answers 89.7% of forwarded complaints. That falls short of the 95% benchmark, a gap that tends to track with more disputes downstream. Among resolved cases, 0% ended with monetary or non-monetary relief to the consumer - a notably low rate worth weighing against the dispute percentage. The response was formally disputed in 21.4% of resolved cases, indicating how frequently the initial fix fell short.
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 Retail Merchants Associates have?
132 debt-collection complaints against Retail Merchants Associates appear in the CFPB record - 75.9% of the company's total complaint volume.
Does Retail Merchants Associates respond to complaints on time?
Retail Merchants Associates's CFPB timely-response rate is 89.7%.
Does Retail Merchants Associates provide relief to consumers?
Of resolved complaints against Retail Merchants Associates, 0% ended with consumer relief of some kind.
What type of debt does Retail Merchants Associates primarily collect?
Retail Merchants Associates primarily collects "Medical debt" based on CFPB complaint data. The full breakdown of debt types is shown above.
What rights do I have against Retail Merchants Associates?
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 Retail Merchants Associates active?
Retail Merchants Associates has received consumer complaints from 11 states and territories, based on CFPB data.
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.