CFPB Consumer Complaint Profile

First Step Group, LLC

Consumers have filed complaints with the CFPB against this company, a record that maps out how disputes over credit, billing and collections tend to unfold.

Data updated 2026-08-14

35
Total complaints
Mid-range
0
Last 12 months
82.9%
Timely response
Bottom quartile
16
States affected

The verdict

Among 3,843 financial companies tracked by CFPB complaint volume, First Step Group, LLC sits at #2180. Its on-time response record is at the 11th percentile among companies with 100+ complaints.

Debt collection
most-complained product
CA
state with the most complaints

Raw complaint volume, not a rate: larger institutions naturally draw more CFPB complaints because they serve more customers, and a complaint is a consumer-filed record, not a proven finding of wrongdoing.

F
PlainCredit Trust Score
37/100
First Step Group, LLC · 3 of 3 dimensions reported

Based on this company's own CFPB response record -- timely response, dispute rate, and relief rate, each benchmarked against every tracked company with 10+ complaints. Not a measure of product quality, pricing, or company size.

Timely Response F 82.9%
Share of complaints answered within the CFPB response window
Dispute Rate B 6.3%
Share of responses the consumer disputed (lower is better)
Relief Rate F 0.0%
Share of complaints closed with monetary or non-monetary relief

First Step Group, LLC vs. all companies by on-time response rate

Every company with 100+ CFPB complaints on file (1,335 total)

82.9% Among the lowest higher than 11% of 1,335 companies

companies with 100+ CFPB complaints, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more companies. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Consumer Complaint Database · 2026-08-14

Reading this profile

Complaints by Product

Debt collection - Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.) 11
Debt collection - I do not know 10
Debt collection - Credit card 9
Debt collection - Payday loan 1
Mortgage - Other type of mortgage 1
Credit card 1
Debt collection - Mortgage 1
Debt collection - Auto 1

Top Issues

1.Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed 12
2.Disclosure verification of debt 9
3.Communication tactics 5
4.False statements or representation 2
5.Improper contact or sharing of info 2
6.Trouble during payment process 1
7.Delinquent account 1
8.Taking/threatening an illegal action 1
9.Took or threatened to take negative or legal action 1
10.Attempts to collect debt not owed 1

Complaints by Year

Year Complaints
2014 7
2015 11
2016 13
2017 2
2018 1
2024 1

Complaints by State (Top 15)

California 5
Florida 5
Maryland 3
Texas 3
Virginia 2
Maine 2
New Jersey 2
North Carolina 2
Pennsylvania 2
New York 2
Washington 2
Idaho 1
Connecticut 1
Illinois 1
North Dakota 1

Company Responses

Closed with explanation 32
Untimely response 2
Closed 1

What the CFPB Complaint Record Shows for First Step Group, LLC

The CFPB Consumer Complaint Database shows a multi-regional complaint footprint for First Step Group, LLC, with consumers across the country filing against it. No product draws more complaints than "Debt collection," which sits at the top of the product breakdown. The specific issue named most within that category is "Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed," a reasonable starting point for understanding recurring friction.

Within the Bureau's 15-day response window, the timely-response measure shows how often forwarded complaints get a reply. This company's rate falls short of the 95% benchmark, a gap that tends to track with more disputes downstream. A formal dispute means the consumer contested the company's response after a case was resolved, a rough measure of how often the first resolution missed the mark. Relief means the case closed with monetary or non-monetary help for the consumer. Both rates sit in the score card above.

How to read complaint counts

Complaint counts alone do not tell the full story: larger institutions with more customers will naturally generate more complaints in absolute terms. The more informative signals are the direction of the yearly trend shown above, the state-level concentration, and the ratio of monetary-relief closures to closed-without-relief outcomes. Together, these fields provide context for reading the published CFPB record; they do not establish wrongdoing or resolve an individual dispute.

Educational data summary, not financial or legal advice. Individual complaint outcomes vary. Consumers should consult a qualified attorney or financial advisor for guidance on a specific dispute.

Nationwide companies with similar complaint volume or dispute rates

Two CFPB peer sets for First Step Group, LLC: nearest financial companies by total complaint volume and by the share of complaints consumers mark as disputed. These are cross-firm neighborhoods, not the product-category list below.

Similar dispute rates

Nearest companies by share of complaints marked disputed (6.3% here).

Also handles Debt collection

Other companies with the same primary CFPB product category on file.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many CFPB complaints does First Step Group, LLC have?

First Step Group, LLC has 35 total consumer complaints filed with the CFPB, with 0 filed in the last 12 months.

Does First Step Group, LLC respond to complaints on time?

First Step Group, LLC has a 82.9% timely response rate to CFPB complaints.

What product generates the most complaints for First Step Group, LLC?

Among all products tied to First Step Group, LLC, "Debt collection" accounts for the largest share of complaints (full breakdown above).

What is the most common complaint issue with First Step Group, LLC?

"Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed" is the single most frequently cited issue in complaints against First Step Group, LLC - see all issues and counts above.

How do I file a complaint against First Step Group, LLC?

You can file a complaint against First Step Group, LLC directly with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. The CFPB will forward your complaint to the company and work to get you a response, typically within 15 days.

In how many states have consumers complained about First Step Group, LLC?

First Step Group, LLC has drawn CFPB complaints from 16 states and territories. That figure covers the 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and smaller CFPB-tracked jurisdictions (Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, military postal codes), so it can run higher than the 52 states/territories with a dedicated page on this site.

First Step Group, LLC's complaint figures come from the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database, data through March 2026. See our methodology for details.