The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has stopped publishing unverified consumer complaint narratives and related visualizations in its Consumer Complaint Database. It concluded that the material offers limited utility and may mislead consumers because complaints present one-sided experiences, are not verified and do not necessarily indicate legal violations. Previously published narratives will be proactively disclosed through the CFPB’s Freedom of Information Act Reading Room. The bureau will continue to collect and monitor complaints, assess the completeness, accuracy and timeliness of companies’ responses, securely share complaint information with other regulators and agencies, and disclose certain data in response to Freedom of Information Act requests.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau2026-08-14
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ends discretionary publication of complaint narratives and visualizations
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has stopped publishing unverified complaint narratives and visualizations in its Consumer Complaint Database, citing the risk of misleading consumers and harming companies’ reputations. Previously published narratives will remain available through its Freedom of Information Act Reading Room, while complaint collection, monitoring and regulatory information-sharing will continue.