Total CFPB complaints
4,631
All-time across CCDB intake
This data comes from the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database and reflects consumer complaints, not proven violations.
2026 CFPB data Public-data reference. FDCPA reference 4,631 complaints
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY — Debt Collector Complaint Profile
CFPB complaint profile across 53 states. Updated as new federal complaint data lands in the upstream Consumer Complaint Database.
Complaints by issue type
What consumers report about AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
- Attempts to collect debt not owed
Attempts to collect debt not owed
1,588 complaints
- Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
787 complaints
- Communication tactics 491
Communication tactics
491 complaints
- Written notification about debt 435
Written notification about debt
435 complaints
- False statements or representation 375
False statements or representation
375 complaints
- Threatened to contact someone or share information improperly 122
Threatened to contact someone or share information improperly
122 complaints
D
Grade D · 55.4/100 composite
This collector has a poor complaint record with above-average complaints and below-average response rates.
What do CFPB complaints reveal about AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY?
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY has accumulated 4,631 total CFPB complaints across 53 states, with 1,425 filed in the most recent 12 months against 3,206 historical complaints before that window. The trailing-12-month volume represents 30.8% of the full complaint history, a rising pattern that suggests escalating consumer friction rather than a legacy book of disputes.
The dominant consumer grievance logged with the CFPB is "Took or threatened to take negative or legal action", narrowing to "Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged", which aligns with FDCPA-regulated conduct and signals the operational area most likely to trigger regulator scrutiny. The company posts a 100% timely-response rate against a 19% consumer-dispute-after-response rate, a pairing that calibrates how well its complaint-resolution workflow holds up once a consumer pushes back.
Complaints have been recorded across 53 states, led by California with 627 and Florida with 571, which matches a multi-state collection footprint rather than a regional operation. Normalized against the full CFPB collector database, the reputation score of 55.4/100 places AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY in grade band D, a tier reached by blending complaint volume, response timeliness, dispute rates, and issue severity into a single comparable metric.
Complaint Summary
Last 12 months
1,425
30.8% of total history
Rising ↑
States active
53
Distinct state filings
Timely response rate
100%
Within CFPB SLA window
Consumer disputes
19%
After company response
Reputation grade
D
55.4/100 composite
Response-quality profile
How AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY performs on CFPB resolution-quality metrics versus a fleet average benchmark drawn from the full debt-collection vertical.
Timely response within SLA 99.8%
Vertical avg
CFPB requires companies to respond within 15 days for most complaints; 60 days for credit-reporting.
Consumer dispute rate (post-response) 37.8%
Vertical avg
Lower is better. The percentage of consumers who flagged the company's response as unsatisfactory.
State coverage breadth 94.6%
Share of US states + territories with at least one filed complaint against this collector.
How does AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY compare to its peers?
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPA… National average
Complaints (last 12 mo)lower is better
Timely-response ratehigher is better
Consumer-dispute ratelower is better
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Complaints reflect consumer reports, not proven violations.
Complaint Trend (24 months)
2024-04 2026-03
Top Consumer Issues
Took or threatened to take negative or legal action787 (%)
Attempts to collect debt not owed1,588 (%)
False statements or representation375 (%)
Communication tactics491 (%)
Written notification about debt435 (%)
Threatened to contact someone or share information improperly122 (%)
Most common issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged
Know Your Rights
If this company is contacting you, you have rights under the FDCPA. They must stop contacting you if you send a written cease-communication request. You can also request written validation of the debt within 30 days.
Issue Detail Breakdown
| Issue | Sub-Issue | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Took or threatened to take negative or legal action | Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged | 787 |
| Attempts to collect debt not owed | Debt is not yours | 710 |
| Attempts to collect debt not owed | Debt was result of identity theft | 626 |
| False statements or representation | Attempted to collect wrong amount | 375 |
| Communication tactics | Frequent or repeated calls | 331 |
| Written notification about debt | Didn't receive enough information to verify debt | 326 |
| Attempts to collect debt not owed | Debt was paid | 252 |
| Communication tactics | You told them to stop contacting you, but they keep trying | 160 |
| Threatened to contact someone or share information improperly | Talked to a third-party about your debt | 122 |
| Written notification about debt | Didn't receive notice of right to dispute | 109 |
Where do complaints against AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY come from?
The states where consumers have filed the most CFPB complaints against AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY. Every figure is the company's own complaint count in that state — not a national baseline.
Top states by complaints against AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
Across 53 states with at least one filing
- California
California
627 complaints
- Florida
Florida
571 complaints
- Texas
Texas
451 complaints
- New York
New York
416 complaints
- Georgia
Georgia
370 complaints
- New Jersey 157
New Jersey
157 complaints
- Pennsylvania 149
Pennsylvania
149 complaints
- Illinois 144
Illinois
144 complaints
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common complaint against AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY? ▼
The most common issue consumers report about AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY is "Took or threatened to take negative or legal action", specifically "Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged". This is based on 4,631 complaints filed with the CFPB.
Are complaints against AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY increasing or decreasing? ▼
Complaints against AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY are rising. The company received 1,425 complaints in the last 12 months, indicating an upward trend in consumer issues.
What is AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY's reputation grade? ▼
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY has a reputation grade of D (score: 55.4/100). This collector has a poor complaint record with above-average complaints and below-average response rates.
Does AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY respond to consumer complaints? ▼
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY has a 100% timely response rate to CFPB complaints. Consumers disputed the company's response in 19% of cases.
In how many states does AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY operate? ▼
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY has received CFPB complaints from consumers in 53 states, with the most complaints from California (627 complaints).
What can I do if AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY is contacting me? ▼
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), you have the right to request written debt validation within 30 days of first contact. You can also send a cease-communication letter to stop calls. If AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY violates the FDCPA, you may be able to sue for damages up to $1,000 plus attorney fees.
Consumer Guides
Primary source data
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCollector Editorial
| Publisher | Kiznis Studio |
| Sources | the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database |