This data comes from the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database and reflects consumer complaints, not proven violations.

CFPB complaint data Grade F 209 complaints

Brown and Joseph, Ltd - Debt Collector Complaint Profile

CFPB complaint profile across 36 states, reputation grade F.

Complaints by issue type

What consumers report about Brown and Joseph, Ltd

complaints
Source CFPB Consumer Complaint Database

Data updated July 2026

F

Grade F · 52.1/100 composite

This collector has a failing complaint record with very high complaint volumes and poor response rates.

Based on consumer-filed CFPB complaints, not proven violations or a court finding of wrongdoing.

The verdict

A reputation grade of F: Brown and Joseph, Ltd ranks ahead of 19% of the 5,283 collectors PlainCollector grades - 81% keep a cleaner CFPB record, on 209 all-time complaints and a 86% timely-response rate.

19th pct
reputation rank of 5,283 graded collectors
209
CFPB complaints, all-time
86%
answered inside the CFPB window
20
in the last 12 months (falling)

Grades are relative: every collector is ranked against the others, so an A reflects a cleaner record than peers, not a clean bill of conduct. A complaint is a consumer filing, not a proven violation.

What do CFPB complaints reveal about Brown and Joseph, Ltd?

Brown and Joseph, Ltd has accumulated 209 total CFPB complaints across 36 states, with 20 filed in the most recent 12 months against 189 historical complaints before that window. The trailing-12-month volume represents 9.6% of the full complaint history, a falling pattern that implies either tighter collection practices, portfolio sell-offs, or improved dispute handling.

The dominant consumer grievance logged with the CFPB is "Attempts to collect debt not owed", narrowing to "Debt is not yours". The company posts a 86% timely-response rate against a 28% consumer-dispute-after-response rate.

Complaints have been recorded across 36 states, led by California with 38 and Florida with 20. Normalized against the full CFPB collector database, the reputation score of 52.1/100 places Brown and Joseph, Ltd in grade band F.

How to read a complaint count →

Complaint Summary

Total CFPB complaints

209

mid-volume (CCDB)

Last 12 months

20

9.6% of all-time complaints

Falling ↓

States active

36

multi-region footprint

Timely response rate

86%

acceptable band

Consumer disputes

28%

elevated (vertical avg ~19%)

Reputation grade

F

52.1/100 composite

How does Brown and Joseph, Ltd's reputation rank nationally?

Reputation score vs. every graded collector

PlainCollector composite reputation score (0–100, higher = cleaner CFPB record)

52 Bottom 19% higher than 19% of 5,283 graded collectors

0–10: 0 graded collectors (0%). Below this entry. 10–20: 3 graded collectors (0%). Below this entry. 20–30: 29 graded collectors (1%). Below this entry. 30–40: 160 graded collectors (3%). Below this entry. 40–50: 583 graded collectors (11%). Below this entry. 50–60: 1,469 graded collectors (28%). This entry sits in this band. 60–70: 1,364 graded collectors (26%). Above this entry. 70–80: 871 graded collectors (16%). Above this entry. 80–90: 660 graded collectors (12%). Above this entry. 90–100: 144 graded collectors (3%). Above this entry. This collector 0 100 every graded collector, bucketed by value

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

Source PlainCollector composite of CFPB Consumer Complaint Database · 2013–2026

Response-quality profile

Brown and Joseph, Ltd versus the debt-collection vertical average.

Timely response within SLA 86.2%
Vertical avg

CFPB requires companies to respond within 15 days for most complaints; 60 days for credit-reporting.

Consumer dispute rate (post-response) 27.6%
Vertical avg

Lower is better. The percentage of consumers who flagged the company's response as unsatisfactory.

State coverage breadth 64.3%

Share of US states + territories with at least one filed complaint against this collector.

How does Brown and Joseph, Ltd compare to its peers?

How does Brown and Joseph, Ltd compare? Versus a similar-volume peer and the national average, drawn from 10 collectors with a comparable complaint count
Brown and Joseph, Ltd National average
Complaints (last 12 mo)lower is better
20
2
268
Timely-response ratehigher is better
86%
97%
91%
Consumer-dispute ratelower is better
28%
17%
19%

Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database.

Complaint Trend (24 months)

2023-11 2026-02

Issue Detail Breakdown

Issue Sub-Issue Complaints
Attempts to collect debt not owed - 59
Communication tactics - 34
False statements or representation - 32
Written notification about debt - 23
Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed - 23
Took or threatened to take negative or legal action - 15
Improper contact or sharing of info - 10
Threatened to contact someone or share information improperly - 6
Disclosure verification of debt - 5
Electronic communications - 1

Where do complaints against Brown and Joseph, Ltd come from?

Brown and Joseph, Ltd's own per-state count, not a national baseline.

Top states by complaints against Brown and Joseph, Ltd

Across 36 states with at least one filing

complaints
Source CFPB Consumer Complaint Database

What to do if Brown and Joseph, Ltd contacts you

A grade of F signals how Brown and Joseph, Ltd's CFPB record compares to peers, here is how to act on it.

  • Demand written debt validation within 30 days of first contact, collectors must prove the debt is yours. Validation letter
  • Confirm the caller is really Brown and Joseph, Ltd and not an impostor before paying anything. Verify a collector
  • Know your FDCPA rights, you can stop calls and report harassment. Your rights
  • See how Brown and Joseph, Ltd ranks against every other collector by complaint record. Browse rankings

Complaint counts and grades reflect the public CFPB record, not a regulator's finding of wrongdoing or legal advice. For your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common complaint against Brown and Joseph, Ltd? ▼

The most common issue consumers report about Brown and Joseph, Ltd is "Attempts to collect debt not owed", specifically "Debt is not yours". This is based on 209 complaints filed with the CFPB.

Are complaints against Brown and Joseph, Ltd increasing or decreasing? ▼

Complaints against Brown and Joseph, Ltd are falling. The company received 20 complaints in the last 12 months, showing improvement over prior periods.

What is Brown and Joseph, Ltd's reputation grade? ▼

Brown and Joseph, Ltd has a reputation grade of F (score: 52.1/100), PlainCollector's composite letter grade blending complaint volume, response timeliness, dispute rate, and complaint trend.

Does Brown and Joseph, Ltd respond to consumer complaints? ▼

Brown and Joseph, Ltd has a 86% timely response rate to CFPB complaints. Consumers disputed the company's response in 28% of cases.

In how many states does Brown and Joseph, Ltd operate? ▼

Brown and Joseph, Ltd has received CFPB complaints from consumers in 36 states, with the most complaints from California (38 complaints).

Data sourced from the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCollector Editorial

Every figure on PlainCollector is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.