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

CFPB complaint data Grade D 5,382 complaints

Discover Bank - Debt Collector Complaint Profile

CFPB complaint profile across 53 states, reputation grade D.

Complaints by issue type

What consumers report about Discover Bank

complaints
Source CFPB Consumer Complaint Database

Data updated July 2026

D

Grade D · 56.3/100 composite

This collector has a poor complaint record with above-average complaints and below-average response rates.

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

The verdict

A reputation grade of D: Discover Bank ranks ahead of 29% of the 5,283 collectors PlainCollector grades - 71% keep a cleaner CFPB record, on 5,382 all-time complaints and a 100% timely-response rate.

29th pct
reputation rank of 5,283 graded collectors
5,382
CFPB complaints, all-time
100%
answered inside the CFPB window
775
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 Discover Bank?

Discover Bank has accumulated 5,382 total CFPB complaints across 53 states, with 775 filed in the most recent 12 months against 4,607 historical complaints before that window. The trailing-12-month volume represents 14.4% 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 was result of identity theft". The company posts a 100% timely-response rate against a 16% consumer-dispute-after-response rate.

Complaints have been recorded across 53 states, led by California with 611 and Texas with 560. Normalized against the full CFPB collector database, the reputation score of 56.3/100 places Discover Bank in grade band D.

How to read a complaint count →

Complaint Summary

Total CFPB complaints

5,382

high-volume (CCDB)

Last 12 months

775

14.4% of all-time complaints

Falling ↓

States active

53

nationwide footprint

Timely response rate

100%

excellent band

Consumer disputes

16%

average (vertical avg ~19%)

Reputation grade

D

56.3/100 composite

How does Discover Bank's reputation rank nationally?

Reputation score vs. every graded collector

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

56 29th percentile higher than 29% 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

Discover Bank versus the debt-collection vertical average.

Timely response within SLA 100.0%
Vertical avg

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

Consumer dispute rate (post-response) 15.8%
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 Discover Bank compare to its peers?

How does DISCOVER BANK compare? Versus a similar-volume peer and the national average, drawn from 10 collectors with a comparable complaint count
DISCOVER BANK National average
Complaints (last 12 mo)lower is better
775
2,125
268
Timely-response ratehigher is better
100%
100%
91%
Consumer-dispute ratelower is better
16%
10%
19%

Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database.

Complaint Trend (24 months)

2024-04 2026-03

Issue Detail Breakdown

Issue Sub-Issue Complaints
Attempts to collect debt not owed - 2,226
Took or threatened to take negative or legal action - 734
Written notification about debt - 708
False statements or representation - 646
Communication tactics - 545
Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed - 154
Disclosure verification of debt - 141
Threatened to contact someone or share information improperly - 100
Improper contact or sharing of info - 59
Taking/threatening an illegal action - 59

Where do complaints against Discover Bank come from?

Discover Bank's own per-state count, not a national baseline.

Top states by complaints against Discover Bank

Across 53 states with at least one filing

complaints
Source CFPB Consumer Complaint Database

What to do if Discover Bank contacts you

A grade of D signals how Discover Bank'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 Discover Bank 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 Discover Bank 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 Discover Bank? ▼

The most common issue consumers report about Discover Bank is "Attempts to collect debt not owed", specifically "Debt was result of identity theft". This is based on 5,382 complaints filed with the CFPB.

Are complaints against Discover Bank increasing or decreasing? ▼

Complaints against Discover Bank are falling. The company received 775 complaints in the last 12 months, showing improvement over prior periods.

What is Discover Bank's reputation grade? ▼

Discover Bank has a reputation grade of D (score: 56.3/100), PlainCollector's composite letter grade blending complaint volume, response timeliness, dispute rate, and complaint trend.

Does Discover Bank respond to consumer complaints? ▼

Discover Bank has a 100% timely response rate to CFPB complaints. Consumers disputed the company's response in 16% of cases.

In how many states does Discover Bank operate? ▼

Discover Bank has received CFPB complaints from consumers in 53 states, with the most complaints from California (611 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.