Total CFPB complaints
62
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 62 complaints
Essential Lending Inc — Debt Collector Complaint Profile
CFPB complaint profile across 13 states. Updated as new federal complaint data lands in the upstream Consumer Complaint Database.
Complaints by issue type
What consumers report about Essential Lending Inc
- Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
25 complaints
- Attempts to collect debt not owed
Attempts to collect debt not owed
18 complaints
- False statements or representation 8
False statements or representation
8 complaints
- Communication tactics 4
Communication tactics
4 complaints
- Written notification about debt 2
Written notification about debt
2 complaints
- Threatened to contact someone or share information improperly 2
Threatened to contact someone or share information improperly
2 complaints
F
Grade F · 50.7/100 composite
This collector has a failing complaint record with very high complaint volumes and poor response rates.
What do CFPB complaints reveal about Essential Lending Inc?
Essential Lending Inc has accumulated 62 total CFPB complaints across 13 states, with 36 filed in the most recent 12 months against 26 historical complaints before that window. The trailing-12-month volume represents 58.1% 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 87% timely-response rate, a pairing that calibrates how well its complaint-resolution workflow holds up once a consumer pushes back.
Complaints have been recorded across 13 states, led by Texas with 39 and Missouri with 5, which matches a multi-state collection footprint rather than a regional operation. Normalized against the full CFPB collector database, the reputation score of 50.7/100 places Essential Lending Inc in grade band F, a tier reached by blending complaint volume, response timeliness, dispute rates, and issue severity into a single comparable metric.
Complaint Summary
Last 12 months
36
58.1% of total history
Rising ↑
States active
13
Distinct state filings
Timely response rate
87%
Within CFPB SLA window
Reputation grade
F
50.7/100 composite
Response-quality profile
How Essential Lending Inc performs on CFPB resolution-quality metrics versus a fleet average benchmark drawn from the full debt-collection vertical.
Timely response within SLA 87.1%
Vertical avg
CFPB requires companies to respond within 15 days for most complaints; 60 days for credit-reporting.
State coverage breadth 23.2%
Share of US states + territories with at least one filed complaint against this collector.
How does Essential Lending Inc compare to its peers?
Essential Lending Inc 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)
2023-05 2026-03
Top Consumer Issues
Took or threatened to take negative or legal action25 (%)
False statements or representation8 (%)
Attempts to collect debt not owed18 (%)
Communication tactics4 (%)
Written notification about debt2 (%)
Threatened to contact someone or share information improperly2 (%)
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 | 20 |
| False statements or representation | Attempted to collect wrong amount | 8 |
| Attempts to collect debt not owed | Debt is not yours | 8 |
| Attempts to collect debt not owed | Debt was result of identity theft | 5 |
| Attempts to collect debt not owed | Debt was paid | 5 |
| Took or threatened to take negative or legal action | Threatened to sue you for very old debt | 5 |
| Communication tactics | You told them to stop contacting you, but they keep trying | 2 |
| Written notification about debt | Didn't receive enough information to verify debt | 2 |
| Communication tactics | Frequent or repeated calls | 2 |
| Threatened to contact someone or share information improperly | Talked to a third-party about your debt | 2 |
Where do complaints against Essential Lending Inc come from?
The states where consumers have filed the most CFPB complaints against Essential Lending Inc. Every figure is the company's own complaint count in that state — not a national baseline.
Top states by complaints against Essential Lending Inc
Across 13 states with at least one filing
- Texas
Texas
39 complaints
- Missouri 5
Missouri
5 complaints
- South Carolina 4
South Carolina
4 complaints
- Louisiana 3
Louisiana
3 complaints
- Wisconsin 3
Wisconsin
3 complaints
- New Mexico 1
New Mexico
1 complaints
- Mississippi 1
Mississippi
1 complaints
- Indiana 1
Indiana
1 complaints
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common complaint against Essential Lending Inc? ▼
The most common issue consumers report about Essential Lending Inc is "Took or threatened to take negative or legal action", specifically "Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged". This is based on 62 complaints filed with the CFPB.
Are complaints against Essential Lending Inc increasing or decreasing? ▼
Complaints against Essential Lending Inc are rising. The company received 36 complaints in the last 12 months, indicating an upward trend in consumer issues.
What is Essential Lending Inc's reputation grade? ▼
Essential Lending Inc has a reputation grade of F (score: 50.7/100). This collector has a failing complaint record with very high complaint volumes and poor response rates.
Does Essential Lending Inc respond to consumer complaints? ▼
Essential Lending Inc has a 87% timely response rate to CFPB complaints.
In how many states does Essential Lending Inc operate? ▼
Essential Lending Inc has received CFPB complaints from consumers in 13 states, with the most complaints from Texas (39 complaints).
What can I do if Essential Lending Inc 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 Essential Lending Inc 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 |