Total CFPB complaints
33
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 33 complaints
Esser, James & Associates — Debt Collector Complaint Profile
CFPB complaint profile across 17 states. Updated as new federal complaint data lands in the upstream Consumer Complaint Database.
Complaints by issue type
What consumers report about Esser, James & Associates
- Improper contact or sharing of info
Improper contact or sharing of info
9 complaints
- Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed
Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed
8 complaints
- Communication tactics
Communication tactics
8 complaints
- Disclosure verification of debt 3
Disclosure verification of debt
3 complaints
- Taking/threatening an illegal action 3
Taking/threatening an illegal action
3 complaints
- False statements or representation 1
False statements or representation
1 complaints
C
Grade C · 62.0/100 composite
This collector has an average complaint record with moderate complaint volumes and typical response rates.
What do CFPB complaints reveal about Esser, James & Associates?
Esser, James & Associates has accumulated 33 total CFPB complaints across 17 states, with 0 filed in the most recent 12 months against 33 historical complaints before that window. The trailing-12-month volume represents 0.0% of the full complaint history, a stable pattern that indicates a mature dispute profile with predictable monthly volumes.
The dominant consumer grievance logged with the CFPB is "Improper contact or sharing of info", narrowing to "Talked to a third party about my debt", which aligns with FDCPA-regulated conduct and signals the operational area most likely to trigger regulator scrutiny. The company posts a 97% timely-response rate against a 30% 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 17 states, led by California with 5 and Florida with 4, which matches a multi-state collection footprint rather than a regional operation. Normalized against the full CFPB collector database, the reputation score of 62.0/100 places Esser, James & Associates in grade band C, a tier reached by blending complaint volume, response timeliness, dispute rates, and issue severity into a single comparable metric.
Complaint Summary
Last 12 months
0
0.0% of total history
Stable →
States active
17
Distinct state filings
Timely response rate
97%
Within CFPB SLA window
Consumer disputes
30%
After company response
Reputation grade
C
62.0/100 composite
Response-quality profile
How Esser, James & Associates performs on CFPB resolution-quality metrics versus a fleet average benchmark drawn from the full debt-collection vertical.
Timely response within SLA 97.0%
Vertical avg
CFPB requires companies to respond within 15 days for most complaints; 60 days for credit-reporting.
Consumer dispute rate (post-response) 60.6%
Vertical avg
Lower is better. The percentage of consumers who flagged the company's response as unsatisfactory.
State coverage breadth 30.4%
Share of US states + territories with at least one filed complaint against this collector.
How does Esser, James & Associates compare to its peers?
Esser, James & Associa… 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)
2014-08 2017-01
Top Consumer Issues
Improper contact or sharing of info9 (%)
Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed8 (%)
Communication tactics8 (%)
Disclosure verification of debt3 (%)
Taking/threatening an illegal action3 (%)
False statements or representation1 (%)
Most common issue: Improper contact or sharing of info — Talked to a third party about my debt
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Improper contact or sharing of info | Talked to a third party about my debt | 8 |
| Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed | Debt is not mine | 7 |
| Communication tactics | Threatened to take legal action | 5 |
| Disclosure verification of debt | Not given enough info to verify debt | 3 |
| Communication tactics | Frequent or repeated calls | 3 |
| Taking/threatening an illegal action | Threatened to sue on too old debt | 2 |
| False statements or representation | Impersonated an attorney or official | 1 |
| Taking/threatening an illegal action | Sued w/o proper notification of suit | 1 |
| Improper contact or sharing of info | Contacted employer after asked not to | 1 |
| Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed | Debt resulted from identity theft | 1 |
Where do complaints against Esser, James & Associates come from?
The states where consumers have filed the most CFPB complaints against Esser, James & Associates. Every figure is the company's own complaint count in that state — not a national baseline.
Top states by complaints against Esser, James & Associates
Across 17 states with at least one filing
- California
California
5 complaints
- Florida
Florida
4 complaints
- Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
4 complaints
- Alabama
Alabama
3 complaints
- Massachusetts
Massachusetts
2 complaints
- New York
New York
2 complaints
- Texas
Texas
2 complaints
- New Jersey 1
New Jersey
1 complaints
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common complaint against Esser, James & Associates? ▼
The most common issue consumers report about Esser, James & Associates is "Improper contact or sharing of info", specifically "Talked to a third party about my debt". This is based on 33 complaints filed with the CFPB.
Are complaints against Esser, James & Associates increasing or decreasing? ▼
Complaints against Esser, James & Associates have been stable. The company received 0 complaints in the last 12 months.
What is Esser, James & Associates's reputation grade? ▼
Esser, James & Associates has a reputation grade of C (score: 62.0/100). This collector has an average complaint record with moderate complaint volumes and typical response rates.
Does Esser, James & Associates respond to consumer complaints? ▼
Esser, James & Associates has a 97% timely response rate to CFPB complaints. Consumers disputed the company's response in 30% of cases.
In how many states does Esser, James & Associates operate? ▼
Esser, James & Associates has received CFPB complaints from consumers in 17 states, with the most complaints from California (5 complaints).
What can I do if Esser, James & Associates 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 Esser, James & Associates 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 |