Total CFPB complaints
363
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 363 complaints
Herbert P. Sears Co., Inc. — Debt Collector Complaint Profile
CFPB complaint profile across 24 states. Updated as new federal complaint data lands in the upstream Consumer Complaint Database.
Complaints by issue type
What consumers report about Herbert P. Sears Co., Inc.
- Attempts to collect debt not owed
Attempts to collect debt not owed
133 complaints
- Written notification about debt 50
Written notification about debt
50 complaints
- False statements or representation 42
False statements or representation
42 complaints
- Took or threatened to take negative or legal action 40
Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
40 complaints
- Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed 23
Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed
23 complaints
- Communication tactics 12
Communication tactics
12 complaints
C
Grade C · 60.1/100 composite
This collector has an average complaint record with moderate complaint volumes and typical response rates.
What do CFPB complaints reveal about Herbert P. Sears Co., Inc.?
Herbert P. Sears Co., Inc. has accumulated 363 total CFPB complaints across 24 states, with 87 filed in the most recent 12 months against 276 historical complaints before that window. The trailing-12-month volume represents 24.0% 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 "Attempts to collect debt not owed", narrowing to "Debt is not yours", 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 9% 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 24 states, led by California with 193 and Texas with 72, which matches a multi-state collection footprint rather than a regional operation. Normalized against the full CFPB collector database, the reputation score of 60.1/100 places Herbert P. Sears Co., Inc. 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
87
24.0% of total history
Rising ↑
States active
24
Distinct state filings
Timely response rate
100%
Within CFPB SLA window
Consumer disputes
9%
After company response
Reputation grade
C
60.1/100 composite
Response-quality profile
How Herbert P. Sears Co., Inc. performs on CFPB resolution-quality metrics versus a fleet average benchmark drawn from the full debt-collection vertical.
Timely response within SLA 99.7%
Vertical avg
CFPB requires companies to respond within 15 days for most complaints; 60 days for credit-reporting.
Consumer dispute rate (post-response) 17.9%
Vertical avg
Lower is better. The percentage of consumers who flagged the company's response as unsatisfactory.
State coverage breadth 42.9%
Share of US states + territories with at least one filed complaint against this collector.
How does Herbert P. Sears Co., Inc. compare to its peers?
Herbert P. Sears Co., … 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
Attempts to collect debt not owed133 (%)
False statements or representation42 (%)
Took or threatened to take negative or legal action40 (%)
Written notification about debt50 (%)
Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed23 (%)
Communication tactics12 (%)
Disclosure verification of debt11 (%)
Most common issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Attempts to collect debt not owed | Debt is not yours | 90 |
| False statements or representation | Attempted to collect wrong amount | 42 |
| Took or threatened to take negative or legal action | Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged | 40 |
| Written notification about debt | Didn't receive enough information to verify debt | 28 |
| Attempts to collect debt not owed | Debt was result of identity theft | 24 |
| Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed | Debt is not mine | 23 |
| Written notification about debt | Didn't receive notice of right to dispute | 22 |
| Attempts to collect debt not owed | Debt was paid | 19 |
| Communication tactics | You told them to stop contacting you, but they keep trying | 12 |
| Disclosure verification of debt | Not given enough info to verify debt | 11 |
Where do complaints against Herbert P. Sears Co., Inc. come from?
The states where consumers have filed the most CFPB complaints against Herbert P. Sears Co., Inc.. Every figure is the company's own complaint count in that state — not a national baseline.
Top states by complaints against Herbert P. Sears Co., Inc.
Across 24 states with at least one filing
- California
California
193 complaints
- Texas 72
Texas
72 complaints
- Arizona 24
Arizona
24 complaints
- Florida 23
Florida
23 complaints
- Nevada 12
Nevada
12 complaints
- Georgia 7
Georgia
7 complaints
- North Carolina 5
North Carolina
5 complaints
- New York 4
New York
4 complaints
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common complaint against Herbert P. Sears Co., Inc.? ▼
The most common issue consumers report about Herbert P. Sears Co., Inc. is "Attempts to collect debt not owed", specifically "Debt is not yours". This is based on 363 complaints filed with the CFPB.
Are complaints against Herbert P. Sears Co., Inc. increasing or decreasing? ▼
Complaints against Herbert P. Sears Co., Inc. are rising. The company received 87 complaints in the last 12 months, indicating an upward trend in consumer issues.
What is Herbert P. Sears Co., Inc.'s reputation grade? ▼
Herbert P. Sears Co., Inc. has a reputation grade of C (score: 60.1/100). This collector has an average complaint record with moderate complaint volumes and typical response rates.
Does Herbert P. Sears Co., Inc. respond to consumer complaints? ▼
Herbert P. Sears Co., Inc. has a 100% timely response rate to CFPB complaints. Consumers disputed the company's response in 9% of cases.
In how many states does Herbert P. Sears Co., Inc. operate? ▼
Herbert P. Sears Co., Inc. has received CFPB complaints from consumers in 24 states, with the most complaints from California (193 complaints).
What can I do if Herbert P. Sears Co., 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 Herbert P. Sears Co., 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 |