Total CFPB complaints
1,045
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 1,045 complaints
Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express) — Debt Collector Complaint Profile
CFPB complaint profile across 48 states. Updated as new federal complaint data lands in the upstream Consumer Complaint Database.
Complaints by issue type
What consumers report about Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express)
- Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
262 complaints
- Communication tactics
Communication tactics
164 complaints
- Taking/threatening an illegal action 89
Taking/threatening an illegal action
89 complaints
- False statements or representation 76
False statements or representation
76 complaints
- Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed 39
Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed
39 complaints
- Attempts to collect debt not owed 32
Attempts to collect debt not owed
32 complaints
D
Grade D · 58.8/100 composite
This collector has a poor complaint record with above-average complaints and below-average response rates.
What do CFPB complaints reveal about Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express)?
Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express) has accumulated 1,045 total CFPB complaints across 48 states, with 44 filed in the most recent 12 months against 1,001 historical complaints before that window. The trailing-12-month volume represents 4.2% 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 to arrest you or take you to jail if you do not pay", which aligns with FDCPA-regulated conduct and signals the operational area most likely to trigger regulator scrutiny. The company posts a 98% timely-response rate against a 7% 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 48 states, led by Texas with 326 and California with 165, which matches a multi-state collection footprint rather than a regional operation. Normalized against the full CFPB collector database, the reputation score of 58.8/100 places Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express) in grade band D, a tier reached by blending complaint volume, response timeliness, dispute rates, and issue severity into a single comparable metric.
Complaint Summary
Last 12 months
44
4.2% of total history
Rising ↑
States active
48
Distinct state filings
Timely response rate
98%
Within CFPB SLA window
Consumer disputes
7%
After company response
Reputation grade
D
58.8/100 composite
Response-quality profile
How Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express) performs on CFPB resolution-quality metrics versus a fleet average benchmark drawn from the full debt-collection vertical.
Timely response within SLA 98.5%
Vertical avg
CFPB requires companies to respond within 15 days for most complaints; 60 days for credit-reporting.
Consumer dispute rate (post-response) 13.9%
Vertical avg
Lower is better. The percentage of consumers who flagged the company's response as unsatisfactory.
State coverage breadth 85.7%
Share of US states + territories with at least one filed complaint against this collector.
How does Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express) compare to its peers?
Populus Financial Grou… 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)
2022-12 2026-02
Top Consumer Issues
Took or threatened to take negative or legal action262 (%)
Communication tactics164 (%)
Taking/threatening an illegal action89 (%)
False statements or representation76 (%)
Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed39 (%)
Attempts to collect debt not owed32 (%)
Most common issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Threatened to arrest you or take you to jail if you do not pay
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 to arrest you or take you to jail if you do not pay | 125 |
| Took or threatened to take negative or legal action | Threatened to sue you for very old debt | 107 |
| Communication tactics | Frequent or repeated calls | 90 |
| Taking/threatening an illegal action | Threatened arrest/jail if do not pay | 89 |
| Communication tactics | Threatened to take legal action | 74 |
| False statements or representation | Impersonated attorney, law enforcement, or government official | 46 |
| Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed | Debt is not mine | 39 |
| Attempts to collect debt not owed | Debt is not yours | 32 |
| False statements or representation | Impersonated an attorney or official | 30 |
| Took or threatened to take negative or legal action | Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged | 30 |
Where do complaints against Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express) come from?
The states where consumers have filed the most CFPB complaints against Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express). Every figure is the company's own complaint count in that state — not a national baseline.
Top states by complaints against Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express)
Across 48 states with at least one filing
- Texas
Texas
326 complaints
- California
California
165 complaints
- Ohio 57
Ohio
57 complaints
- Florida 57
Florida
57 complaints
- Colorado 38
Colorado
38 complaints
- Oregon 29
Oregon
29 complaints
- Missouri 28
Missouri
28 complaints
- Louisiana 26
Louisiana
26 complaints
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common complaint against Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express)? ▼
The most common issue consumers report about Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express) is "Took or threatened to take negative or legal action", specifically "Threatened to arrest you or take you to jail if you do not pay". This is based on 1,045 complaints filed with the CFPB.
Are complaints against Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express) increasing or decreasing? ▼
Complaints against Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express) are rising. The company received 44 complaints in the last 12 months, indicating an upward trend in consumer issues.
What is Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express)'s reputation grade? ▼
Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express) has a reputation grade of D (score: 58.8/100). This collector has a poor complaint record with above-average complaints and below-average response rates.
Does Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express) respond to consumer complaints? ▼
Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express) has a 98% timely response rate to CFPB complaints. Consumers disputed the company's response in 7% of cases.
In how many states does Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express) operate? ▼
Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express) has received CFPB complaints from consumers in 48 states, with the most complaints from Texas (326 complaints).
What can I do if Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express) 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 Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express) 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 |