Total CFPB complaints
132
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 132 complaints
Retail Merchants Associates — Debt Collector Complaint Profile
CFPB complaint profile across 6 states. Updated as new federal complaint data lands in the upstream Consumer Complaint Database.
Complaints by issue type
What consumers report about Retail Merchants Associates
- Attempts to collect debt not owed
Attempts to collect debt not owed
45 complaints
- False statements or representation
False statements or representation
30 complaints
- Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
18 complaints
- Written notification about debt
Written notification about debt
18 complaints
- Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed 9
Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed
9 complaints
D
Grade D · 55.2/100 composite
This collector has a poor complaint record with above-average complaints and below-average response rates.
What do CFPB complaints reveal about Retail Merchants Associates?
Retail Merchants Associates has accumulated 132 total CFPB complaints across 6 states, with 26 filed in the most recent 12 months against 106 historical complaints before that window. The trailing-12-month volume represents 19.7% 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 87% timely-response rate against a 21% 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 6 states, led by Louisiana with 107 and Texas with 19, which matches a multi-state collection footprint rather than a regional operation. Normalized against the full CFPB collector database, the reputation score of 55.2/100 places Retail Merchants Associates 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
26
19.7% of total history
Rising ↑
States active
6
Distinct state filings
Timely response rate
87%
Within CFPB SLA window
Consumer disputes
21%
After company response
Reputation grade
D
55.2/100 composite
Response-quality profile
How Retail Merchants Associates 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.
Consumer dispute rate (post-response) 42.9%
Vertical avg
Lower is better. The percentage of consumers who flagged the company's response as unsatisfactory.
State coverage breadth 10.7%
Share of US states + territories with at least one filed complaint against this collector.
How does Retail Merchants Associates compare to its peers?
Retail Merchants Assoc… 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)
2022-07 2026-03
Top Consumer Issues
Attempts to collect debt not owed45 (%)
False statements or representation30 (%)
Took or threatened to take negative or legal action18 (%)
Written notification about debt18 (%)
Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed9 (%)
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 | 28 |
| False statements or representation | Indicated you were committing crime by not paying debt | 19 |
| Took or threatened to take negative or legal action | Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged | 18 |
| Written notification about debt | Didn't receive enough information to verify debt | 15 |
| False statements or representation | Attempted to collect wrong amount | 11 |
| Attempts to collect debt not owed | Debt was paid | 10 |
| Attempts to collect debt not owed | Debt was result of identity theft | 7 |
| Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed | Debt is not mine | 7 |
| Written notification about debt | Didn't receive notice of right to dispute | 3 |
| Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed | Debt was discharged in bankruptcy | 2 |
Where do complaints against Retail Merchants Associates come from?
The states where consumers have filed the most CFPB complaints against Retail Merchants Associates. Every figure is the company's own complaint count in that state — not a national baseline.
Top states by complaints against Retail Merchants Associates
Across 6 states with at least one filing
- Louisiana
Louisiana
107 complaints
- Texas 19
Texas
19 complaints
- Delaware 2
Delaware
2 complaints
- Arkansas 1
Arkansas
1 complaints
- Alabama 1
Alabama
1 complaints
- Maryland 1
Maryland
1 complaints
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common complaint against Retail Merchants Associates? ▼
The most common issue consumers report about Retail Merchants Associates is "Attempts to collect debt not owed", specifically "Debt is not yours". This is based on 132 complaints filed with the CFPB.
Are complaints against Retail Merchants Associates increasing or decreasing? ▼
Complaints against Retail Merchants Associates are rising. The company received 26 complaints in the last 12 months, indicating an upward trend in consumer issues.
What is Retail Merchants Associates's reputation grade? ▼
Retail Merchants Associates has a reputation grade of D (score: 55.2/100). This collector has a poor complaint record with above-average complaints and below-average response rates.
Does Retail Merchants Associates respond to consumer complaints? ▼
Retail Merchants Associates has a 87% timely response rate to CFPB complaints. Consumers disputed the company's response in 21% of cases.
In how many states does Retail Merchants Associates operate? ▼
Retail Merchants Associates has received CFPB complaints from consumers in 6 states, with the most complaints from Louisiana (107 complaints).
What can I do if Retail Merchants 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 Retail Merchants 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 |