Total CFPB complaints
77
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 77 complaints
Stephens and Michaels Associates, 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 Stephens and Michaels Associates, Inc.
- Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed
Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed
39 complaints
- Communication tactics
Communication tactics
18 complaints
- Disclosure verification of debt 11
Disclosure verification of debt
11 complaints
- Improper contact or sharing of info 2
Improper contact or sharing of info
2 complaints
- False statements or representation 2
False statements or representation
2 complaints
C
Grade C · 60.2/100 composite
This collector has an average complaint record with moderate complaint volumes and typical response rates.
What do CFPB complaints reveal about Stephens and Michaels Associates, Inc.?
Stephens and Michaels Associates, Inc. has accumulated 77 total CFPB complaints across 24 states, with 0 filed in the most recent 12 months against 77 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 "Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed", narrowing to "Debt is not mine", which aligns with FDCPA-regulated conduct and signals the operational area most likely to trigger regulator scrutiny. The company posts a 92% timely-response rate against a 16% 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 New York with 9 and California with 8, which matches a multi-state collection footprint rather than a regional operation. Normalized against the full CFPB collector database, the reputation score of 60.2/100 places Stephens and Michaels Associates, 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
0
0.0% of total history
Stable →
States active
24
Distinct state filings
Timely response rate
92%
Within CFPB SLA window
Consumer disputes
16%
After company response
Reputation grade
C
60.2/100 composite
Response-quality profile
How Stephens and Michaels Associates, Inc. performs on CFPB resolution-quality metrics versus a fleet average benchmark drawn from the full debt-collection vertical.
Timely response within SLA 92.2%
Vertical avg
CFPB requires companies to respond within 15 days for most complaints; 60 days for credit-reporting.
Consumer dispute rate (post-response) 31.2%
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 Stephens and Michaels Associates, Inc. compare to its peers?
Stephens and Michaels … 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)
2014-07 2016-09
Top Consumer Issues
Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed39 (%)
Communication tactics18 (%)
Disclosure verification of debt11 (%)
Improper contact or sharing of info2 (%)
False statements or representation2 (%)
Most common issue: Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed — Debt is not mine
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed | Debt is not mine | 19 |
| Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed | Debt was paid | 18 |
| Communication tactics | Frequent or repeated calls | 15 |
| Disclosure verification of debt | Not given enough info to verify debt | 5 |
| Disclosure verification of debt | Right to dispute notice not received | 4 |
| Communication tactics | Called outside of 8am-9pm | 3 |
| Disclosure verification of debt | Not disclosed as an attempt to collect | 2 |
| Improper contact or sharing of info | Talked to a third party about my debt | 2 |
| False statements or representation | Attempted to collect wrong amount | 2 |
| Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed | Debt resulted from identity theft | 2 |
Where do complaints against Stephens and Michaels Associates, Inc. come from?
The states where consumers have filed the most CFPB complaints against Stephens and Michaels Associates, Inc.. Every figure is the company's own complaint count in that state — not a national baseline.
Top states by complaints against Stephens and Michaels Associates, Inc.
Across 24 states with at least one filing
- New York
New York
9 complaints
- California
California
8 complaints
- Florida
Florida
8 complaints
- Texas
Texas
8 complaints
- Ohio
Ohio
6 complaints
- Virginia
Virginia
6 complaints
- Georgia
Georgia
5 complaints
- North Carolina
North Carolina
4 complaints
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common complaint against Stephens and Michaels Associates, Inc.? ▼
The most common issue consumers report about Stephens and Michaels Associates, Inc. is "Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed", specifically "Debt is not mine". This is based on 77 complaints filed with the CFPB.
Are complaints against Stephens and Michaels Associates, Inc. increasing or decreasing? ▼
Complaints against Stephens and Michaels Associates, Inc. have been stable. The company received 0 complaints in the last 12 months.
What is Stephens and Michaels Associates, Inc.'s reputation grade? ▼
Stephens and Michaels Associates, Inc. has a reputation grade of C (score: 60.2/100). This collector has an average complaint record with moderate complaint volumes and typical response rates.
Does Stephens and Michaels Associates, Inc. respond to consumer complaints? ▼
Stephens and Michaels Associates, Inc. has a 92% timely response rate to CFPB complaints. Consumers disputed the company's response in 16% of cases.
In how many states does Stephens and Michaels Associates, Inc. operate? ▼
Stephens and Michaels Associates, Inc. has received CFPB complaints from consumers in 24 states, with the most complaints from New York (9 complaints).
What can I do if Stephens and Michaels Associates, 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 Stephens and Michaels Associates, 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 |