This data comes from the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database and reflects consumer complaints, not proven violations.

CFPB complaint data Grade F 77 complaints

Stern Recovery Services, Inc. - Debt Collector Complaint Profile

CFPB complaint profile across 10 states, reputation grade F.

Complaints by issue type

What consumers report about Stern Recovery Services, Inc.

complaints
Source CFPB Consumer Complaint Database

Data updated July 2026

F

Grade F · 50.2/100 composite

This collector has a failing complaint record with very high complaint volumes and poor response rates.

Based on consumer-filed CFPB complaints, not proven violations or a court finding of wrongdoing.

The verdict

A reputation grade of F: Stern Recovery Services, Inc. ranks ahead of 15% of the 5,283 collectors PlainCollector grades - 85% keep a cleaner CFPB record, on 77 all-time complaints and a 88% timely-response rate.

15th pct
reputation rank of 5,283 graded collectors
77
CFPB complaints, all-time
88%
answered inside the CFPB window
0
in the last 12 months (falling)

Grades are relative: every collector is ranked against the others, so an A reflects a cleaner record than peers, not a clean bill of conduct. A complaint is a consumer filing, not a proven violation.

What do CFPB complaints reveal about Stern Recovery Services, Inc.?

Stern Recovery Services, Inc. has accumulated 77 total CFPB complaints across 10 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 falling pattern that implies either tighter collection practices, portfolio sell-offs, or improved dispute handling.

The dominant consumer grievance logged with the CFPB is "Written notification about debt", narrowing to "Didn't receive enough information to verify debt". The company posts a 88% timely-response rate.

Complaints have been recorded across 10 states, led by North Carolina with 61 and South Carolina with 4. Normalized against the full CFPB collector database, the reputation score of 50.2/100 places Stern Recovery Services, Inc. in grade band F.

How to read a complaint count →

Complaint Summary

Total CFPB complaints

77

low-volume (CCDB)

Last 12 months

0

0.0% of all-time complaints

Falling ↓

States active

10

regional footprint

Timely response rate

88%

acceptable band

Reputation grade

F

50.2/100 composite

How does Stern Recovery Services, Inc.'s reputation rank nationally?

Reputation score vs. every graded collector

PlainCollector composite reputation score (0–100, higher = cleaner CFPB record)

50 Bottom 15% higher than 15% of 5,283 graded collectors

0–10: 0 graded collectors (0%). Below this entry. 10–20: 3 graded collectors (0%). Below this entry. 20–30: 29 graded collectors (1%). Below this entry. 30–40: 160 graded collectors (3%). Below this entry. 40–50: 583 graded collectors (11%). Below this entry. 50–60: 1,469 graded collectors (28%). This entry sits in this band. 60–70: 1,364 graded collectors (26%). Above this entry. 70–80: 871 graded collectors (16%). Above this entry. 80–90: 660 graded collectors (12%). Above this entry. 90–100: 144 graded collectors (3%). Above this entry. This collector 0 100 every graded collector, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more graded collectors. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source PlainCollector composite of CFPB Consumer Complaint Database · 2013–2026

Response-quality profile

Stern Recovery Services, Inc. versus the debt-collection vertical average.

Timely response within SLA 88.3%
Vertical avg

CFPB requires companies to respond within 15 days for most complaints; 60 days for credit-reporting.

State coverage breadth 17.9%

Share of US states + territories with at least one filed complaint against this collector.

How does Stern Recovery Services, Inc. compare to its peers?

How does Stern Recovery Services, Inc. compare? Versus a similar-volume peer and the national average, drawn from 10 collectors with a comparable complaint count
Stern Recovery Service… National average
Complaints (last 12 mo)lower is better
0
0
268
Timely-response ratehigher is better
88%
92%
91%
Consumer-dispute ratelower is better
0%
16%
19%

Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database.

Complaint Trend (24 months)

2016-05 2019-04

Issue Detail Breakdown

Issue Sub-Issue Complaints
Written notification about debt - 41
Attempts to collect debt not owed - 26
False statements or representation - 5
Communication tactics - 2
Threatened to contact someone or share information improperly - 2
Took or threatened to take negative or legal action - 1

Where do complaints against Stern Recovery Services, Inc. come from?

Stern Recovery Services, Inc.'s own per-state count, not a national baseline.

Top states by complaints against Stern Recovery Services, Inc.

Across 10 states with at least one filing

complaints
Source CFPB Consumer Complaint Database

What to do if Stern Recovery Services, Inc. contacts you

A grade of F signals how Stern Recovery Services, Inc.'s CFPB record compares to peers, here is how to act on it.

  • Demand written debt validation within 30 days of first contact, collectors must prove the debt is yours. Validation letter
  • Confirm the caller is really Stern Recovery Services, Inc. and not an impostor before paying anything. Verify a collector
  • Know your FDCPA rights, you can stop calls and report harassment. Your rights
  • See how Stern Recovery Services, Inc. ranks against every other collector by complaint record. Browse rankings

Complaint counts and grades reflect the public CFPB record, not a regulator's finding of wrongdoing or legal advice. For your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common complaint against Stern Recovery Services, Inc.? ▼

The most common issue consumers report about Stern Recovery Services, Inc. is "Written notification about debt", specifically "Didn't receive enough information to verify debt". This is based on 77 complaints filed with the CFPB.

Are complaints against Stern Recovery Services, Inc. increasing or decreasing? ▼

Complaints against Stern Recovery Services, Inc. are falling. The company received 0 complaints in the last 12 months, showing improvement over prior periods.

What is Stern Recovery Services, Inc.'s reputation grade? ▼

Stern Recovery Services, Inc. has a reputation grade of F (score: 50.2/100), PlainCollector's composite letter grade blending complaint volume, response timeliness, dispute rate, and complaint trend.

Does Stern Recovery Services, Inc. respond to consumer complaints? ▼

Stern Recovery Services, Inc. has a 88% timely response rate to CFPB complaints.

In how many states does Stern Recovery Services, Inc. operate? ▼

Stern Recovery Services, Inc. has received CFPB complaints from consumers in 10 states, with the most complaints from North Carolina (61 complaints).

Data sourced from the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCollector Editorial

Every figure on PlainCollector is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.