Consumer Litigation and Complaint Volume Finish the Year on the Rise

Legal filings tied to major consumer protection laws accelerated late in the year, with December closing higher across several key categories and annual totals showing steady growth. Recent data from WebRecon points to expanding litigation activity and a continued increase in consumer complaints impacting the accounts receivable management sector.

Monthly trends revealed notable increases in lawsuits filed under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) filings held relatively consistent levels compared with the previous month, while complaints submitted to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) also climbed during the same period.

Annual Filing Trends Show Consistent Growth

Looking at year-end totals, litigation rose across all major statutes, though at varying rates. TCPA filings experienced modest growth, while FDCPA cases posted a more noticeable increase. FCRA lawsuits recorded the most significant jump of the year. At the same time, CFPB complaint volume expanded dramatically, nearly doubling compared with the prior year’s totals.

Class actions continued to influence the overall litigation landscape, particularly in TCPA matters, which remain historically elevated. Repeat plaintiffs also contributed substantially to filing numbers, with nearly half of the cases involving individuals who had previously initiated similar claims.

December 2025 Filing Overview

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
December saw a sharp rise in FDCPA litigation, reaching 458 filings — up 36.3% from November’s 336 cases. Compared with December of the prior year, filings increased 58.5%. Annual totals reflected continued growth, with 4,534 cases filed in 2025 compared with 4,207 in 2024, representing a 7.8% increase.

Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
TCPA activity remained largely unchanged month over month, with 222 lawsuits filed in December — a slight decrease from November’s 224 cases. Despite the minor dip, filings were still 16.2% higher than December 2024 levels. For the full year, TCPA litigation edged upward, totaling 2,810 filings in 2025 compared with 2,789 in 2024.

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
FCRA filings continued to climb through year-end, with 749 lawsuits filed in December — a 15.6% increase from November’s 648 cases and a 38.2% rise compared with December 2024. Annual filings reached 8,369 in 2025, marking a 37.4% increase from the 6,092 cases filed in 2024.

CFPB Complaints Continue Upward Momentum

Consumer complaints submitted to the CFPB also rose in December, reaching 29,618 — an 11.7% increase from November and a 76.1% jump compared with the same month the year before. Over the full year, complaints grew significantly, with 302,133 filed in 2025 versus 159,732 in 2024, an 89.1% year-over-year increase.

Most complaints involved unspecified debt, accounting for 64% of submissions (18,867 complaints). Additional categories included:

Other debt: 4,097 complaints (14%)

Credit card debt: 3,271 complaints (11%)

Rental debt: 986 complaints (3%)

Telecommunications debt: 836 complaints (3%)

Medical debt: 667 complaints (2%)

Auto debt: 511 complaints (2%)

Payday loan debt: 216 complaints (1%)

Private student loan debt: 67 complaints

Federal student loan debt: 58 complaints

Mortgage debt: 42 complaints

The most frequently cited complaint issue involved alleged negative or legal action, accounting for 10,115 complaints. Attempts to collect debts consumers claimed they did not owe followed closely behind, totaling 9,985 complaints.

Industry Outlook

The steady increase in litigation and complaint activity highlights an environment of ongoing regulatory attention and consumer engagement. Elevated class action filings and a significant presence of repeat plaintiffs suggest that organizations within the accounts receivable management space may continue to encounter heightened legal exposure as trends move forward into the coming year.

Author: Jennifer Evancic

Jennifer.Evancic@ResourceManagement.com

Jennifer Evancic is a third-party auditor valued by creditors and large organizations for her knowledge in call monitoring within the collections industry. With meticulous attention to detail and a firm grasp of regulatory requirements, she ensures compliance with clients’ criteria and state and federal regulations.

Jennifer audits collections calls, ensuring they meet client-specific criteria and comply with regulations, providing valuable insights and maintaining industry standards.

Beyond her auditing responsibilities, Jennifer takes the lead in organizing and facilitating monthly call calibrations. These sessions serve as a collaborative forum where clients and their vendors come together to discuss call monitoring results and address any findings or areas for improvement. Jennifer’s guidance fosters open communication and ensures alignment between clients and vendors, driving continuous improvement in collections practices.

Jennifer stays up-to-date with compliance and industry best practices by participating regularly in peer meetings, regulatory updates and industry webinars. This keeps her informed about emerging issues and ensures she remains a knowledgeable leader in collections compliance.

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